In 1972, the Administration on Aging, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, established a grant program to fund gerontology programs in colleges and universities. This was the first federal program targeted specifically at education and training in aging issues. That same year, Syracuse University established the Gerontology Center, which in 2011 was renamed the Aging Studies Institute (ASI).
ASI is a collaborative initiative of the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs and the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Its mission is to coordinate and promote aging-related research and education at Syracuse University. With 14 faculty associates and over 65 faculty affiliates from more than 17 departments, ASI provides faculty and students with opportunities to engage in multi-disciplinary research related to the SU academic strategic plan’s “Human Thriving” Area of Distinctive and Aspirational Excellence.
ASI is also home to the Center for Aging and Policy Studies (CAPS), which is the focal point for research and training on the demography and economics of aging at Syracuse University (SU). Research at CAPS includes two signature and three cross-cutting themes. The two signature themes are Health and Well-Being and Family and Intergenerational Supports; the three cross-cutting themes are the role of Policy, the importance of Place, and the distinctive circumstances of special Populations.
ASI is committed to developing the next generation of scholars and practitioners. It provides education and training opportunities to undergraduate students and faculty members at Syracuse University. ASI supports the undergraduate minor in Gerontology, where students are exposed to a variety of theoretical perspectives, research methodologies, and policy initiatives. It also coordinates and promotes a range of age-related graduate-level coursework that is offered by various SU departments.