2023 Thematic Overviews
High-level findings from the 2023 COACHE survey are highlighted below. To provide broad context, COACHE compares Emory scores to the national set of 86 institutions that participated since 2020. In addition, COACHE provides each institution with the opportunity to select a subset of similar universities for more direct comparison. For this benchmark group, Emory chose five highly selective R1 (very high research activity) universities that participated in 2022 or 2023 and that share membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) and/or Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE).
Icon Key:
= High-Ranking Theme
= Area of Strength
= Improvement Opportunity
= Mixed Results
Global Views
Institution
Emory faculty are significantly more likely than faculty in both national and benchmark institutions to say they are either “very satisfied or satisfied” with their institution as a place to work.
Department
More Emory faculty are either “very satisfied or satisfied” with their department’s work environment than faculty in benchmark or national groups.
Nature of Work
Teaching
Faculty report very strong satisfaction with teaching, support and the quality of students, exceeding the national average and in line with benchmark institutions.
Research
While overall research satisfaction scores are strong, faculty report some dissatisfaction with grant support and course releases and balanced teaching, service and research load (similar to benchmark and national averages).
Service
Faculty of color and clinical, research and teaching faculty raise concerns over the equity of advising responsibilities.
Resources and Support
Salary
Consistent with national trends, faculty continue to cite salary and compensation as an area for improvement. Clinical, research and teaching faculty, assistant professors and women were more likely to be dissatisfied.
Work / Life Balance
Similar to colleagues nationally and at benchmark institutions, Emory faculty report dissatisfaction in balancing professional and personal responsibilities. Lack of childcare continues to be a concern.
Tenure and Promotion
Tenure Decisions
The body of evidence required for tenure is well understood, and overall, faculty have a clear sense of tenure outcomes.
Tenure Clarity
Emory faculty report lower levels of clarity on the process for tenure and promotion.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Support for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Emory scores extremely high in leadership support for diversity, exceeding its benchmarking group and the national average.
Clinical, Research and Teaching Faculty
Scholarship and Teaching
Colleagues consistently rate clinical, research and teaching faculty highly for their intellectual vitality, scholarly productivity and teaching effectiveness.
Tenure and Promotion
In contrast to their tenured and tenure-track counterparts, clinical, research and teaching faculty report less satisfaction with professional development and promotion opportunities.
Service
Clinical, research and teaching faculty report concerns over the equity of advising responsibilities.
Faculty Colleagues and Leadership
Collegiality
Faculty overwhelmingly agree that departmental collegiality is strong, and Emory exceeds its peers and the national average.
Communication
Faculty strongly appreciate good-faith discussions and open communication with administrators.