OLDER ADULT AUDITOR PROGRAM

New York state law permits residents 60 years or older to audit credit-bearing classes at state-affiliated campuses free of charge. Auditors participate in class activities at the discretion of the instructor and on a space-available basis. Participants identify courses of interest and contact the instructor to determine openings for older adult auditor participation.*

Auditors participate fully in classes, but there is no college credit, nor are any formal records kept of involvement. Auditors are expected to comply with instructor requirements; consent for participation in the program can be withdrawn if circumstances warrant.

*NOTE: Individual lessons on musical instruments aren’t available through this program. Also, space limitations in the school of nursing and studio art courses often mean auditors can’t be accommodated. In addition, all requests for audits in the School of Management must be approved in the school office and not by individual instructors. At this time we can’t accommodate older adults auditors in distance-education courses. Certain other courses may also have restrictions.

While there is no charge for tuition, you may voluntarily choose to purchase materials associated with a course. In addition, auditors can request a limited Binghamton University ID card from the Continuing Education & Outreach office. This card can be used for the library, a Binghamton University email account, and on-campus computer access, as well as Blackboard.

If you’re new to the Older Adult Audit program, please follow these steps

1. Seek instructor approval. To locate a course, go to our online catalog of courses and select the term you are interested in. You'll be able to search for courses a number of ways; when you find one you like, look for the instructor's name, class times and location.
2. Contact the instructor (visit the Binghamton University Telecommunications Directory or the appropriate department website to locate phone and email information for that instructor) and ask for approval to audit the program.  Ask the instructor to complete the approval form.
3. Complete section before Part A.  Parts A and B of the Medical History Report(157kb, pdf) and return the form to Continuing Education & Outreach so we can forward it to the Decker Student Health Services Center for you. Information about completing that form is located here. Do not complete Part B if your DOB is before 1/1/1957.
4. If you take 12 or more credits in the term, you must also complete a Tuberculosis Risk Assessment Form(74kb, pdf) and return that to us so we can forward that along with your Medical History Report to Decker Student Health Services Center. Information about completing that form is located here.
5. Bring the signed Instructor Approval Form to Continuing Education & Outreach office on the Vestal campus (directions) to sign “the book” and to request your limited Binghamton ID card, which is good until the end of the term. If you signed up at the University Downtown Center Continuing Education & Outreach office, you don’t need to come to our office on the Vestal campus. We’ll mail your ID card to you.

If you are a returning Older Adult Auditor, please follow these steps

1. Seek instructor approval. To locate a course, go to our online catalog of courses and select the term you are interested in. You'll be able to search for courses a number of ways; when you find one you like, look for the instructor's name, class times and location.
2. Contact the instructor (visit the Binghamton University Telecommunications Directory or the appropriate department website to locate phone and email information for that instructor) and ask for approval to audit the program.  Ask the instructor to complete the approval form.
3. Bring the signed Instructor Approval Form to Continuing Education & Outreach and provide us with the course name, course number and instructor’s name and we’ll mail your ID card to you.

Helpful Information

A personal email account is recommended.  As of 2010, BU discontinued providing email addresses for Older Adult Auditors.  Official BU communications are available on the B-Line  website:

Your limited ID card can be used…