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Oral surgeon returns to UW after 50-year break
Richard Smith now back to finish what he started in 1960
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Although it is common for many college students to take longer than the ideal four years to graduate, most of them probably do not plan on taking almost half a century — but, that’s the case for returning student Richard Smith.
“I’m on the 50-year plan,” Smith said.
Originally enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in 1960, Smith completed three years before accepting an invitation to enroll in dental school at Columbia University, as they took a select few of those who had not yet completed their bachelor’s degree. Fearing he would not be accepted the following year, Smith said he left UW before completing his undergraduate degree.
“It was an opportunity that I didn’t want to pass up,” Smith said.
After graduating from Columbia in 1967, Smith entered the Air Force and, following his time in the service, he spent three years completing residency at Cornell University.
“I have all these credits and no degree,” Smith said.
After his career as an oral surgeon, as well as teaching at the University of California, Smith has returned to UW to complete his unfinished bachelor’s degree.
“In general, from an advising point of view, it is always an interesting puzzle to figure out what a student who left needs to finish to graduate,” said Scott Burkhardt, Smith’s adviser.
Considering the most recognized benefits of completing an undergraduate degree are often a salary and better job opportunities, many would question the purpose of returning after retirement to receive a college degree.
“My unfinished degree has always been in the back of my mind, a kind of void there,” Smith said. “I am currently a professor emeritus and semi-retired, and I wanted to do something useful with my time.”
Though the process was labor intensive, Smith faced no resistance in his efforts to return.
“I educated myself on policies regarding re-entry students, as well as the degree requirements that I needed to finish. I spoke with a few associate deans, as well as professors that I wanted to study under,” Smith said.
As a history major, Smith saw finishing his degree as an opportunity to study something he loves.
“History is something I am very interested in. Any book I buy has some relation to history,” Smith said.
Since he currently lives in California, most of Smith’s coursework will be completed online. However, he has visited Madison to meet his professors and sit in on a few lectures.
“I came out to meet my professors to show them that I am a real person and that they could count on me,” Smith said.
After this semester, Smith will be nine credits short from completing his degree. He plans to graduate in 2010.
Those who have worked with Smith on coordinating his return see him as an inspiration.
“It’s especially inspiring to see someone like Richard as a returning student,” Burkhardt said. “He doesn’t need this degree — it is strictly for his love of learning.
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