As Faculty Members Age, Tough Decisions Lie Ahead

Inside Higher Ed has a posting about the looming retirement of vast numbers from the professorate.  As the "gray wave" decides whether to remain or retire from colleges and universities across the nation, their status will provide a new set of challenges in higher education.  Should there be a mandatory retirement age for college professors?  How will a new generation of junior faculty define their roles?  How will all this affect college finances?  The article goes on to note that, "what distinguishes higher education in general and professors in particular is how they relate to their institutions...these relationships can run very deep, particularly at small liberal arts colleges, and they can make professors even more leery of leaving.  James H. Mullen, president of Allegheny College said, "For so many of our faculty, their identity is wrapped up in the life of our institution."  The faculty of Brookdale can clearly relate to Dr. Mullen's observation.  To read the full article:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/03/08/large_numbers_of_retiring_professors_pose_problems_for_colleges