“I think the numbers are considerably lower than they were expecting,” said Adrienne Eaton, president of the Rutgers chapter of the American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers, the faculty union.

For many professors, a buyout offer of a year’s salary or more wasn’t tempting enough to give up their jobs while the economy is still struggling, said Eaton, a professor of labor studies and employment relations.

“It wasn’t particularly generous,” Eaton said.

-from One-year salary buyout offer is not enough for most eligible Rutgers University professors

Friday, July 09, 2010, 8:45 PM, Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger

Though the buyout was presented as a one-time-only deal, union officials hope Rutgers will offer senior faculty additional retirement incentives after professors negotiate a new contract next year.

“It is, I think, possible it could be back ... in a different form,” said Eaton, the faculty union president.