Info for Faculty

Background

PSU has been welcoming older adults to audit classes on a tuition-free basis since the 1970’s, decades before this privilege became a state mandate. In 2010, Oregon House Bill 2011 was passed, requiring state institutions of higher education to waive tuition for any course audited by Oregon residents 65 years of age or older, if space is available and the instructor approves. The Senior Adult Learning Center (SALC) administers the program at PSU. SALC’s costs are covered by charitable donations from senior auditors and by in-kind contributions from PSU’s Institute on Aging.

Guidelines for admitting auditors

You can decide whether or not to accept a senior auditor into your courses, or decide to limit the number of senior auditors you accept. You are not required to read or grade exams or papers from senior auditors, or to allow senior auditors to participate in classroom discussions.

Guidelines for classroom participation by auditors

The SALC office has established guidelines for classroom participation by senior auditors and regularly disseminates this information to both new and continuing auditors. You are free to develop your own guidelines for senior auditors to follow, and you are encouraged to communicate these preferences to senior auditors on the first day of class, if not before.

How senior auditors register

Senior auditors are not able to register themselves for courses online as regularly enrolled students do. They must first contact instructors via email to request permission to audit a course. Senior auditors should NOT contact instructors before the "non-degree student" registration date (see the academic calendar). This is to ensure that all degree-seeking students have had the chance to register first.

Once an auditor receives the instructor's permission via email, the SALC office and the Registration Office work together to manually enter the registration. Once this process is complete, the names of the auditors will appear on your class roster.

Faculty representation at SALC

The SALC Advisory Council is a volunteer group of senior auditors and faculty representatives whose role is to provide guidance and program support to enhance the auditing experience for both senior auditors and faculty members. Council members hold three-year appointments and meet quarterly.

The two faculty positions on the Council currently are held by:

Elisabeth Ceppi- Professor, Department of English
Katrine Barber - Professor, Department of History

If you have questions

SALC staff members are available to answer questions and provide information about the auditing program. They can also help faculty members with any issues or concerns regarding auditors. Contact SALC

Faculty Quotes: What's it like to have SALC auditors in your class?

"Senior auditors are usually more emotionally balanced, efficient with time and organized than regular students. They seem to have a clear understanding of what they want and how to get there. They also bring a sense of discipline and focus. They already have had a career so they are in class with a genuine motivation to learn. They benefit the class as a whole in bringing many lessons they have learnt; they help traditional students by providing new ways to handle obstacles, criticism or problems. Their approach to learning and life in general can be usefully instructive to other students in the class.”

Professor Eva Nunez
World Languages and Literatures Dept
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Portland State University

"Senior auditors bring a wealth of personal and professional experience into the classroom. Their perspectives can inform class discussions in helpful ways and contribute to the range of voices students hear and learn from. Their professional work experiences can also add value to the classroom. Most importantly, in my view, they are modeling the benefits and pleasures of lifelong learning to our students by continuing their education at PSU and by demonstrating that curiosity never grows old."

Dr. John Ott
Professor and Chair
Department of History
Portland State University

“I love having seniors in the class because they add experiences to the class that normal students do not have... They are curious and ask great questions! They do not add to my workload because they do not take tests and write papers. I teach my class in large lecture halls so they are never taking seats away from normal students. I have made many friends for life having had them in class. I love the concept of SALC and totally support the program."

Dr. Scott Burns
Professor Emeritus of Geology
Portland State University