Dive Brief:
- A new survey of more than 400 faculty members nationwide shows that more than 60% of professors experience little to no form of engagement on building schedule flexibility, professional development or mentoring.
- 71% of respondents reported a direct correlation between workplace engagement and retention, and 61% said that their institutions have difficulty sourcing faculty needs.
- Experts say that the lack of faculty engagement infiltrates the student learning experience through shortfalls in classroom innovation, curriculum development and recognition for good work.
Dive Insight:
Considering that higher education as an industry is on the ropes with concerns about diversity, interest from prospective students and technological and political changes to the industry at large, campuses may want to take a more proactive role in developing workforce morale as a point of institutional strength in which students and stakeholders can take public pride.
Helping and encouraging faculty members to stand out as industrial experts is a strong way to begin the process of engagement, and to show the most vital part of the campus' output that research and teaching acumen are assets which are not only valued, but help to expand the institutional mission.