Hanging in the Balance: Faculty Perceptions of Current and Future Academic Work

• In Event: Faculty Identity and Faculty Careers

Abstract

What relationships exist between factors such as current position, tenure status, career stage, gender identity, prior career experiences, and type of institution with faculty member ratings of job satisfaction? How are the same factors related to faculty members’ perceptions of the future of higher education? This study examined the role of multiple factors in how faculty members perceive their satisfaction with higher education. A survey was distributed to 13 institutions of higher education in California, and responses were analyzed using quantitative methods. The findings of this study reveal significant differences in faculty satisfaction with their current and future career pathways by role, career stage, and institutional type. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

Authors

• Laura Cruz, Pennsylvania State University

• Ted Murcray, California Baptist University