Title

From Retention To Age Gap: Challenges Of Younger Faculty In Academia

Keywords

Academic institution; Age gap; Engineering student; Research; Retention; Younger faculty

Abstract

In this paper we encapsulate some of the challenges that a younger faculty member may face in academia. We mainly draw on some of our own empirical observations, and in some cases, on experience of others in addressing some of these challenges that are, in many cases, difficult to dispute. The authors discuss some general but essential challenges, and present that the younger faculty members are expected to produce much more that their senior colleagues. This poses some critical issues that are difficult for many younger faculties to surmount. Without the appropriate level of experience, the lack of networking capacity, and the lack of a strong research infrastructure, it is difficult for younger faculties to attract research funding. Nevertheless, many academic institutions and colleges have their younger faculties independently leading their own research programs. This paper also contains some discussions on faculty retention issues. Some remedial actions are suggested to increase the efficiency and robustness of the faculty retention process. These actions are practical, transparent, and cost-effective. Furthermore, the authors share their firsthand observations of the effects of professor/student age gap on faculty/undergraduate student interactions according to the students' accounts. On this issue students exhibit mixed feelings about their younger professors.

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Publication Title

IMSCI 2007 - International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics and Informatics, Proceedings

Volume

2

Number of Pages

142-146

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

84896954900 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84896954900

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