The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) is a research-practice partnership based in the Harvard Graduate School of Education. COACHE studies the work lives of faculty with a focus on actionable data to support academic administrators. Studies are conducted in partnership with university leaders (both faculty and administrative) with an emphasis on using the data collected to improve the academic workplace.
What is the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey?
Tulane recognizes that the core strength of an institution of higher education is its faculty. To learn more about faculty satisfaction, Tulane has partnered with the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) to survey full-time faculty on their perceptions of the workplace and the support provided by the university. The survey covers every aspect of a faculty member’s academic life, including facilities and work resources, opportunities for interdisciplinary work, mentoring and recognition, and a range of university policies related to benefits, promotion, and governance. The results focus on actionable data to support Tulane evaluate our practices and implement improvements. Tulane last participated in the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey in 2023.
Who is asked to complete the survey?
All full-time faculty are invited to participate. However, Librarians, Deans, Associate Deans, the Provost and Associate Provosts are excluded from the survey. The Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey looks at all ranks and full-time appointment types, so the survey has specific branching specific to each population of faculty.
Are my responses to the survey questions confidential?
Confidentiality and anonymity are assured in all COACHE analyses and reports. COACHE delivers a survey report to Tulane with only aggregate data shown. No data for any subgroup will be presented if the subgroup has fewer than five respondents. COACHE also delivers unit-record data in which no identifiers are matched to reported responses (e.g. it will not contain a faculty member's name or email address, etc.) The data file is delivered to the Assistant Provost for Assessment & Institutional Research, who signed a statement of confidentiality legally guaranteeing that the unit-record data received will not be individually shared with any individuals who are in a position to make or influence personnel decisions about individual subjects, and that only aggregate data, with no cells smaller than five respondents, will be shared with broader audiences at the institution. If you wish to receive further information about the representative assuming responsibility for the data at Tulane, send an email message to COACHE with your questions.
What does Tulane do with the data and results?
Institutions use the information from the COACHE Survey in different ways. Tulane shares the results in summary form with academic administrators and those whose job responsibility it is to understand what it's like being a faculty member at Tulane. The purpose is for Tulane to learn about our faculty, and where it should focus attention and resources to make improvements in the faculty experience. The goal of the survey is to identify both our areas of strength and of concern, and to guide our actions for improvement.
I still have questions about the survey. Who should I contact?
If you have questions or comments about Tulane’s administration of this survey, please send an email to the Office of Assessment & Institutional Research (OAIR) at oair@tulane.edu. This email account is regularly monitored by OAIR staff. You may also contact that COACHE staff at the Harvard Graduate School of Education at coache@gse.harvard.edu.
