In 1972, the new UW-Green Bay welcomed its first guest auditors, men and women ages 60 and older, who were invited to register for courses (in which there was extra capacity) and sit in free of charge, except for any fees for materials. The program was popular and a way for campus to connect with community members. The first venture of its kind in the UW System, it was soon picked up by other campuses including UW-Madison. The “auditors” program was curtailed sharply when high enrollments and budget cuts began to chafe in the early 1990s. Arguably, the decades-long popularity of the program set the stage for the success of the Learning in Retirement program.
