The Chronicle: Colloquy: Responses

Let mine be the first response to support a mandatory retirement age for college professors. A faculty should be composed of scholars in all stages of development. The professoriate suffers when its numbers are so lopsided, so many old, so few young.

If professors wish to teach into their eighties, they should do so -- as adjuncts. To be sure, we need their guidance and wisdom . More importantly, we need their institutional memory so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. They can accomplish this noble task in the role of professor emeritus. Let them have access to an institutional mail station, office space, and library privileges and invite them to all faculty functions. But give their full-time slots to those who will bring balance to the ranks: us.

: -- E.J. Vega, Associate Professor of English, Palm Beach Community College (posted 8/30, 2:37 p.m., E.D.T.)

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