Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE)

The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education, or COACHE, based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, is a consortium of over 250 colleges and universities committed to making the academic workplace more attractive and equitable for all faculty. The core component of COACHE is a faculty satisfaction survey specially designed to provide information about the faculty experience at their institution. 

At Iowa State University, the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost works with the Faculty Senate as well as Institutional Research and other work groups that comprise faculty and administrators to plan the COACHE survey. Since 2006, Iowa State has collaborated with COACHE to conduct this survey approximately every four years. Iowa State uses faculty responses to assess needs, develop action plans, and implement best practices to strengthen hiring, promotion, retention, campus climate, and diversity. In addition, the COACHE reports provide Iowa State leaders with a powerful tool to increase the quality of faculty work-life; advance a reputation as a great place for faculty to work; and generate ideas and initiatives from faculty that enrich and expand the range of possible improvements.

Continued participation in COACHE for more than 15 years has provided Iowa State leaders with a way to track institutional progress in key areas related to faculty satisfaction. To learn more, read COACHE Throughout The Years 2005 - Present.

In 2021, 904 of 1527 eligible faculty responded to the survey, comprising a 56% response rate. The average survey completion time was 22 minutes. As Iowa State faculty work toward fulfilling the land-grant mission and meeting institutional strategic goals, COACHE data affords administrators and faculty an opportunity to examine data and explore within-campus differences for the overall faculty and across faculty subgroups. To learn more about the survey, response rates, and the COACHE benchmarks, read the Overview.

A 2021 At a Glance for All Faculty document organizes additional information about Iowa State faculty’s experiences. In addition, Iowa State provides brief reports for each of the COACHE benchmarks. Review brief reports for each topic noted below:

• 2021 At a Glance for All Faculty
• Nature of Work
  • Research
  • Service
  • Teaching
• Resources and Support
  • Facilities and Work Resources
  • Health and Retirement Benefits
  • Personal and Family Policies
• Collaboration, Interdisciplinary Work, and Mentoring
• Tenure and Promotion
• Leadership
• Governance
• Faculty Senate
• The Department: Collegiality, Engagement, Quality, and Leadership 
• Appreciation and Recognition
• Special Populations
• All COACHE Benchmark Reports

The COACHE data affords administrators and faculty an opportunity to examine data and explore within-campus differences for the overall faculty and across faculty subgroups. It is important to work together to enhance areas of strength and collaboratively address opportunities for growth. Results are used to guide and inform initiatives for improvement. To learn more, read Take Home Points, Next Steps, and Additional Resources.

Persons can request access to the COACHE data for research purposes. For more information, complete a COACHE Data Request form.

The COACHE Action Team will collaborate with the Assistant Provost for Faculty Success to review COACHE data insights and patterns as well as develop and implement action plans and solutions across the institution and within academic colleges. All faculty (tenure-eligible, tenured, and term) are eligible to serve. Each Dean/Associate Dean recommended 1-2 COACHE Action Team Members to represent their academic college.

The Assistant Provost for Faculty Success will chair the committee and outline key priorities for the team to pursue. COACHE Action Team Member responsibilities include planning activities in collaboration with the college administration to raise awareness about COACHE and explore possible solutions; working within their academic college to develop and implement action plans and solutions based on institutional and college-level COACHE data; and promoting cross-college communications about COACHE.

To share your thoughts and gain additional information, contact your COACHE Action Team representative (PDF). 

Faculty asked to complete two surveys this semester, January 28, 2021

Faculty job satisfaction survey results shared with senators, February 17, 2022

COACHE faculty survey data available online, May 24, 2022

A followup on COACHE faculty survey results, October 13, 2022

Why COACHE Teams Should "Phone a Friend”: Garnering Greater Insights by Engaging COACHE’s Community of Practice, October 31, 2022

Building Collegiality Among Faculty: Iowa State Learns from Successes in COACHE’s Community of Practice, November 28, 2022