Retaining Your Best College Professors: You Worked Hard to Recruit Them; Now How Do You Keep Them?

Faculty recruitment is a significant expense for colleges and universities, but many fail to devote the same attention to retaining college professors. This book addresses why higher education currently has a faculty retention problem and explores the strategies needed to address it. It encourages colleges and universities to develop a culture of retention that applies to students and faculty members alike.

Format: Hardback
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2021
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Faculty recruitment is a significant expense for colleges and universities, and schools allocate substantial resources to the hiring process. However, many of these institutions fail to give the same attention to retaining college professors. Numerous studies have revealed that it is far less expensive to retain a student you have than to recruit a new one. Why is this lesson not also applied to the college faculty?

This book addresses the reasons behind the current faculty retention problem in higher education and explores the strategies required to address it. However, not all faculty members face the same retention challenges. Minority faculty members, highly competitive researchers, part-time and temporary faculty members who excel in teaching, and other marginalized groups have unique retention concerns. The best methods to retain junior faculty may not be the most effective for retaining mid-career and senior faculty.

By examining best practices currently in place in higher education and combining them with research conducted in the corporate world, the book encourages colleges and universities to develop a culture of retention that applies to students and faculty members alike.

Recruitment and retention of faculty members are critical issues for colleges and universities. While recruitment is a significant investment, it is equally important to focus on retaining faculty members to ensure the long-term success of the institution.

One reason why colleges and universities struggle with faculty retention is the lack of support and resources. Faculty members often feel overwhelmed by the workload, administrative responsibilities, and pressure to publish and perform. They may also feel underpaid and undervalued, which can lead to dissatisfaction and burnout.

Another factor contributing to faculty retention is the lack of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Studies have shown that diverse faculty members are more likely to stay at an institution and contribute to its success. However, many colleges and universities still have a lack of representation from marginalized groups, such as women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

To address these issues, colleges and universities need to invest in support and resources for faculty members. This can include providing competitive salaries and benefits, offering professional development opportunities, and creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture.

In addition, colleges and universities should prioritize diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices. This can include recruiting from a broader range of candidates, providing diversity training for faculty and staff, and creating policies and programs that promote equity and inclusion.

Another strategy for retaining faculty members is to focus on career development and advancement. Faculty members want to feel that they are growing and developing in their careers, and institutions can provide opportunities for professional growth and advancement, such as teaching opportunities, research grants, and leadership positions.

Finally, colleges and universities should work to create a culture of retention that values and supports faculty members. This can include providing regular feedback and recognition for their work, offering opportunities for collaboration and teamwork, and creating a sense of community among faculty members.

In conclusion, faculty recruitment and retention are critical issues for colleges and universities. By investing in support and resources, prioritizing diversity and inclusion, focusing on career development and advancement, and creating a culture of retention, institutions can ensure the long-term success of their faculty members and contribute to the success of their students.

Weight: 399g
Dimension: 229 x 159 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781475862003