Analysis of MU-ADVANCE Follow-Up Survey

 

As reported in the last Weekly Update, MU-ADVANCE created an offer survey to evaluate the recruitment process at Marshall. Just as recruitment is important to the program, so is retention. In an effort to ensure that Marshall is providing a supportive climate while fulfilling contractual obligations made to its new faculty, MU-ADVANCE developed a follow-up survey. The survey was sent to every male and female STEM faculty hired in Fall 2007. Housed on our external evaluator’s website, faculty members were assured confidentiality and anonymity.

MU-ADVANCE received five responses, a 64% response rate. Participants were asked about a variety of topics, ranging from faculty development issues to collegiality to resource availability. The respondents rated each question by importance (low, medium, and high) and also rated the quality of each factor at Marshall (low, medium, and high).

As listed in Table 1 below, “access to space,” “quality of support from MURC staff,” and the “opportunity for becoming tenured” were of high importance to all five respondents as they began their careers at Marshall. How did Marshall do in these three areas? “Access to space” and the “opportunity for becoming tenured” received 3 “high quality” ratings and 2 “medium quality;” while the “quality of support from MURC staff” received 2 high, 2 medium, and 1 low rating. The “department atmosphere and willingness to help establish you at MU” ranked at the top as providing the highest quality of service of the areas evaluated. “Child care opportunities” received the lowest importance rating, and also received a low quality rating. Participants also provided the following suggestions for ways Marshall could improve: Provide more tips and suggestions on time management, teaching skills, service work, and grant writing; enhance start-up packages, as well as faculty salaries and perks (e.g., dependent tuition discounts); and develop more realistic expectations about the balance between research and teaching.

 

Table 1: Frequency distributions of follow-up survey responses; n=5.

Importance

 

Quality at MU

Low

Med.

High

 

Low

Med

High

 

1

4

Access to start-up monies

1

1

3

1

2

2

Networking/social events

 

3

2

 

1

4

Mentor/mentee relationships

 

2

3

 

 

5

Access to space (i.e., labs, offices, etc)

 

2

3

 

 

4

Department atmosphere and willingness to help establish you at MU

 

1

4

 

2

3

College atmosphere and willingness to help establish you at MU

 

2

3

 

1

4

University atmosphere and willingness to help establish you at MU

 

3

2

 

1

3

Access to necessary resources (i.e., T&P guidelines)

 

3

2

2

1

2

Child care opportunities

1

3

 

 

1

4

Students preparedness/dedication

 

4

1

 

1

4

Access to support (e.g., staff support, student researchers, etc.)

1

2

2

 

1

4

Quality of support from university’s support staff

 

1

3

 

 

5

Quality of support from MURC staff

1

2

2

 

1

4

Salary schedule

1

2

2

 

 

5

Opportunity for becoming tenured

 

2

3

 

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