Abstract
This essay examines how academic departments can sustain the productivity of tenured faculty and address cases of declining intellectual engagement. The author distinguishes between preventing stagnation and responding to existing non productivity, arguing that clear expectations, meaningful rewards, and active administrative support are central to maintaining faculty vitality. Causes of entrenched inactivity range from personal circumstances to departmental climates that overlook or marginalize certain faculty. The essay critiques extreme proposals for addressing such problems and instead advances faculty exchange as a practical mechanism for both prevention and revitalization. In a faculty exchange, two institutions temporarily trade faculty members for a semester or year, allowing each participant to gain new experiences, ideas, and evaluative perspectives while providing departments with fresh talent and external review. The discussion outlines administrative considerations related to state laws, institutional type, rank, salary, duties, and length of exchange. It concludes that faculty exchanges offer significant developmental benefits at minimal cost and can effectively support ongoing growth among faculty members across the productivity spectrum.
Recommended Citation
Gillespie, Patti P.
(1985)
"The Over-the-Hill-Gang and the Faculty Exchange,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 53, Article 15.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol53/iss1/15
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