The vast majority of public employees--including teachers--are enrolled in defined-benefit pension plans. These plans are usually the product of state legislation that determines eligibility, benefit formulas, employer and employee contributions, and how payments will be calculated when an employee retires or leaves the system. Once an employee…

Nine recommendations are offered for making the Teachers' Insurance Annuity Association (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF) more attractive and competitive retirement investment vehicles for college faculty. They include broadening of account choice, fund transfer and management options, and counseling services. (MSE)

Declining enrollment and the impact of Proposition 13 are discussed in regard to retrenchment and retention rates. It is suggested that higher education establish meaningful communication and affirmative programming to lessen the effects of retrenchment and cut-backs. (Author/LC)

Consideration of a wide variety of options in maximizing income and controlling expenditures is recommended for Australian universities. Although marketing, fund raising, investment, and other income-producers are possibilities, tight control of expenditures is seen as the most effective retrenchment strategy. (MSE)

Collective bargaining is discussed as a means of resolving the retrenchment issue in future faculty employment problems using the University of Montana as a case study. Areas examined include: retirement, tenure, turnover, rank distribution, resource and position reallocation and financial exigency. (LC)

Events and conditions over the last 20 years that have altered the course of higher education are briefly noted, and trends in higher education for the early eighties are examined. Among the past influences on higher education that illustrate the wisdom of planning for a realistic period of time, such as five years, are the following: the massive…