RICE UNIVERSITY

---

Report of the Ad Hoc Faculty Advisory Committee on Retirement
August, 1998

Introduction

Implementing "Rice: The Next Century" addresses faculty retirement and states the following objectives 1:

• Renew the University by:

-Increasing the retirement rate

-Recruiting/retaining higher caliber faculty in growth areas

• Identify financial and non-financial incentives to motivate retirement
• Implement voluntary retirement incentives to accomplish this goal

1 Adapted from Implementing "Rice: The Next Century"

Ad Hoc Faculty Committee on Retirement

A faculty committee has been appointed by David Auston to 1:

• Identify key parameters that influence faculty retirement decisions
• Develop an understanding of the relative importance of these parameters for Rice faculty
• Determine where there are important demographic differences
• Identify retirement planning needs of Rice faculty
• Deliver report/recommendations no later than May 15, 1998

1 Adapted from David Auston's "Charge to Committee" memo

Interviews of Key University Leaders

Our objectives for these interviews are to:

• Understand the context of this initiative in terms of Rice's long-term goals
• Understand other issues facing Rice that impact the retirement initiative
• Develop a preliminary picture of how key University leaders view the retirement initiative
• Gather input on the communication strategy and research methods we are considering

Interview Guide

These are the questions the Towers Perrin interviewer will be covering with you:

• What are the most critical long-range strategic issues facing the University?
• What are the critical things Rice needs to do well to accomplish its long-range strategy? Where are the biggest gaps or shortfalls?
• What is the "deal" between Rice and its faculty (what does the University need and expect from faculty, and what does it offer in return)?

-How well does the current "deal" support the long-term strategy?

-How is the "deal" changing?

• What are your views on the faculty retirement initiative?
• What is your estimate of how other faculty view the retirement initiative?
• What ideas do you have about conducting the research effectively?
• If you had a major role in this initiative, what would be your criteria for a successful project ("best hopes" and "biggest concerns")?
• What are the major barriers to achieving those criteria?

To Report Home Page
To Table of Contents
To Conclusions and Recommendations
To Faculty Leadership Interviews Summary
To Faculty Focus Groups Summary
To Faculty Retirement Survey Summary (Part 1)
To Faculty Retirement Survey Summary (Part 2)
To Appendices

Rice Home Page

This page is maintained by the Office of the Provost at Rice University.