University of St. Thomas

Life-Long Learning Endowment

To date, a substantial part of the costs of running the Center for Senior Citizens’ Education have been borne by the University.  However, the growing popularity of the programs—joined with the University's increasing need to keep resources focused on its core mission of educating the traditional student and our desire to ensure the Center’s future existence and growth -- means we have to develop additional sources of revenue for this program. 

Budget and other constraints shouldn’t affect our commitment to serve the educational needs of our seniors, as both the need and their trust in us continue to grow.  Since the Center’s founding in 1973, our history reflects:

• more than 9,000 enrollments in regular college courses 
• over 2,500 enrollments in special courses on computers and the internet 
• nearly 10,000 enrollments in financial planning and investment

Not included in these figures are the 32,260 senior enrollments in specially designed seminars that delight the imagination and challenge the mind.

Today, we’re faced with the question:  with only modest program fees for our senior offerings, how will we ensure that we can maintain these programs long into the future?

For some, the answer to that question is simple -- raise the fees to cover the costs.

Throughout the Center’s history, one of our primary goals has been to provide these opportunities to all seniors, including those on very limited and fixed incomes.  We have worked to keep registration fees at a minimum so as to include those who are unable to afford more expensive programs and opportunities.

In comparison with other programs of this type, we are a “very good deal,” but we believe we have just about reached the price level at which some people have to give up some or all of our offerings. 

Our answer to the question of ensuring the future of the Center is to establish a Center for Senior Citizens’ Education Endowment and use the income from this endowment to secure the Center’s work for many years to come.

The creation of an endowment, the revenues of which will be devoted solely to the Center, will enable us to:

• Continue the high quality program offerings which are of special interest to seniors.
• Promote programs more effectively in the community.
• Subsidize the annual shortfall of income for salaries and stipends for administration, teachers, and resource people.
• Increase collaborative efforts with faculty, staff and other UST Centers, such as the Center for Catholic Studies and the Center for Irish Studies.
• Provide additional programs, projects and seminars of special interest to seniors.
• Expand the Senior Consulting Services to include support services for those recently widowed, recently divorced, caregivers, etc.
• Create an on-campus gathering space for seniors to meet, visit and exchange ideas and information.
• Provide for parking by subsidizing ramp use and valet parking service for those with limited mobility..
• Expand our services to provide for those no longer able to come to campus, to assisted living and long-term care facilities and to seniors who live outside the metropolitan area.

Your endowment gift will keep on giving into perpetuity as the earnings on the endowment continue to grow and support even stronger programs at the University of St. Thomas for the members of the older generation. 

With your support, we will be able to do much more than maintain the status quo.  We will be able to offer new programs each year for seniors, better promote the Center’s programs to the senior community, pursue parking, transportation, and location options, and bridge the gap between the Center’s revenues and its expenses.

How You Can Help

All gifts to the Center for Senior Citizens’ Education Endowment Fund benefit those who attend classes and participate in its various programs now and in the future..  As we build the Endowment Fund, we are guaranteeing the future of the Center, and we are ensuring that its programs will continue to be available to all Senior Citizens.  The income earned from the endowment will enable us to offer quality programs and to keep our registration fees at a modest level.

There are Many Ways to Give 

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support the Center for Senior Citizens’ Endowment Fund.  If you have questions or would like to discuss any of this further, please call 651-962-5188.