Many employees look forward to retirement, but some still need or want to work or pursue opportunities for new social networks. Thanks to a relatively new program, Encore Cornell, the university's faculty and staff can remain active and engaged throughout retirement.

"Encore Cornell provides avenues for retirees to learn new job skills, network with other retirees and remain engaged with Cornell in ways they find personally enriching and rewarding," said Lynette Chappell-Williams, associate vice president for workforce diversity and inclusion.

Encore Cornell, developed in conjunction with Cornell retiree Linda Jarschauer Johnson, was launched in 2009. "The program has been well-received thus far and is continuing to expand," Chappell-Williams said. She hopes to expand Encore Cornell nationwide, enabling Cornell retirees -- regardless of where they live -- to connect to part-time, temporary and volunteer positions within their local community or at Cornell and to develop networks in their area.

Encore Cornell has four components: Encore Hire, Encore On-Call, Encore Volunteer, and Encore and More.

Encore Hire was designed for retirees interested in continuing to work part time or in temporary assignments within Cornell, their local community or throughout the country through flexible workplace arrangements. It allows retirees to attend classes; participate in live and on-demand webinars to better prepare for job opportunities; create a searchable profile based on their skills and preferred working schedule and to search job opportunities; and subscribe to an electronic list of part-time/temporary employment opportunities in a particular area. A partnership with "Experience Works" refers mature workers, wherever they are located, to Cornell. Retirees may also be linked to Tompkins Workforce NY for local job search assistance.

Encore On-Call allows retirees to include their names and expertise on lists so that Cornell departments can contact them with questions or requests for assistance.

Encore Volunteer helps link retirees to local volunteer opportunities. For example, in a new partnership, retirees help rock babies and read to children at the Cornell Child Care Center. "Helping to raise future generations is about the most important endeavor that one can be involved in," said volunteer Toni Andres.

Encore and More provides links to such resources for mature workers and retirees as wellness activities, workshops and resume/interviewing skills.

To help meet retirees' needs for networking and remaining engaged with Cornell, "Local Connection" meetings are held at least four times a year in Ithaca, where the largest concentration of Cornell retirees reside. They have also been scheduled with Cornell retirees in California and Florida, two of many other locations with high concentrations of Cornell retirees, Chappell-Williams said.

"We hope to raise the visibility of the program to increase the number of retirees in part-time and temporary roles both on campus and remotely, so that they remain engaged with the university throughout their retirement years," she said.

Encore Cornell can be accessed through http://hr.cornell.edu/retirees/encore.html or by contacting Kathee Shaff, retiree program manager, at 607-255-0388 or e-mail krs4@cornell.edu.