Retirees play an active and vital role in the University of Michigan community. As you plan your next chapter, there are many ways to stay involved with U-M, including volunteering, temporary employment and lifelong learning opportunities.
As a first step, join the University of Michigan Retirees Association to meet other members of the retiree community and take advantage of tours, events and social activities. You may also wish to review retiree privileges.
Expand the following sections to learn more.
More than 2,000 volunteers support Michigan Medicine each year in a wide range of capacities.
Browse volunteer placement opportunities or apply to volunteer at Michigan Medicine.
Sign up for the SMTD email list to receive opportunities to usher or volunteer.
University of Michigan Family Helpers are current U-M students or U-M benefits-eligible retirees who offer occasional, short-term, and part-time services to U-M families. Services offered may include childcare, tutoring, elder care, house sitting, yard work, running errands, pet care, and housekeeping.
Learn more about Family Helpers.
Retirees can volunteer in a variety of roles at the university museums, from leading tours to taking inventories.
Volunteer or become a docent at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.
Apply to become a University of Michigan Museum of Art docent or volunteer for the Meet Me at UMMA memory loss program.
Matthaei Bottanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum welcome volunteers to get involved in every season at Matthaei-Nichols. New volunteer orientations are offered every month, with additional training required for some assignments.
Learn more or apply now to volunteer at Matthaei Bottanical Gardens or Nichols Arboretum.
UMS volunteers may serve as ushers for their performances or perform other duties through the Ambassadors volunteer program.
Learn more or apply now to volunteer with the University Musical Society.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Michigan (OLLI) was established to encourage adults to continue their learning long after formal schooling is done. Drawing on the rich resources of the university community, OLLI presents several lecture series, as well as classes, study groups, After 5 and day trips. A broad range of topics includes philosophy, religion, politics, history, literature and the arts, government and world culture.
Learn more about OLLI programs or register for an upcoming event.
The International Institute’s centers sponsor numerous conferences, lectures, exhibits, and cultural performances throughout the year. These events are designed to educate the university community and the public about global issues and inspire discussion and dialogue.
Browse upcoming International Institute events or sign up to receive the monthly institute newsletter.
Designed for general audiences, the Saturday Morning Physics lectures are an opportunity to hear physicists discuss their work in easy-to-understand, non-technical terms. The seminars take place on Saturday mornings, 10:30-11:30 AM in 170 & 182 Weiser Hall. All talks are free and refreshments will be served from 9:55 to 10:20 AM before each talk begins.
Learn more about Saturday Morning Physics.
Dig in to modern medicine with the 6-week Mini Med School community education program, which invites participants to experience how leading health sciences researchers and physicians from the University of Michigan are advancing knowledge, finding new treatments, and applying new technologies.
Learn more about Mini Med School.
Many performances by the talented students at the School of Music, Theatre and Dance are free and open to the public.
Browse upcoming SMTD performances or sign up to join the email list.
Michigan Athletics has numerous events that are free admission for everyone, cross-country, golf, field hockey, swim & dive, and tennis, and track & field.
Find free admission athletic events.
With a program steeped in music, dance, and theater, UMS contributes to a vibrant cultural community by presenting approximately 60-75 performances and over 100 free educational activities each season. When available, senior citizens may purchase special rush tickets online or at the League Ticket Office. UMS also commissions new work, sponsors artist residencies, and organizes collaborative projects with local, national, and international partners.
Learn more about Senior Tickets and browse upcoming University Music Society events.
The Positive Links Speaker Series, presented by the Center for Positive Organizations at Michigan Ross, offers inspiring and practical research-based strategies for building organizations that are high performing and bring out the best in its people. Attendees learn from leading positive organizational scholars and connect with our community of academics, students, staff, and leaders. Positive Links sessions take place at Michigan Ross and are free and open to the public.
Learn more about the Positive Links Speaker Series or browse videos of past events.
If you have a particular interest or connection to a school or college, browse course materials, videos, lectures, student work and more available through Open Michigan. Browse Open Michigan materials by school, college or unit.
You may also wish to browse Michigan Online to find U-M teach-outs (as well as additional learning opportunities available for U-M alumni). Retirees may also enroll in U-M's courses on the Coursera website, where you can choose to audit a limited version of a course for free, or upgrade to the paid version for access to assessments and certificates.
Temporary Staffing Services offers assignments on the Ann Arbor and Medical campuses in a variety of positions ranging from secretarial, clerical, data entry, to skilled labor.
Learn more or contact Temporary Staffing Services. (Please note that if you return to university employment after retirement, you may become eligible for health coverage under the Employer Shared Responsibility (ESR) provision of the Affordable Care Act. Learn more about ESR or browse frequently asked questions.)
The Department of Psychology maintains a confidential list of individuals who are interested in participating in paid research studies. When a researcher has a need for subjects, they review the list and call those who meet the criteria for their specific study.
Sign up to be part of the Department of Psychology’s Paid Subject Pool.
UMHealthResearch is a free and secure tool that facilitates a partnership between health researchers and volunteers.
Sign up to participate in health research at the University of Michigan.
Submit your questions to the SSC Contact Center. You can also call the SSC at 5-2000 from the Ann Arbor campus, (734) 615-2000 locally, or (866) 647-7657 toll free, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m..
The University of Michigan in its sole discretion may modify, amend, or terminate the benefits provided with respect to any individual receiving benefits, including active employees, retirees, and their dependents. Although the university has elected to provide these benefits this year, no individual has a vested right to any of the benefits provided. Nothing in these materials gives any individual the right to continued benefits beyond the time the university modifies, amends, or terminates the benefit. Anyone seeking or accepting any of the benefits provided will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the benefits programs and the university's right to modify, amend, or terminate them. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the benefits information in this site. However, if any provision on the benefits plans is unclear or ambiguous, the Benefits Office reserves the right to interpret the plan and resolve the problem. If any inconsistency exists between this site and the written plans or contracts, the actual provisions of each benefit plan will govern.