Carol Batty is a retired librarian and language teacher
who helped two EMU assistant math professors polish their
English so they could better communicate with their students.
Donna Whitehead, former director of education for the
W.J. Maxey Boys Training School, is monitoring changes
in the State of Michigan's teaching legislation for EMU's
Education Department and sharing her professional expertise
by guest lecturing with EMU's Criminology Department.
 |
SENIOR EFFORT: A number of senior citizens
in the
area volunteer in Eastern Michigan University's
ElderQuest program by offering expertise in their
former professional fields. |
Both are EMU alumnus and act as two of the many service
members for ElderQuest, a community outreach program created
for individuals 60 or over who wish to become involved
in the EMU community. ElderQuest opportunities include
mentoring students, serving as guest lecturers, working
part-time on campus, participating in campus life and creating
opportunities that build on faculty and student interests.
The ElderQuest initiative is a product of partnership
between EMU's Gerontology Program and Continuing Education.
ElderQuest helps participants integrate themselves into
all aspects of University life, and encourages them to
share their experiences with students of varying ages,
races, genders and backgrounds.
Bridging the language gap
Batty, who learned of the ElderQuest program through a
newspaper article, offered her services to EMU. After a
series of fits and starts having her skills matched to
a department on campus, she was assigned to Betsy Morgan,
department head for foreign languages and bilingual studies.
Batty, who has a master's degree in Teaching of English
to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from EMU, was assigned
to tutor assistant math professors Bingwu Wang and Xiaoxu
Han in English during the spring term. Both faculty already
spoke English, but some of their students had trouble understanding
everything they said in the classroom.
 |
CELEBRATORY DINNER: Carol Batty, an ElderQuest
volunteer, is flanked by (left) Xiaoxu Han and
Bingwu
Wang, both EMU assistant math professors.
The three
had just enjoyed a celebration dinner.
Batty, as
part of EMU's ElderQuest program, spent the
spring
term helping the two professors improve their
English-speaking
skills. Photo provided by Carol Batty |
"It is not a miracle I performed here. These guys were
good speakers," said Batty, 70, who retired from Washtenaw
Community College, where she worked in the library. "I
just tweaked a few things to help them be better. They
were eager to meet with me and it was very successful."
The professors were relatively young, so Morgan thought
they would respond best to someone who "was matronly," Batty
recalled Morgan saying.
It took a couple weeks to reach a comfort level, but once
the professors got to know Batty, she said they eventually
relaxed and were able to learn.
"Obviously, my maturity level and experience helped," Batty
said.
Batty said there are many retired senior citizens who
have expertise to offer. But, in many ways, it's up to
the elderly to get out there and offer their services,
she said.
A legislative look
Whitehead worked from 1977-1999 at the W.J. Maxey Boys
Training School, a state facility for adjudicated juvenile
delinquents in Whitmore Lake. Her first 14 years there
were as a teacher.
The sixty-nine year-old has put her knowledge and experience
in criminal justice to use by downloading any information
she finds about Michigan House or Senate bills proposed
that deal with education and criminal justice. She forwards
the information to Pat Williams-Boyd, associate professor
of teacher education.
"I drop my information — what bills are, what stage
they are in, when votes come up — with her," Whitehead
explained. "If
something has passed and gone to the Governor, I'll make
an attachment and include a synopsis."
Williams-Boyd, in turn, provides relevant information
to department heads and faculty to keep them abreast of
what's happening in politics with regard to higher education,
she said.
Since the fall, Whitehead has downloaded information on
92 bills, including one that would distribute approximately
$100 million in technology monies to Michigan's state universities.
Whitehead, an Ypsilanti Twp. resident, said the fact she
has two degrees from EMU is part of the reason she chose
to participate in ElderQuest. But, she also said this gives
her an opportunity to stay involved and keep current in
her field.
"They tell me I was the first one to go in and sign up" to
participate in ElderQuest, Whitehead said.
Shining examples
Some other ElderQuest participants of note include:
Gabrielle Downs, a retired librarian
and EMU alumnus, has worked with the art department and
Ford Gallery. Downs has helped train gallery docents and
helped catalog the extensive Emil Weddige lithograph
collection.
Chandana Sarkar, who has a certificate of gerontology
from EMU, is working to establish international and intergenerational
programs involving elders in the community and EMU students.
Hazel Turner, who served as an EMU student teacher supervisor
for 10 years, sits on the ElderQuest Committee and volunteers
her time with the Children's Institute, as a classroom
grandparent. Activities include reading stories, sharing
life experiences and supervising children during playtime.
Marcella Rose, a retired student services associate with
the University of Michigan Medical School, is working with
Larry Newhouse and An Rajai on the West Gallery Project.
Laura Laporte, who has a master's degree in recreation
administration from the University of Northern Colorado,
volunteers at the Rec/IM.
"They (the Rec/IM staff) have allowed me to be involved
in fitness programming and staff training," she said. "I
love the atmosphere and look forward to spending time there."
 |
Robbins |
Jerry Robbins, former dean of EMU's College
of Education, remains active as a consultant to several
institutions on accreditation matters, volunteers with
the Michigan Department of Education, and serves as volunteer
director of the 75-piece Ypsilanti Community Band.
Gary Charson, who worked 34 years with
the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and the National Weather Service, is working
closely with EMU's Geology and Geography Department.
Donna Hewitt, Betty
Levell, Nancy Rogers, Bernadine
Solak,
Valentine Solak and Juanita
Wesley have been
members of the Ypsilanti Twp. Senior Puppet Theatre Group
that performs at the EMU Children's Institute.
For more information about ElderQuest, call 487-0227 or
e-mail elderquest@emich.edu.
