My Turn Program

My Turn Program Aging Mastery Program
I. Summary of Area
At Kingsborough Community College, we have an umbrella of senior programs on campus; My Turn, 50+ Wellness and the Aging Mastery Program. This document will focus on the My Turn Program and the Aging Mastery Program.

My Turn Program

Here at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, New York, there is a program designed to meet the educational needs of people 60 years of age and older. The “My Turn” program has been in existence for over 30 years. The program has increased the attendance, to the college for regular students as well as My Turn students (this was part of the purpose of the program 30 years ago, and still is.)

The My Turn program is a program offered by Kingsborough
Students have the opportunity to complete college degrees or to take courses of personal interest in an intergenerational setting. My Turn students also volunteer their services to mentor ESL students attending the college through the Talking Buddies program which is overseen by a My Turn student. Other activities offered exclusively for the My Turners include: special registration, academic advisement by long time My Turn students, meet and greet at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, a newsletter and a very energetic My Turn club.

The My Turn Club consist of an executive board with a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary. The My Turn Club provides the social component to the program while the school provides the academics.

There is an $80 non-refundable registration fee which allows the My Turn students to enroll in the college and register for courses. My Turn students are invited to enjoy the college campus and to participate in all college activities. Students can also purchase parking permits, if driving to the college for $55 which is valid for fall/winter and spring/summer. College Administration, in cooperation with NYCT Paratransit, has established 3 specific AAR stops at Kingsborough Community College: A- Administration Building, T-7 Building, MAC - LIGHTHOUSE for student who use Access-A-Ride for transportation on a day to day basis. My Turners are responsible
Barbara Ginsberg
The program can be credited to Dr. Barbara Ginsberg, the creator of the My Turn Program. After receiving her EdD (Applied Human Development and Gerontology) from Columbia University in 1981, Dr. Ginsberg became the director of an educational program for 30 students who were 65 years of age. Beginning in 1981, the program called My Turn, originally only offered college courses for credit but quickly developed into multidimensional activities for older learners including opportunities to mentor and volunteer in a variety of settings.
Through the years, Dr. Ginsberg has been recognized for her work and dedication to adult learning. The program has been recognized by many national organizations such as AARP, Dr. Ginsberg received the Outstanding Achievement in Commuter Student and Adult Learner Award for the American College Personnel Association in 1992. The Association for Continuing Higher Education named the My Turn Program as The National Model Program, 1994, for both the United States and Canada. Dr. Ginsberg had the privilege of traveling to different cities to speak about the program as well as represent My Turn at the New York State and White House Conference on Aging. She was also recognized by the Brooklyn Borough President as the “Brooklyn Woman of