Half of faculty leaving Iowa universities cite better opportunities

CEDAR FALLS — Iowa's three public universities combined for the same number of faculty resignations in the 2014 budget year as the year before: 109 in all.

That number has bumped up in recent years from a low of 87 in 2009, but it's down from 159 in 2006, according to Board of Regents documents. All the institutions are working to retain more of those faculty members, including those who might be recruited away to another university.

'The primary reason for resigning continues to be employment opportunities at other educational institutions (cited by 51.4 percent of those who left),' according to the report.

In the 2014 budget year, Iowa State University resignations jumped from 21 to 35; University of Northern Iowa resignations dropped from 23 to eight; and University of Iowa saw numbers remain mostly flat, rising just one from 65 to 66, the report shows.

Based on exit interviews, the main reasons UI faculty members gave for leaving were to accept a position at another university and to relocate for personal reasons. The primary reasons for resigning cited by ISU faculty members were 'dissatisfaction with the departmental environment, lack of perceived advancement opportunities, and dissatisfaction with pay,' according to the board report.

'Dissatisfaction with department chair continues to be one of the major reasons cited,' the report said.

About 68 percent of ISU respondents said they were 'somewhat or very dissatisfied' with their chair, an increase over the prior year.

In response, the provost's office at Iowa State is offering department chair professional development workshops focused on 'preparing promotion and tenure cases, and conducting effective annual reviews.'

Salary competitiveness also was cited by ISU's departing faculty members as a reason for their resignations. About 40 percent said they had accepted a new job that will provide a 'much higher' salary, according to board documents. Another 35 percent said they accepted a position that pays 'somewhat higher' than their ISU salary.

Still, provosts for the universities said during the regents meeting Wednesday that each resignation is 'very personal' and Regent Ruth Harkin said the statistics don't seem concerning in light of total faculty numbers and annual hiring.

'When I see these numbers of resignation, it seems low,' she said.

Each university has a strategy to improve faculty retention. The UI Office of the Provost, for example, works with colleges to respond 'quickly with attractive counteroffers when productive faculty members receive offers from other institutions.'

UI also has a 'recruitment ambassadors program' that charges current and former faculty and staff members with helping recruit prospective employees, in part, by providing information about the campus and community. The university offers competitive grants to faculty members, and it is developing initiatives to retain minorities and women.

ISU has initiatives aimed at improving workplace climate, including training, mentoring programs and work-life policy enhancement.

UNI strategies to retain tenured and tenure-track faculty members include offering activities through its Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, summer research and fellowships and professional development assignments.