As retired faculty members and librarians, we remain a vital part of Towson University’s successes and a source of enrichment for the students we have taught. TURFA is an organization FOR and OF retired faculty and librarians. We work together to create a welcoming atmosphere for newly retired members and bring them into our community as they begin this new stage of their lives.
TURFA provides opportunities for its members to connect socially and intellectually with each other and the university through formal and informal events. Since its inception TURFA has worked to expand and codify the benefits and privileges granted to TURFA members and other retired faculty and librarians. A survey report about Towson University retired faculty and librarians documented that retiring from Towson University does not mean disengaging from your intellectual community. TURFA aims to facilitate and stimulate that continued engagement among our members.
A Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the Provost, the Vice President of Administration and Finance, and the President of TURFA in June 2021, details the rights and privileges granted TURFA members and other retirees.
TURFA’s newsletter, The Advocate, is distributed twice a year (once in the spring and once in the fall) to members via email. Copies of the current and previous newsletters are posted here:
A yearly Annual Report (PDF) summarizes the scope of our activities. These activities are also presented in a more engaging and member-focused manner in the biannual newsletter The Advocate. We also help maintain the current directory of Towson University Professors, Faculty and Librarians Emeriti.
TURFA is member led organization with an Executive Committee structured according to a set of Bylaws (PDF). The Executive Committee consists of elected officers and the chairpersons of its standing committees.
The TURFA Executive Committee meets once per month to discuss current initiatives, projects, partnerships, issues and concerns shared by members. Executive Committee meetings are often attended by non-voting members who are leading TURFA initiatives, by college representatives and by TURFA representatives on other university committees. Minutes are taken at each meeting and are available to the public.
There are six elected officers: president, president-elect, treasurer, secretary and two members at large. The election of officers is held in the spring. Members are notified via email when the nominating committee is seeking nominations. Members can either self-nominate or nominate other members who agree to serve. All members can submit nominations, but only full members can hold elected positions and vote in the election. The membership also elects a TURFA representative and alternate to the Academic Senate.
Critical to TURFA’s success is the work of the standing committees. All of these committees need members to assist in their work. TURFA members who are interested in joining in the efforts of a particular committee should send an email to TURFA AT_TOWSON detailing their interest.