Results of a survey of 15 colleges and universities switching away, at least in part, from investment in the Teachers' Insurance and Annuities Fund and College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF) for faculty retirement illustrate a trend toward increased competition and some definite patterns in fund preference. (MSE)

Although even a few years ago researchers were suggesting that faculty aging and the resulting retirements would result in a huge demand for new hires, job opportunities have become scarce for recent graduates of doctoral programs. It is important, however, that colleges be able to hire new personnel to bring new ideas into the institution. In…

The opinion of a three-judge panel in a court case involving the validity of gender-based mortality tables and the right of women to receive equal pensions from the Teachers Insurance Annuities Association and the College Retirement Equities Fund is presented, including references to the earlier, related Norris case. (MSE)

Existing regulations, case law, and limited legislative history indicate that an institution can continue to employ faculty without tenure after age 65. However, once tenure is removed, the faculty member is entitled to all the protection of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. (MSE)

With a focus on law schools and their faculties, this panel discussion addresses the following question: Is tenure a progressive device, preserving academic freedom and encouraging scholarly initiative, or is it a harmful, anachronistic force, protecting entrenched ideas and fostering incompetency? (Author/JMD)

An analysis of the impact of increasing the minimum mandatory retirement age on the retirement patterns of older adults across the entire economy suggests that because of the strong disincentives to work embedded in social security and many employee pensions, most workers will continue to retire in their early sixties. (MSE)

Uncapping the mandatory retirement age is unlikely to alter retirement age by much, but it will lead to substantially higher pensions for faculty members who continue to work. Institutions must monitor retirement-age behavior in order to restructure pension and other benefits appropriately to meet income and retirement objectives. (Author/MSE)

Offers editorial opinion and excerpts from letters discussing pension requirements for teachers in the Soviet Union. Criticizes the policy of requiring teachers to put in a strictly enforced number of years of service to become eligible to receive a pension. (DK)

Discusses an initiative to revitalize senior faculty through an interview with Dr. Bernice Braid, Dean of Academic and Instructional Resources at Long Island University (New York). Also presents the inducements for early retirement in the second half of this article via an interview with Dr. Leonard T. Kreisman, Senior Professor of Economics,…

Portions of a July 1983 document describing the origins and possible functions of a commission on college faculty retirement, to be funded by the Carnegie Commission, are presented. The commission's major tasks would be to reexamine the purposes and goals of a pension fund, review the current plans, and structure a plan for the future. (MSE)

Alternatives proposed include early and phased retirement, career change incentives, retraining programs and/or leave, outplacement, and an earnings supplement at severance. (MSE)

Due to declining enrollments and "burnout," schools face two potentials for staff imbalance: a stagnant older staff or too many inexperienced teachers. The author proposes preventing these problems by teaming older teachers, ready for gradual retirement, with new teachers, who gain experience while taking over by degrees. Costs are considered.…

Assesses the common practice of allowing retiring employees to continue receiving group insurance benefits and suggests that before agreeing to this arrangement, administrators should consider the situation carefully and plan for the potential long-range consequences. (Author/WD)

Proposed alternatives to the current tenure system are administratively, legally, and ethically unsatisfactory. If uncapping the retirement of faculty presents significant problems, which is not yet clear, the academic community would be better advised to explore voluntary early retirement programs and policies. (Author/MSE)

Issues of early retirement of college and university faculty are examined as they relate to Australia's aging faculty population, and the conditions necessary to promote early retirement successfully in this context are considered. (MSE)