One Penn State professor recently encouraged other to follow his example and retire soon…to help solve the chronic faculty unemployment problem.

It looks like some faculty at a Purdue University regional campus have followed suit. However, given the fact that a significant number of assistant professors were also booted in the wake of declining enrollment, the success of the approach is questionable H/t to Glenn Reynolds.

A Purdue University regional campus in Northwest Indiana will lay off or accept early retirement plans from about 7 percent of its full-time faculty members in an effort to meet budget constraints.

Purdue Calumet Chancellor Tom Keon addressed faculty members Thursday in a town hall meeting to update employees on its budget situation.

Officials say lower than expected fall semester enrollment has caused a $3 million budget shortage.

Seven faculty members — mostly tenure-track, assistant professors — will receive letters to notify them they have been laid off. At least 12 have accepted an early retirement buyout package. Purdue Calumet had 241 tenured and tenure-track faculty members last school year.

Spokesman Wes Lukoshus told the Journal & Courier the university has $3 million in reserves to cover the budget shortfall this year. The layoffs won’t take effect until after the upcoming academic year at the earliest.

“This gets to be an issue about our budget for next year. … We’ll be able to work through this year fine. We’re trying to be as responsible and as prudent as we can possibly be.”

The seven faculty members affected by the layoffs will be notified that their contract with Purdue Calumet will end after the upcoming academic year or after the 2014-15 academic year. They will still teach this year.

The J&C asked Lukoshus whether Purdue Calumet would consider laying off tenured faculty in the future to meet budget constraints.