Agronomy department honored with Hansen Award

The Department of Agronomy has been awarded the 2004 Arthur G. Hansen Recognition Award for its relationship with its retirees.

The award is sponsored by the Purdue University Retirees Association and the Office of the President.

The department received a trophy and $2,500, that can be used to help strengthen the department’s ties to its retirees. Agronomy is the second winner of the award. The initial winner was the Cooperative Extension Service.

The award is named for former Purdue President Arthur Hansen, Purdue’s eighth president, who established the retirees’ association in 1976. The award is given annually to a Purdue school, department, office or division that cultivates and maintains meaningful relationships with its retirees.

“Purdue retirees have given a great part of themselves to Purdue and many are still doing so, helping to enhance the university with their talents, time and gifts,” says Roy Johnson, president of the Purdue University Retirees Association. “We encourage retirees to continue to be part of the university, and we applaud those departments who so greatly appreciate the contributions and richness that retirees bring to Purdue by helping them remain involved.”

The nomination letter says the department “has been known for years for its familial character and for being one of the best departments in which to work and from which to be a retiree.”

Specific evidence of agronomy’s efforts to include retirees are as follows:

• Departmental newsletters that are sent to retirees on a regular basis.

• Retirees are included in the departmental e-mail distribution list to inform them of special seminars or other activities.

• Retirees are invited to an annual luncheon where they can discuss their careers and research, and they can learn about current developments and plans for the department.

• Retirees are included in consideration for departmental awards.

• Retirees are invited to the two annual departmental social events.