Research notes [Aug. 2003]

The Graying of the Faculty in the University System of Georgia

Background As the bulk of the academic workforce reaches career cycle maturation, American colleges and universities are struggling with replacement issues associated with a graying faculty. Reasons cited for this national trend in academe include pivotal pipeline impacts such as the massive hiring in the 1960s to accommodate the baby boomers, followed by tempered growth in subsequent decades, as well as variable retirement rates, due in part to improved healthcare and the federal abolishment of mandatory retirement.

The USG boasts a cadre of approximately 8,000 instructional faculty throughout 34 institutions. Is the graying of faculty a cause for concern in the USG? In addressing this question, the following report compares related trends of USG instructional faculty with national norms and highlights some major issues associated with a graying workforce in academe.

Georgia and the Nation Figure 1 compares the age ranges of USG instructional faculty with national norm survey data provided by the Higher Education Research Institute.1 The graph illustrates that USG faculty tend to be younger than their national peers, with almost three quarters of the population being under the age of 55. In contrast, 65 percent of faculty across the nation are less than 55 years of age.
Figure 1

Percent of Instructional Faculty by Age Range

USG vs. National Norms

40% USG

National Norms

35% 30% 25% 20%

36.4% 45-54

27.7%

35-44

23.7% 55-64

34.4% 45-54 29.5%

22.1%

55-64

35-44

15%

10% 5% 0%

9.6%
34 and Under

2.6% 65+

8.2%
34 and Under

5.8% 65+

1 Lindholm, J.A., Astin, A.W., Sax, L.J., & Korn, W.S. (2002). The American College Teacher: National Norms for the 200102 HERI Faculty Survey. Los Angeles: Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA. The HERI Faculty Survey is a commonly used source of data on faculty. Nationally, other than survey data, there is little data on faculty through IPEDS.
August 2003 Page 1 of 9

Presently, the average age of USG instructional faculty is 48; however, this figure varies across institutions and sectors (see Appendix 1). The research university sector has the youngest average age (47), with nearly half of all instructional faculty at Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University being under the age of 45. In contrast, over 70 percent of the faculty at the state colleges are over the age of 45, with the average age being 50. The Reasons for a Younger Faculty in Georgia Figure 2 illustrates the rate at which the average age of USG instructional faculty is shifting over time.
Figure 2 Average Age of USG Instructional Faculty
1984-2002
49
48
47
46
45
44
43 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
While the average age of USG instructional faculty is steadily rising, it is interesting to note that smaller rates of increase were observed during the late 1980s and 1990s. During these years, student enrollment within USG institutions markedly increased. This trend is illustrated in Figure 3.
August 2003 Page 2 of 9

250,000

Figure 3
University System of Georgia Enrollment
1962-2002

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

0 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002
Managing the instructional demands associated with enrollment growth is discretionary at USG institutions, and does not always translate into increasing faculty hires. Yet, it is logical that new faculty appointments to accommodate enrollment growth would impact average age trends. Since most instructional hires are made at the junior level, and this typically corresponds with a younger population, a slower rate of increase in average age would be evident during employment surges. Thus, relatively recent notable gains in student enrollment and subsequent faculty hiring may explain why the USG instructional population is younger, on average, than their national counterparts.
Years in Service An examination of years of service provides further detail (see Appendix 2). Figure 4 illustrates that over 50 percent of USG instructional faculty were hired after 1994, as compared to 40 percent nationally.

August 2003 Page 3 of 9

Figure 4

Percent of Instructional Faculty by Years of Service
USG vs. National Norms
60%

USG

National Norms

50%

51.1%

40% 30% 20% 10%
0%

0-8
31.1% 9-18
13.0% 19-28 4.6% 0.2%
29-38 39+

40.0%

0-8 28.0%

9-18 17.9%

12.8% 19-28
29-38

1.3% 39+

System-wide, over one half of instructional faculty has fewer than nine years of service. Additionally, most institutions have the greatest proportion of their faculty in the 0-8 years of service range. Augusta State University, Coastal Georgia Community College, and Georgia Perimeter College have the largest proportions of faculty in the 9-18 years of service range. Atlanta Metropolitan and Bainbridge College have the greatest proportions of faculty in the 1928 years of service range.
An important point to consider is that the percent change in student headcount from 1994 to 2002 at Bainbridge College was 85.8 percent and Coastal Georgia Community College 24.9 percent. If institutions with large proportions of faculty nearing retirement continue to experience large gains in enrollment, staffing plans will need to be formulated to ensure stability in educational quality and delivery to students.
The End of Mandatory Retirement: Projecting Retirements Projecting enrollments incorporates broad-based factors such as population growth, high school graduation rates, economic indicators, and institutional recruitment efforts; however, forecasting retirement trends is inherently more complex. Retirement decisions are highly personal and based upon an individual's financial circumstances, health and family issues, and workplace satisfaction.

August 2003 Page 4 of 9

Though the 1970 Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) was amended in 1986 to make mandatory retirement illegal, it allowed colleges and universities to set mandatory retirement ages because they were dealing with tenured employees. When that exemption expired in 1994, some observers conjectured that the employment pipeline would be clogged up with elderly professors who refused to retire.2 This assertion does not appear to have much validity either nationally or in Georgia.3
In the 2002 fiscal year, 148 of USG instructional faculty retired at an average age of 60 years (see Appendix 3). Figure 5 illustrates that 84 percent of the retirees for that year were under the age of 65.
Figure 5
USG Instructional Faculty by Retirement Age
FY 2002

60-64 41%

70+

65-69

3%

13%

54 and Under 11%
55-59 32%

Conclusions In general, the USG does not have an urgent need to address replacing an aging faculty population; however, the data suggest that some individual USG institutions will confront this issue in the next decade. While the System-wide retirements for fiscal year 2002 amounted to less than 2 percent of the instructional population, for some institutions this impact was greater. Retirements at Clayton College & State University, Columbus State University, Southern
2 Harvard, J. A Slightly Grayer Faculty. Harvard Magazine, Inc. November-December 2002: Volume 105, Number 2, p. 60. 3 Fleck, C. Faculty Retirement: The Issue, the Predictions, and the Effects on Campuses. Association of American Colleges & Universities Briefing Paper #22, September 2001.
August 2003 Page 5 of 9

Polytechnic State University, Atlanta Metropolitan College, Bainbridge College, and Coastal Georgia Community College accounted for approximately 5-8 percent of the instructional workforce at those institutions.
For more information, write or email: Dr. Anoush Pisani
Senior Research Associate Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
270 Washington St., SW Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Anoush.pisani@usg.edu
August 2003 Page 6 of 9

Appendix 1 University System of Georgia Instructional Faculty by Age
As of December 31, 2002

Total 34 and Under

Faculty N

%

35-44

N

%

45-54 N%

55-64 65 and Above Average

N %N

%

Age

Georgia Institute of Technology

766 105 14% 266 35% 219 29% 149 19% 27 4%

46

Georgia State University

958 121 13% 294 31% 326 34% 202 21% 15 2%

46

Medical College of Georgia

351 18 5% 100 28% 168 48% 59 17% 6 2%

48

University of Georgia

1,577 132 8% 440 28% 580 37% 374 24% 51 3%

48

Research Universities

3,652 376 10% 1,100 30% 1,293 35% 784 21% 99 3%

47

Georgia Southern University Valdosta State University
Regional Universities

569 56 10% 153 27% 226 40% 122 21% 12 2%

47

397 35 9% 106 27% 144 36% 102 26% 10 3%

48

966 91 9% 259 27% 370 38% 224 23% 22 2%

48

Albany State University

125 4 3% 20 16% 49 39% 46 37% 6 5%

52

Armstrong Atlantic State Univ.

187 23 12% 50 27% 57 30% 51 27% 6 3%

48

Augusta State University

163 8 5% 43 26% 57 35% 52 32% 3 2%

49

Clayton College & State Univ.

107 14 13% 21 20% 42 39% 28 26% 2 2%

48

Columbus State University

173 21 12% 38 22% 56 32% 52 30% 6 3%

48

Fort Valley State University

125 4 3% 29 23% 48 38% 39 31% 5 4%

51

Georgia College & State Univ.

277 35 13% 77 28% 102 37% 56 20% 7 3%

47

Georgia Southwestern State Univ.

91 11 12% 24 26% 40 44% 15 16% 1 1%

46

Kennesaw State University

341 33 10% 89 26% 121 35% 92 27% 6 2%

48

North Georgia Coll. & State Univ.

115 13 11% 21 18% 53 46% 28 24% 0 0%

48

Savannah State University

104 0 0% 22 21% 51 49% 27 26% 4 4%

51

Southern Polytechnic State Univ.

129 8 6% 25 19% 44 34% 45 35% 7 5%

51

State University of West Georgia

259 28 11% 75 29% 85 33% 66 25% 5 2%

48

State Universities

2,196 202 9% 534 24% 805 37% 597 27% 58 3%

48

Dalton State College Macon State College
State Colleges

108 3 3% 28 26% 42 39% 31 29% 4 4%

50

108 8 7% 23 21% 36 33% 37 34% 4 4%

50

216 11 5% 51 24% 78 36% 68 31% 8 4%

50

Abraham Baldwin Agric. Coll. Atlanta Metropolitan College Bainbridge College Coastal Georgia Comm. Coll. Darton College East Georgia College Floyd College Gainesville College Georgia Perimeter College Gordon College Middle Georgia College South Georgia College Waycross College
Two-Year Colleges

78 12 15% 25 32% 31 40% 9 12% 1 1%

45

35 1 3%

7 20% 11 31% 14 40% 2 6%

52

29 3 10%

4 14% 12 41% 9 31% 1 3%

50

41 1 2%

7 17% 12 29% 18 44% 3 7%

53

67 7 10% 20 30% 25 37% 13 19% 2 3%

47

23 2 9% 10 43% 7 30% 4 17% 0 0%

45

71 8 11% 20 28% 23 32% 20 28% 0 0%

47

93 11 12% 34 37% 35 38% 12 13% 1 1%

45

286 14 5% 71 25% 121 42% 72 25% 8 3%

49

73 11 15% 19 26% 27 37% 15 21% 1 1%

46

71 6 8% 21 30% 23 32% 19 27% 2 3%

48

30 5 17%

9 30% 12 40% 4 13% 0 0%

44

20 1 5%

7 35% 7 35% 4 20% 1 5%

48

917 82 9% 254 28% 346 38% 213 23% 22 2%

48

SYSTEM TOTAL

7,947 762 10% 2,198 28% 2,892 36% 1,886 24% 209 3%

48

August 2003 Page 7 of 9

Appendix 2 University System of Georgia Instructional Faculty by Years of Service
As of December 31, 2002

0-8 Years 9-18 Years 19-28 Years 29-38 Years 39+ Years

Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University Medical College of Georgia University of Georgia
Research Universities
Georgia Southern University Valdosta State University
Regional Universities
Albany State University Armstrong Atlantic State University Augusta State University Clayton College & State University Columbus State University Fort Valley State University Georgia College & State University Georgia Southwestern State University Kennesaw State University North Georgia College & State University Savannah State University Southern Polytechnic State University State University of West Georgia
State Universities
Dalton State College Macon State College
State Colleges
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Atlanta Metropolitan College Bainbridge College Coastal Georgia Community College Darton College East Georgia College Floyd College Gainesville College Georgia Perimeter College Gordon College Middle Georgia College South Georgia College Waycross College
Two-Year Colleges
SYSTEM TOTAL

48.0% 54.7% 56.1% 42.4% 48.1%
53.4% 58.9% 55.7%
53.6% 53.5% 41.1% 52.3% 60.7% 53.6% 67.5% 68.1% 54.3% 63.5% 44.2% 43.4% 64.5% 56.4%
40.7% 39.8% 40.3%
55.1% 28.6% 31.0% 31.7% 53.7% 73.9% 59.2% 53.8% 34.6% 72.6% 57.7% 53.3% 60.0% 48.1%
51.1%

31.6% 28.9% 30.5% 31.5% 30.7%
36.0% 30.2% 33.6%
23.2% 28.3% 41.7% 31.8% 19.7% 17.6% 22.4% 17.6% 35.5% 27.0% 32.7% 41.1% 20.5% 27.8%
36.1% 38.9% 37.5%
30.8% 28.6% 24.1% 43.9% 25.4% 17.4% 23.9% 37.6% 55.2% 17.8% 25.4% 30.0% 30.0% 36.6%
31.1%

13.8% 11.7% 11.7% 19.7% 15.6%
7.4% 8.6% 7.9%
12.0% 11.2% 11.7% 12.1% 12.1% 17.6%
7.2% 7.7% 8.2% 7.8% 16.3% 13.2% 10.8% 10.8%
16.7% 15.7% 16.2%
10.3% 42.9% 41.4% 17.1% 13.4%
4.3% 14.1%
7.5% 7.7% 9.6% 11.3% 16.7% 10.0% 12.3%
13.0%

6.4% 4.6% 1.7% 5.9% 5.3%
3.2% 2.3% 2.8%
11.2% 7.0% 5.5% 3.7% 7.5%
10.4% 2.9% 6.6% 2.1% 1.7% 5.8% 2.3% 4.2% 5.0%
6.5% 5.6% 6.0%
3.8% 0.0% 3.4% 7.3% 7.5% 4.3% 2.8% 1.1% 2.4% 0.0% 5.6% 0.0% 0.0% 2.9%
4.6%

0.1% 0.1% 0.0% 0.5% 0.3%
0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.1%
0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
0.2%

August 2003 Page 8 of 9

Appendix 3 University System of Georgia Instructional Faculty by Age at Retirement
Fiscal Year 2002

Total 54 and Under 55-59

60-64

65-69 70-74 75 and Above Average

Faculty N

%

N % N % N %N%N %

Age

Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University Medical College of Georgia University of Georgia
Research Universities

10 0

0%

3 30% 4 40% 2 20% 1 10% 0 0%

62

17 4 24% 4 24% 8 47% 0 0% 0 0% 1 6%

59

0

0

0%

0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

na

28 2

7%

6 21% 14 50% 6 21% 0 0% 0 0%

61

55 6 11% 13 24% 26 47% 8 15% 1 2% 1 2%

61

Georgia Southern University Valdosta State University
Regional Universities

7 3 43% 2 29% 2 29% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

56

9 1 11% 3 33% 2 22% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

61

16 4 25% 5 31% 5 31% 2 13% 0 0% 0 0%

59

Albany State University

3 1 33% 0 0% 1 33% 1 33% 0 0% 0 0%

62

Armstrong Atlantic State Univ.

3

0

0%

1 33% 1 33% 1 33% 0 0% 0 0%

62

Augusta State University

3

0

0%

1 33% 1 33% 1 33% 0 0% 0 0%

62

Clayton College & State Univ.

6

0

0%

2 33% 4 67% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

60

Columbus State University

9 1 11% 5 56% 2 22% 1 11% 0 0% 0 0%

59

Fort Valley State University

0

0

0%

0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

na

Georgia College & State Univ.

5 1 20% 2 40% 1 20% 1 20% 0 0% 0 0%

59

Georgia Southwestern State Univ.

3

0

0%

1 33% 1 33% 1 33% 0 0% 0 0%

62

Kennesaw State University

4

0

0%

2 50% 2 50% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

60

North Georgia Coll. & State Univ.

1 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

54

Savannah State University

0

0

0%

0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

na

Southern Polytechnic State Univ.

10 0

0%

2 20% 7 70% 1 10% 0 0% 0 0%

61

State University of West Georgia

3

0

0%

2 67% 1 33% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

59

State Universities

50 4

8% 18 36% 21 42% 7 14% 0 0% 0 0%

60

Dalton State College Macon State College
State Colleges

1

0

0%

1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

58

4

0

0%

2 50% 1 25% 0 0% 1 25% 0 0%

61

5

0

0%

3 60% 1 20% 0 0% 1 20% 0 0%

60

Abraham Baldwin Agric. Coll. Atlanta Metropolitan College Bainbridge College Coastal Georgia Comm. Coll. Darton College East Georgia College Floyd College Gainesville College Georgia Perimeter College Gordon College Middle Georgia College South Georgia College Waycross College
Two-Year Colleges

1

0

0%

1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

59

2

0

0%

2 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

57

2

0

0%

1 50% 1 50% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

61

2 1 50% 0 0% 1 50% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

58

1

0

0%

1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

59

1

0

0%

0 0% 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

60

1

0

0%

1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

55

1 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

52

10 0

0%

2 20% 5 50% 2 20% 1 10% 0 0%

63

0

0

0%

0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

na

1

0

0%

0 0% 1 100% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

60

0

0

0%

0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

na

0

0

0%

0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%

na

22 2

9%

8 36% 9 41% 2 9% 1 5% 0 0%

60

SYSTEM TOTAL

148 16 11% 47 32% 62 42% 19 13% 3 2% 1 1%

60

August 2003 Page 9 of 9