"People like what they do. Most professors don't have hobbies, work is their hobby. It keeps them stimulated and alive," says Rosovsky.

This is not the first time administrators have confronted these questions. In 1988, then-Dean of the Faculty A. Michael Spence commissioned a panel to examine possible policy changes. The Spence committee dissolved without an offical report or decision.

Dean of the Division of Applied Sciences Paul C. Martin '52, a member of the committee, says the group ran into legal questions as they tried to formulate proposals. In addition, Martin says, as the committee progressed, members began to realize that these retirement issues would affect the entire University, not just Spence's faculty.

Indeed, Rosovsky agrees. "It is a big issue, really a University-wide issue," he says.

Pointing to pensions, Rosovsky says financial considerations may be the most difficult to resolve in the retirement issue. Under the University's present system, scholars receive more money the longer they remain in an active teaching role--an arrangement, the dean says, that encourages delayed retirement.

"The longer you stay the more benefits you accumulate. Every year adds a significant amount," Rosovsky says.

According to Harvard's benefits director, Joan Bruce, the pension plans have been under examination. At this time, however, she says there are no changes in the works. And, she says, she is unsure whether professors will allow their pension to influence retirement decisions.

"That is the $64 question," Bruce says. "We don't know what effect it will have. [Retirement] is an individual-by-individual decision."

Vice President for Finance Robert H. Scott says it is difficult to change pensions, not only because of federal regulations, but also because of issues of justice.

"You can't have a policy that gives less to someone who's older, that would be age discrimination," says Scott. "The ideal, which of course can't be acheived, is to have people earn the same amount if they continue to work or took their pension--they would be indifferent."

On an emotional level, University administrators say they hope to make the professors' transitions from active duty to emeritus smoother. At recent Faculty Council meetings, scholars have discussed potential ways emeriti might be further included in regular Harvard life.

Although retired professors can teach first-year seminars, house-based classes or extension school courses, most emeriti say limited office space, not limited teaching, is the more contentious issue.

"It has been a real problem to drive emeritus professors out of office at age 75. Some of my colleagues rather resent it," says Jerome Hamilton Buckley, Gurney professor of English literature emeritus. "I think something should be arranged."

For some however, office space is a little less important. William Alfred '49, Lowell professor of the Humanities, says that he has always used his home as his office and will continue to do so when he retires next year. For Alfred, Widner Library is most important.

"People who do retire, they can still use the library. That is the big thing that mattered to a scholar," he says.