Reconsideration under way

Your article about events surrounding The Open University's policy on the age of retirement of associate lecturers is misleading ("Disciplinary action taken after public airing of staff survey results", 14 August).

After the conference you refer to, the staff tutors did not "threaten to disengage from the retirement process and refuse to help replace those who had been forcibly retired". One staff tutor proposed that they should. After discussion by the whole group the proposition went no further.

You also state that the OU has agreed to amend the criteria for extensions to the age of retirement for associate lecturers. This is not the case. We have agreed to reconsider the criteria, and are doing so.

Will Swann, Director, Students, The Open University.