Author_Institution :
Hughes Aircraft Company, Culver City, CA, USA
Abstract :
An article by Dr. E. Weber, President of Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, in Electronic News (November 29, 1965) points out that the life span of an engineering degree is primarily a function of the individual. This is shown graphically above and indicates that the value of the engineer dies very rapidly if he does not continue studying or make a large effort in keeping up or ahead of his ever changing technical field. Employers are very well aware that their future profits depend on getting a maximum life span from an employee. Thus top salaries are paid to new graduates with advanced degrees. Old timers or even employees of just a few years of experience do not get salaries proportionate to their years of service. The hue and cry is now "retraining". I wonder how effective that really is for those who have not kept up with their field for five, ten, fifteen years. It may be difficult for them to go back to school. much less take time off from work to accomplish these studies. Many students who have returned to school even after a few years of absence have found it difficult to get adjusted to the routine of classes and homework. I wonder if the old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but .... applies