ABSTRACT
Young academics, fresh from graduate school, have stimulated the educational system with novel perspectives and up-to-date knowledge. Mathis fears that during the 1980s higher education may become a declining industry characterized by reduced options for maintaining quality. Several books and many articles advance various techniques and policies to encourage the professional growth of college teachers. From a conceptual perspective, recent work in developmental psychology provides some useful insights on college professors. In a study of liberal arts college faculty, Blackburn learned that instructors had the most liberal political attitudes; associate professors had the most conservative; and assistant and full professors were in the intermediate range politically. Attention to individual needs should create a climate conducive to maximum faculty development and performance. Faculty who plan career development strategy are more likely to maintain steady professional growth and enjoy the satisfaction of regular career renewal.
