Faculty and department head preferences for dealing with retrenchment demands

A random sample of faculty members and department heads rated the acceptability of alternative responses to financial retrenchment pressures within a framework created by a fictitious but realistic scenario. Relatively few differences were found among the recommendations and/or preferences of department heads, tenured faculty, and nontenured faculty. There was a strong preference for protecting the instructional program even at the cost of research and service activities. Several findings, including the preference for reductions in noninstructional rather than instructional programs, were consistent with a self-serving hypothesis. Respondents from departments with recent enrollment declines were more willing than other respondents to accept heavier work loads as a response to retrenchment pressures. Implications for planning processes were discussed.