Retired faculty offer to teach for free next year

Some retired UNC faculty are willing to give up fishing trips and free time to return to the classroom next year — even without pay.

The UNC Retired Faculty Association approved a resolution at its Feb. 17 meeting offering to teach courses and perform other faculty duties such as grant-writing without compensation.

They plan to bring their resolution to Chancellor Holden Thorp in the next couple of weeks as an attempt to mitigate the impact of potential budget cuts next year.

Employee furloughs or layoffs" increased class sizes and reduced research capabilities have been named as possible consequences of a tighter budget next year.

""The association does not want the quality of the University to be compromised" and doesn't want the educational experiences of the students to be sacrificed under the current economic conditions" said Andrew Dobelstein, president-elect of the association and former professor of social work.

The association, formed in 1986, is a group of about 700 retired faculty that seeks ways to maintain meaningful connections to UNC.

Dobelstein said involvement would be completely voluntary, and he wasn't sure how many retirees might be interested in returning.

But he has heard mostly positive responses from retired faculty so far, he said.

Professor Emeritus Thad Beyle, 74, is officially retired but continues to teach political science courses.

He said that he would be glad to return next year for free just to help out.""

The association includes faculty from almost every discipline" and many have remained involved with their areas of study during retirement" Dobelstein said.

""Sure" they're not going to be as sharp as some of the new people coming out but it's not as if they're duds either" he said.

While the proposal might sound like a win-win, Joe Templeton, chairman of the faculty, said the situation isn't as simple as inviting former professors back into the classroom.

Before accepting any retired faculty, administrators would have to carefully review whether state and University guidelines would permit them to step into the same roles they did before, Templeton said.

UNC also would have to consider how the move would be viewed by the University's accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which has strict guidelines about the effectiveness and qualifications of faculty.

The Faculty Council has not discussed the proposal yet.

If administrators approve the idea, the association will conduct a survey to match interested members with the positions that UNC needs.

Dobelstein said he wasn't sure what Thorp and other administrators would think of the idea.

The chancellor is really a very capable person" he said. If this is something that he can make use of he'll make use of it … If he just says ‘Thank you no thank you" that's his call.""


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