UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) faculty job satisfaction survey is open until the week of April 7. To date, 32% of eligible faculty University-wide have completed the survey. Among the leaders, University Libraries leads participation with a 69% response rate and Penn State Lehigh Valley campus is at 68%.
“We are looking forward to reviewing the outcomes of this survey and developing action plans,” said Tracy Langkilde, interim executive vice president and provost. “I encourage faculty members to complete the survey if they haven’t already done so. Their voices are critical to the success of the project and helping us best plan for the future.”
The Penn State COACHE steering committee will receive the survey results in fall 2025 and is actively planning next steps, with a focus on faculty engagement. In preparation for the second year in the survey process, the COACHE Steering Committee will be reconstituted, with some members rolling off the committee and new members being added. In addition, one or more subcommittees will be established. Deans and chancellors are asked to establish unit-level committees to evaluate the survey findings for their units, communicate results to their communities and assist with developing priorities and action plans for their units and the broader University.
As part of the year two process, faculty and administrators who are interested in participating, at either the University level or the unit level, in this initiative are invited to express their interest by completing the COACHE Data Review and Action Planning Committees Interest Form by Sept. 5.
“Our goal is to have faculty from across Penn State engaged on the committees,” said Josh Wede, chair of University Faculty Senate. “Faculty expertise and insights are key to shaping our collective future, and I urge any faculty interested in improving workplace conditions to get involved.”
Committee members will be selected based on their expertise and professional roles, with attention to broad representation across appointment types, units and disciplines. Unit-level committees will be composed of faculty and academic administrators; membership expectations will be determined by the appropriate dean or chancellor. Steering Committee members will serve a one-year term (Summer 2025 – Spring 2026) and will be expected to:
- Attend monthly meetings
- Contribute to work between meetings, including reviewing data and assisting with the development of actionable recommendations
The interest form will be available through Sept. 5 to complete. University-, college-, and campus-level committees will be formed throughout the summer and fall. The COACHE steering committee will reach out to interested individuals on a rolling basis. More information about the COACHE faculty survey is available on the website.