Ending Mandatory Retirement for Tenured Faculty (original) (raw)

This report discusses whether the special circumstances of tenured faculty in higher education justify a continued exception to the national policy prohibiting age discrimination in employment, and examines a number of practical sters that are available or could be made available to address the problems raised by the elimination of mandatory retirement. Among the topics discussed are: the effects of uncapping on faculty retirement; faculty performance and institutional quality; pensions, retirement prograTs and costs; and retirement incentive programs. Two key conclusions are presanted: (1) at most colleges and universities, few tenured faculty would continue working past age 70 if mandatory retirement is eliminated; and (2) at some research universities, a high proportion of faculty would choose to work past age 70 if mandatory retirement is eliminated. Committee recommendations include suggestions for continuing retirement income; the adoption of NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL