Published on Feb. 27, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Today, we are releasing the results from the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey, sent to faculty in spring 2019. I am very grateful to every faculty member who took the time to participate in the survey. Your participation and the resulting information provide us with an important perspective of our campus climate.

The results show overall improvement in faculty sentiment since the survey was last conducted in 2016. Areas of strength highlighted in the report include quality of colleagues, and a positive increase in perception of tenure policies, senior leadership, departmental leadership, and health and retirement benefits. You can read the committee’s full report and recommendations on our website.

One area of concern continues to be diversity and inclusion. In the last two years, we have made progress toward our goal of creating a more inclusive campus environment. At the same time, we have more to do. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to continue to build a positive, collaborative environment for every faculty member. In the last two years we have:

• Implemented the Inclusive Excellence Framework across the university to infuse the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion into all aspects of the academic experience.
• Initiated the Preparing Future Faculty Postdoctoral Program for Faculty Diversity to enhance diversity among rising faculty members.
• Worked with departments to promote diversity and inclusion in recruitment efforts through more inclusive candidate pools, and we are better at recognizing and promoting qualified faculty.
• Invested $1.3 million to recruit and retain diverse faculty and staff.

Following this 2019 survey, our office commissioned a faculty committee to review the data from the survey and provide recommendations for areas of improvement. Committee members will hold listening sessions throughout the semester with faculty and individual schools and colleges to continue the open dialogue. I am very thankful to every member of this group (see full list below), and look forward to engaging with them in the coming months.

The Chancellor and I take the survey, the information and the resulting recommendations very seriously ­­and we plan to act on them. Our response and actions will be included in annual evaluations of the Provost, our deans and our department chairs. Our university has participated in this survey three times in the past decade, and we will continue to do so. The results of this survey and continuing conversations will guide our decisions as we seek to foster a climate of trust, respect and opportunity for our university community.

I want to reiterate my appreciation to every faculty member who took the time to complete this survey. Your participation matters, and your input counts. I also encourage everyone to participate in the next COACHE survey in 2022.

Sincerely,

Latha Ramchand

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Members of the 2019 COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey Committee

• Leigh Neier, Co-chair, Education
• Joe Parcell, Co-chair, Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
• Kate Anderson, Veterinary Medicine
• Steve Ball, Human Environmental Sciences
• Sam Halabi, Law
• Whitney Henderson, Health Professions
• Brian Houston, Arts and Science
• April Langley, Arts and Science
• Shelly Rodgers, Journalism
• Marcia Shannon, Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources & Faculty Council Representative
• Daryl Smith, Business

Upcoming Faculty Forum Dates*:

• Feb. 28
• March 2
• March 10

*Forums will be held from noon to 1 p.m. The location is pending and will be listed on the COACHE Committee website.