The Academy Is Aging in Place: Assessing Alternatives for Modifying Institutions of Higher Education

Abstract

Institutions of higher education employ a greater proportion of persons over 65 relative to the general labor force, and the median age of the professorate has now surpassed all other occupational groups. Such a novel demographic change in the academic workforce presents several unique challenges. Should institutions modify policies and programs that provide more opportunities for aging faculty to remain healthy and productive, or should efforts focus on facilitating retirement? How universities and colleges choose to retain or retire their aging faculty certainly has become a point for consideration. This forum presents what is known about the aging academic workforce and describes current institutional responses. The discussion then builds on the notion of aging in place, presenting a more holistic approach to the modification of institutional policies and programs that support continued faculty engagement as well as mutually agreeable retirements. In particular, institutions should consider making modifications that increase targeted health and wellness programs, expand retirement counseling services, and offer varied retirement pathway options as viable responses to the continued aging of the academic workforce.