There is, of course, variation. A professor with a heavy teaching load who feels that he is a slave to his students may be more interested in retiring than someone who spends the majority of the week engaged in research that reflects a lifelong passion.
"At the most selective liberal-arts colleges and research universities, many faculty members would like to stay on as long as they can," says Ronald G. Ehrenberg, director of the Cornell Higher Education Research Institute. That is especially true, he says, at private research universities because professors at those institutions "love what they are doing, and their whole identity is tied up with their work."
Would you like to comment?
Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.