Institute for Learning in Retirement - East

HISTORY OF ILR

The Institute for Learning in Retirement began in 1989 as part of the well-known “Road Scholar” program, previously named “Elderhostel Learning Tours”. Road Scholar programs offer seniors the opportunity to travel worldwide to various college facilities and to enjoy classes and interact with their peers. For those who are unable to travel, the ILR provides a program near home for seniors to participate in educational programs designed for them.

In 1992, an ILR group associated with Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio (now Baldwin Wallace University) was started.

ILR - EAST

After Baldwin Wallace opened its east-side satellite facility in Beachwood, Ohio in 1999, it became apparent that the classrooms utilized in the evenings and on the weekends were empty during the weekdays. To make better use of this facility, the dean of lifelong learning at BW, Dr. Lee Bash and Dr. Jane Cavanaugh, a former dean, decided to launch an ILR-East program. The first three classes were offered in the spring of 2000.

By 2004, the ILR-East had grown and was ready to stand on its own feet and take over all of the required administrative duties  ILR-East volunteers began to assume more responsibility  for scheduling courses, recruiting presenters and students, maintaining the database, managing enrollment, mailings, preparing name tags, handling of receipts and disbursements and other necessary functions. In assuming these responsibilities, ILR-East was able to conduct its program at virtually no cost to BW.

In August 2014, BW moved its east-side satellite facility to Tri-C's Corporate College Center in Warrensville Heights. Due to this move, the ILR-East relocated its teaching location to the Temple Emanu El in Orange Village where it rented classroom space.

ILR-East has continued to flourish in this new venue. Its current membership is about 325. Many students take more than one class each term, enabling ILR-East to maintain a vigorous program of about twelve offerings during each of its three six-week terms per year. The class fees are low. For many years there has still been enough money left at the end of each fiscal year (June 30) to permit ILR-East to give scholarships to BW adult students who work during the days and take classes at BW’s east-side satellite facility in the evenings and the weekends.

The cost of membership for ILR-East is currently $30 per academic year and entitles members to a low fee of $20 per course, all volunteer opportunities within the organization, voting privileges and attendance at our annual meeting every spring. The money raised through our membership and class fees not only covers our rent and other expenses, but also helps to provide scholarships for adult, non-traditional Baldwin Wallace University students each year, when possible.

You must enroll to become a member in order to attend classes through ILR-East. A membership enrollment form will be included with each term’s course flyer and registration form for anyone who would like to take classes but has not yet enrolled.

For more information contact ILR-East at (216) 987-2985 or ilreast@bw.edu.

For information on registering for classes, please complete and send us the "BW ILR-EAST Information Request Form" listed below under Request Information.

ILR East 2022-23 Calendar

President – Dolores Christie
Vice President – Jeffrey Fine
Secretary – Patricia Singer
Treasurer – Andrew Press
Registrar/Membership – Beverly Siegel
Curriculum Manager – Ellen Greenberger
Site Coordinator – Jan Campana
Scholarship Chair – William Rafalski
Hospitality Chair – Elayne Lackritz
Mailings Co-Chairs – Robert and Myra Fortlage
Historian – Nancy Brian
Sunshine – Patt Gronick
At Large – Joanne Billiar