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 you want senior auditors to follow, and you are encouraged to communicate these preferences to senior auditors on the first day of class.
How senior auditors register
Class registration for senior auditors is handled completely online.
To enroll in a class, senior auditors must first contact you, the instructor, via email to request permission to audit. Auditors have been instructed to contact instructors no earlier than the first day of non-degree student registration, which can be found in the academic calendar. This is to ensure that space is available as most enrolled students interested in taking your class will have registered by this time.
Auditors then forward your approval, if you grant it, to the SALC office. After reviewinig the registration request, we send them on to the Registration Office for manual entry. Once registration is complete, the names of senior 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:
- Elizabeth Ceppi- Professor of Literature, Department of English
- John Ott - Professor and Chair, 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