The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents will convene today to examine two major issues challenging the system, including the graying and retention of faculty.
In addition to professors, there is likely to be a shortage of university health workers, advisers and others who help provide services to students on campus, UW System spokesperson David Giroux said.
Due to the changing demographics of American society, the numbers of college professors who will be nearing retirement age will increase nationwide each year for the next decade. As a result, the competition to find replacements is expected to increase on a nationwide level.
“Every year, the number of faculty nearing retirement age gets larger,” said Colleene Thomas, UW student regent. “We are going to start seeing a nationwide exodus from our faculty in the next decade. We need to start looking at ways to attract more competitive replacements.”
Beside compensation, other factors often help attract the top academic talent to universities, according to Giroux.
“The quality of students also plays a large role in attracting faculty,” Giroux said. “Just as students go where they think there is good faculty, teachers go where they think they can teach with and work with top-quality students. It is important to keep attracting high-caliber students to our universities to keep attracting the top faculty.”
The Board of Regents will also focus on concerns regarding doctorate programs throughout the UW System. Within the last 10 years, the number of doctoral programs emerging in allied health sciences like physical therapy and nursing has increased greatly, Giroux said.
These degrees, commonly referred to as professional doctorates, are the result of changes in professional licensing requirements, added requirements for accreditation in specific fields, and additional disciplinary and practice depth required in some professions as a result of new technologies and knowledge.
According to Giroux, many are also paying attention to national professional doctorates in fields like education and business.
At tomorrow’s section of the two-day meeting, the regents will have an information session regarding the demand for these doctorates on campuses and in the emerging job market.
“By giving the regents a chance to get up to speed regarding this topic, they will be able to better understand future proposals,” Giroux said.
Currently, the UW System offers seven professional practice doctorate degrees, with three programs in the works. In addition to more traditional practice doctorate degrees available, recent degrees include Doctorate of Audiology and Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
Currently, Doctorate of Nursing Practice degrees are in development at UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee and collaboratively at UW-Oshkosh and UW-Eau Claire.
“The programs that have been implemented have been successful and have come out of demand from students, campuses and professions that require these types of degrees,” Board of Regents Vice President Chuck Pruitt said.