Open AccessA “Community of Scholars?”: Conversations Among Mid‐career Faculty at a Public Research University
Author(s) -
Lamber Julia,
Ardizzone Tony,
Dworkin Terry,
Guskin Sam,
Olsen Deborah,
Parnell Phil,
Thelen David
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
to improve the academy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-4822
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-4822.1993.tb00233.x
Subject(s) - prestige , autonomy , career development , career pathways , university faculty , medical education , work (physics) , set (abstract data type) , isolation (microbiology) , academic freedom , psychology , sociology , quality (philosophy) , public relations , pedagogy , higher education , political science , medicine , engineering , mechanical engineering , philosophy , linguistics , microbiology and biotechnology , epistemology , computer science , law , biology , programming language
This article reports on a study of issues of faculty isolation and morale in mid‐career faculty. Interview questions probed the dynamics of individual careers and asked about the quality of work life in the department and university, and changes in work life over the course of careers. Findings suggest that a majority of faculty, regardless of professional interests or scholarly prestige, would like greater interaction with departmental colleagues, more recognition from their department and university, a reward system based less on outside offers, and more fluid communications with upper‐level administrators. Faculty comments clearly illustrate the advantages of an academic career: the autonomy and freedom to pursue one's own interests and set one's own priorities; the ability to have several “careers” in the course of a single faculty career. Findings suggest that faculty needs vary substantially with career stage and that effective faculty development programs will be responsive to this variation.