June 6, 2005
Animal sciences department wins Hansen Award
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Agriculture has won the 2005 Arthur G. Hansen Award for its relationship with its retirees.
The award, sponsored by the Purdue University Retirees Association and the Office of the President, was presented June 1 at the annual retirement banquet in the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms.
The Department of Animal Sciences received a trophy and will be listed on a plaque in the corridor of Purdue Memorial Union. The award also includes $2,500, funded by TIAA-CREF, that can be used to help strengthen the department's ties to its retirees. Animal sciences is the third winner of the award. Earlier winners were the Cooperative Extension Service and the Department of Agronomy.
The award is named for former university President Arthur Hansen, Purdue's eighth president, who established the retirees' association in 1976. The award is given annually to a Purdue school, department, office or division that cultivates and maintains meaningful relationships with its retirees. Some activities that foster the continuing involvement of retirees include inviting them to help with student organizations, encouraging them to assist with alumni contacts, inviting their help with organizing archival materials, including them in e-mail distributions with general departmental information, inviting them to attend social events and ensuring they receive notices of temporary opportunities for paid employment.
"Long after active employment with Purdue ends, the retirees continue to contribute in very meaningful ways to the university," said Christiane Keck, president of the Purdue University Retirees Association and professor emeritus of German. "Many give generously of their time, talent and treasure to their departments and colleges throughout their retirement years. PURA fosters involvement of the retirees with Purdue University. We encourage departments to value the many contributions retirees make and salute the departments that provide opportunities for interaction and demonstrate appreciation for retirees' involvement."
The Department of Animal Sciences was nominated by retired professors Truman Martin, Jack Long, Bertanelle Long, Bill Baumgardt and John Forrest.
The nominators say of the department: "The Department of Animal Sciences values the contributions that retirees have made to the programs of the department in the past and appreciates significant contributions to current activities.
"The Department of Animal Sciences tries very hard to include retirees, retiree spouses and surviving spouses of retirees in all activities and to make them feel that they continue to be members of the animal sciences family."
The department's efforts to include retirees include:
• A directory of retired faculty, staff and surviving spouses is maintained and made available to them.
• Retirees are invited to attend the annual reunion during Homecoming, all receptions for retiring or departing faculty, the December holiday program, recognition programs for animal sciences and agriculture distinguished alumni, departmental seminars and annual updates on departmental programs.
• A program specifically for retirees takes place each spring.
• Retirees serve as small-group leaders for a freshmen orientation course.
• Retirees assist in reviewing manuscripts, in developing and providing scholarship recognition awards, and in presenting information to students about careers in animal sciences.
More information about the Hansen Award, including its purpose, eligibility and a nomination form, is available online.
Writer: Julie Rosa, (765) 494-2036, jrosa@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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