For elders, school’s out way too soon

So 12 years ago when he learned of an opportunity to audit courses at Wellesley College, DeFazio began taking courses on architecture, art history, and music.

“I go and enjoy it,’’ said DeFazio, who owns Windsor Press Inc. “I learn a lot. I try to keep my mind cranking away.’’

But this fall DeFazio and other Wellesley senior citizens are not being welcomed back to classes at Wellesley College, where officials say budget cuts have forced them to suspend a program allowing the town’s senior citizens to audit courses for free. Other residents had been receiving $100 discounts off the usual $350 auditing fee before the program was halted.

The decision has disappointed many of the 100 community members who participate in the program each semester, and DeFazio said he’s drafting a letter and collecting signatures from fellow senior citizens that will ask the college to reinstate the program.

“We look at it as a part of our benefit of living here in Wellesley,’’ DeFazio said. Wellesley College students pay $4,728 to take a course.

Wellesley College dean Andrew Shennan said that the economic downturn has forced the school to significantly reduce staffing in its registrar’s office, and the cuts have affected the college’s ability to manage the auditing program for residents.

“Our hope is that this will be a temporary suspension,’’ Shennan said. “The college is planning to search for a new registrar in the fall, and there is a possibility that with that appointment, we may be able to restore the auditing program. Certainly we appreciated the value of this longstanding program for the college’s neighbors and regret the necessity of suspending it this fall.’’

The free auditing was a perk for Wellesley residents that other area colleges, including Bentley University and Brandeis University, do not offer residents.

Boston College also does not allow senior citizens to audit undergraduate courses for free, but the college does offer other free programs to seniors and alumni through its Alumni Education Program, said Boston College spokesman Jack Dunn.

But as a Wellesley resident whose tax dollars contribute to emergency services used by Wellesley College, 74-year-old Renate Olsen said she does not believe allowing senior citizens to sit in on classes is too much to ask of the college. Those auditing courses do not take examinations or write papers, and participate in discussion only when they are invited to speak, she said.

“We don’t take up any space, so to speak,’’ Olsen said. “We obviously breathe the same air as [the students], but that doesn’t count.’’

Olsen said the ability to sit in on lectures has been a “generous and appreciated gesture’’ by the college and helps keep “gray-haired’’ students intellectually stimulated and alert. In her studies at the college, Olsen said, she’s learned about trade along the old Silk Routes between China and Europe, and she was looking forward to learning more about Islamic culture.

Younger students also benefit from senior citizens auditing courses, Olsen said, because they are exposed to the “older folks’ point of view.’’

DeFazio said he’s taken 20 courses at the college over the past 12 years. He said he looks at the ability to sit in on classes as a gift provided by the college in lieu of its paying property taxes to the town.

“The town grew up around the college,’’ DeFazio said. “There has been a long, wonderful relationship. I hope that the college really reconsiders.’’ Wellesley College spokeswoman Arlie Corday said alumnae and college employees are being allowed to audit courses this fall. But Corday said they do not sign up for classes through the registrar’s office.

Corday said the college continues to offer other resources that Wellesley residents can enjoy, including free access to the Davis Museum and Cultural Center and free concerts throughout the year.

“There still a huge number of things that I hope the community will continue to take advantage of,’’ Corday said.

Globe correspondent Caitlin Castello contributed to this report.