MU Releases Results of Academic Career Survey

July 30th, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Today, University of Missouri officials released the results of the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey, which was administered in 2012 and 2013 to MU faculty. A faculty committee, including tenured, tenure track and non-tenure track faculty, was appointed by Interim Provost Ken Dean to review the data from the survey and recommend actions for improvement.

“I’m very appreciative of the work the committee did to analyze the data and provide some preliminary recommendations,” Dean said. “We’re proud of the work that we have been doing here to engage our faculty and create an environment that fosters creative and collaborative research, excellent teaching and dedicated service. As we work to improve our AAU status, we know that maintaining and strengthening our environment are significant factors in retaining and attracting the best faculty to MU. This survey will help us move toward that goal.”

According to the committee, the data from the survey will be used as a baseline as MU officials work to improve faculty work satisfaction and engagement at MU. The group also recommended the formation of faculty committees from each college and school that will make recommendations specific to their academic units. The survey will be administered again in 2016 to determine which efforts over the next few years are successful while also providing guidance for future improvements.

The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education is a research initiative and membership organization led by senior academic officers who are searching for best practices by using data from member surveys. Founded in 2002 with support from the Ford Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies, COACHE is based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Results from the survey can be accessed here: http://provost.missouri.edu/faculty/coache