Findlay, Ohio, Oct. 30, 2000 — The University of Findlay’s Marilyn and Gordon Macklin Institute for Intergenerational Studies has received a three-year, $494,257 grant from the United States Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIBSE) to develop an intergenerational studies strand for UF’s master of arts in education degree program.

In 1997, The University of Findlay was granted $255,000 from FIBSE to develop an associate’s degree program in intergenerational studies that reacted to the need to prepare individuals to work simultaneously with young children and senior adults. However, the innovative nature of the program, the specialized cross-training required for instructors and the rapid growth of the intergenerational concept has created a need for an advanced degree that prepares individuals for careers as intergenerational professors or in other areas of the intergenerational field, such as political advocacy, social policy, research and evaluation.

The new master’s level program, which will begin in January, builds on the success of the undergraduate program. Guest lecturers for classes will include the top 10 intergenerational professionals in the United States. These professionals will then serve as mentors to graduate students as they complete self-designed service learning, internship and practicum experiences at various intergenerational settings across the nation.

In addition, the new grant funds the creation of an intergenerational video training series which will be used for instructional purposes and intergenerational professional development. The video series will also be offered to other institutions of higher education that are considering starting an intergenerational studies academic program.

The Marilyn and Gordon Macklin Institute for Intergenerational Studies is a pilot program that is a grassroots effort in a rapidly expanding field. The institute has become a national model training site and encompasses an associate’s degree in early childhood education/intergenerational studies, an intergenerational care center, a training and development component and now master’s level training.

For more information on the program, call Vicki Rosebrook, Institute director, at 419-434-6951