After a semester ends, most students forget about their teachers faster than Britney Spears can get married. “What do teachers do after four months of lecturing?” is right up there with “who shot JFK”?
Do they moonwalk their way out to the Michael Jackson trial, predict A-Rod’s at bats, wait in line for the new U2 CD? There’s always that sabbatical in Hawaii. Some professors might opt to do research, mentor new students, volunteer or take up new pursuits.
Last week, Fairfield University announced a new payout/early retirement plan, which would allow teachers with 15 years of service, aged 63-68 to collect a year’s salary and an additional $20,000 to leave North Benson Road.
$20,000? Foxwoods is just right down the street … To this I say, “no comment.” Just joking. Professors would be fools not to take this plan – I wish I could take it! So why the rush to the early bird special? Academic Vice President Orin Grossman explained that this voluntary plan allows professors to “think about issues and how they plan their future.”
No doubt this also provides time to plan their capital campaign donations. Grossman explained that “every organization is enriched with new blood … there’s a sense of bringing in new perspectives and new ideas.”
So, should we expect to see Doogie Howsers patrolling the halls? Don’t think so. Grossman explained that there are a “reasonable number of professors who are over the age of 60” but noted that some professors get better and better with age, which brings me to my concern. It would be terrible if the really excellent, dedicated teachers jump at this opportunity and yet the hardened, almost life-like professors stay, ensuring misery for classes to come.
Teacher evaluations don’t really seem to get rid of the terrible professors, especially terrible tenured professors. Economically, this plan makes cents – however, if the school bumps highly paid faculty off of the payroll and fails to attract new high-quality talent, Fairfield will be facing big long-term problems.
As a tour guide, parents and students alike always ask about the professors. Fairfield should be known for attracting and retaining top-notch professors from a variety of fields – regardless of age. Professors really are a college’s most important and valuable commodity. Potential Fairfield students should be excited not only about someday living in a beach house (tough luck, juniors), or studying at Fairfield’s Florence program, but also studying under vivacious, energetic and talented professors. Class dismissed.
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