College of Letters & Sciences

Aging Initiative in Research and Education (AIRE)

Established at UW-Whitewater in January of 2020, the Aging Initiative in Research and Education (AIRE) is a multidisciplinary university-community partnership initiative that supports the psychosocial needs of older adults residing in Wisconsin’s rural communities and beyond. AIRE brings together multiple UW-W academic disciplines and centers, including the Department of Social Work, Department of Computer Science, Department of Information Technology and Supply Chain Management, Center for Inclusive Transition, Education, and Employment, Cyber Security Center for Business, and Office of Research and Sponsored Programs as well as Wisconsin community partners in aging and disability services, and information technology to provide unified and strategic programing in aging research and education.

Mission

To enhance the health and wellness of aging populations in Wisconsin and beyond.

Establish AIRE as a national center of excellence in aging health and wellness through education, research, and service.

Prepare a skilled workforce to support and provide goods and services to older adults.
- Offer pathway programs in aging through dual credit opportunities for high-school students, undergraduate certificate programming, and masters certificate programming.
Advance the knowledge and understanding of health and wellness in aging.
- Conduct behavioral, social, clinical, and biomedical research in aging.
Provide a broad range of educational services in aging.
- Offer intergenerational training programs to community older adults and their family caregivers.
- Offer continuing education to professionals in the aging arena.