Provost's Office initiatives designed to improve faculty work-life satisfaction

The 2015 COACHE project continues in full swing led by Peter Hollenbeck, vice provost for faculty affairs, and Jessica Huber, interim associate vice provost for faculty affairs. Provost Deba Dutta received recommendations from Hollenbeck and Huber based on survey results and several faculty workshops that took place during the 2016 fall semester. Dutta provided a summary of the recommendations to the Board of Trustees during the December board meeting.

“COACHE is an excellent tool to help us identify areas that need our attention and to ensure that Purdue faculty have the best work environment possible,” Dutta said. According to the 2015 COACHE survey results, associate-level, women and underrepresented minority faculty groups in particular expressed areas of concern and the need for improvement.

“Improving the campus climate for women and minority faculty is a responsibility we all share,” said Dutta, also chief diversity officer of Purdue.

Teams of associate-level, women and underrepresented minority faculty were convened to probe deeper into the survey results and to share their insights at a town hall in November. Based on the survey data and faculty work group recommendations, the following initiatives have been developed by the faculty affairs group in the Provost’s Office and will begin in the next few months.

* Academic units will be asked to further clarify their standards and processes for promotion that were developed in response to the first COACHE survey in 2012.

* In collaboration with the University Senate, and with input from experts on campus, a new and expanded ombudsperson program will be developed.

* In collaboration with academic unit leaders, new procedures will be developed to increase transparency in departmental processes and reduce bias in faculty hiring, promotion and tenure, and progression of faculty into leadership roles.

* A campus-wide Academic Leadership and Excellence Program will be developed for Purdue faculty to provide expanded opportunities and improve the diversity and effectiveness of administrative leaders.

“The work of the faculty in developing these recommendations was critical and we will keep them informed going forward,” Hollenbeck said. 

The faculty affairs group will continue to provide monthly training and informational sessions for new and current department heads.

More information on the survey and results is available at the COACHE website.