In this article, we theorize the disciplinary lifecycle as an alternative to the limited metaphor of the "career arc." We argue that theorizing career trajectories as lifecycles resonates more fully with the experiences that are common to careers in rhetoric, composition, and writing studies (RCWS), thereby providing more possibilities…

The "New England Journal of Higher Education" ("NEJHE") Executive Editor John O. Harney had the chance to catch up with Lasell College President Michael Alexander about the small Newton, Massachusetts, college's plans to challenge the higher education business model. The interview is presented in this article.

Throughout the twentieth century the population of the United States, as indeed the rest of the world, was growing older. Since 1900 the percentage of Americans 65 years of age and older has more than tripled (from 4 percent in 1900 to 13 percent in 2009), and the number has increased from 3 million to 40 million. "Between 2010 and 2050, the…

The purpose of this study was to explore opportunity costs of postsecondary education in the U.S. in the past three decades (1975-2005), as a measure to support investment decisions at national levels and as experienced by individuals deciding on pursuing further education. Based on human capital theory and inspired by a set of studies aiming at…

Institutions must provide good counseling regarding retirement program benefits, since when in doubt about their financial position faculty members are inclined to remain employed. Colleges should consider offering nonfinancial incentives for early retirement as well as financial. (MLW)

Higher education employees often participate in university-sponsored defined contribution pension plans that place the investment decision responsibility upon them. In order to examine investment decision-making behavior with retirement savings plans we investigated attitude-mediated, individual difference determinants of risky decision-making…

The California State University and Colleges' (CSUC) Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) Program is described, and information is presented of those who retire during a three-month period with an incentive bonus of two additional years of (unearned) retirement service credit. During the eligibility period 1,047 CSUC employees retired, and it appears…

A model of faculty flow was used to predict the effects of new operating policies on the age and rank composition of a large group of university faculty. Specific policies analyzed with this model include changing promotion rates for nontenure faculty and implementing an early retirement program for tenure faculty. (Editor/PG)

Positive Transitions for Student Athletes is a program designed to address the psychological and career-related issues surrounding the inevitable sport retirement transition faced by the majority of collegiate athletes. Provides a rationale for the development of sport retirement programs, as well as the Positive Transitions program and outcome…

Findings of three reports on the potential impact of age 70 mandatory retirement legislation on the arts and sciences faculties of institutions belonging to the Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE) are summarized. In a report by J. Russell Southworth et al., faculty flow (departures, new appointments, appointments to tenure, etc.) is…

The 1978 Amendments to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act establishes the mandatory retirement age at 70. The implications for higher education are discussed, a steady-state model is examined, and an alternative is offered. (Author/MLW)

This proceedings document discusses academic leadership in uncertain times, the need for a cooperative model of collective bargaining to provide administration and faculty the flexibility required to respond to changing times, who should bargain for whom and for what, readiness of the next generation to lead, and retirement issues for college…

Six alternative theoretical models are employed to determine the relationship between age and several performance and activity variables for a national sample of doctorate faculty members in 7 selected scientific disciplines. The findings indicate that "steady-state staffing" policies should continue to recognize individual differences and not be…

This article presents four models of education for older adults and examines their assumptions and implications for curriculum development. It also examines the role of higher-education in meeting the needs of old people. (Author)

Explores two problems, role conflict and athletic retirement, commonly faced by student athletes. Describes several potentially useful intervention models based on a psychoeducational approach, and suggests some directions for future research in aiding understanding of student-athlete development. (Author/KS)