Age-friendly Schools, Colleges and Universities

Older New Yorkers have voiced a strong desire to continue learning, access skills training, and participate in the rich and vibrant communities of colleges and universities.

New York City is home to more than 100 public and private colleges and universities, including America's largest public university system. The size, diversity, and resources of the educational sector in New York City present an enormous opportunity to enhance the quality of life of older adults. Moreover, older New Yorkers can greatly enrich the experiences of younger people by becoming involved in higher education.

This initiative is guided by the decisions of a workgroup chaired by Dean of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health Dr. Linda Fried. The work group has identified several principles of an age-friendly college or university and is working to support New York's educational institutions in helping the city become a better place in which to age.

Directory of Opportunities for Older Adults at NYC’s Colleges & Universities

The initiative has developed a searchable online directory of opportunities for older adults at New York City’s educational institutions. The inventory was created in partnership with dozens of the city’s colleges and universities.  To access the directory, click here. 

If you would like your school to be a part of the inventory, please complete our Age-friendly Survey here.

Careers in Aging

The initiative is also creating materials to help educational institutions consider how to prepare the next generation to meet the demands of an aging society.