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| Michael
Hogan |
Budget woes appear to
have played a major role in last year’s faculty
resignations, say UI officials, basing their conclusions
on satisfaction surveys
taken of resigning faculty in 2003.
The surveys show that faculty who are resigning
to take jobs elsewhere are quite satisfied with almost
all aspects of the University except compensation,
which is the area of greatest dissatisfaction. In
fact, results indicate that the overall satisfaction
of resigning faculty was at its highest level in
the four-year history of the surveys, whereas satisfaction
with compensation fell.
Of the 64 faculty members who resigned from the
University in fiscal year 2003, 81 percent left to
accept better offers at other universities, in government,
or in the private sector, according to an annual
report to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.
“Salaries are a major concern, of course,
but this year we’re also concerned that we
have lost more women. Only about 30 percent of our
faculty members are women, and this year women represented
42 percent of the resignees,” says UI Provost
Michael Hogan. “We’ve seen that percentage
rise over the last three years and, frankly, we’re
worried. We need to know what’s driving this
increase and discover what we can do to reverse it.”
Resignations occurred in eight of the University’s
11 colleges, with the largest number of resignations
coming from the largest two colleges: the Carver
College of Medicine and the College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences. Of the 64 resignees, 27 were women
(42 percent), and 10 were minorities (16 percent).
The number of resignations is down from last year’s
total of 73, and very close to the 10-year average
of 65. Nevertheless, Hogan says his office must be
concerned about the numbers.
“The faculty who are leaving for what they
perceive as better jobs are among our best. They
are a significant loss to Iowa.”
by Charles S. Drum
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