Bringing life-long learners home

THE IDEA OF SMALL COMMUNITIES on or near campus of residents with connections to the school--whether they're alumni, retired faculty and staff, or local seniors attracted to the campus lifestyle--is not new. And while it's an intriguing idea, at the top of most institutions' to-do lists it is not.

That's where Campus Continuum hopes to help. "We bring together all the parties needed to bring the project to fruition," says Gerard Badler, managing director of the Boston-area firm and former president of a marketing consulting firm spun off from Harvard Business School.

Badler's plan: Establish a network of these residential communities, geared toward life long learners ages 55 and up. Each would be launched under a common brand name, with his firm securing the capital if necessary.

In return, partner schools would publicly endorse the project and provide residents with access to their educational, cultural, and sports programs. While using campus land is what Badler considers ideal, he can help locate nearby land. Besides the potential revenue from providing the land and welcoming residents who would be likely to donate to the school, the network aspect of the project is a plus. Participants could learn from each other, for example, how to best attract residents and donations.

To identify schools with demand for this type of community, Badler has created an online consumer survey; data will first be analyzed this spring. "We are asking responders to tell us to which schools they'd like to retire and what types of amenities they'd prefer," he says. (To learn more visit www.campuscontinuum.com.) Encouraging alumni, retired faculty, continuing education students, older donors, parents of prior students, and seniors in the area to fill out the survey can help determine whether the concept is worth pursuing. About 30 schools across the country have inquired about a partnership, he notes.

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