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Yue Li_Dissertation_Final.pdf (1.06 MB)

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STEM Faculty Retention: Examining Gender Differences in Faculty Perceptions of Organizational and Professional Factors

Li, Yue
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0508-6451
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1532550758001024

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Educational Leadership.
This quantitative study examined 1) the gender gaps in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty retention rates at two large, Midwestern, Research One universities; 2) the gender differences in STEM faculty’s perceptions of organizational and personal/professional factors, related to their retention outcomes; and 3) how faculty perceptions of organizational and personal/professional factors contributed to their actual retention at these two universities and what gender differences existed in modeling STEM faculty retention. Major findings included that 1) women STEM faculty, especially those hired initially as assistant professors, left the university at higher rates and stayed at the university for a shorter amount of time, compared to male faculty at the same rank; 2) male STEM faculty who departed held the least positive perceptions of their work life, male faculty who stayed had the most positive perceptions, while retained female held slightly less, negative views, than did departed males and females on most factors; 3) departed men and women faculty reported more positive perceptions of their self-efficacy and willingness to pursue leadership than did faculty who were retained; 4) retained female faculty held the most positive perceptions of departmental support for work-family balance among the four groups; 5) satisfaction served as a mediator between perceptions of organizational and personal/professional factors and retention outcomes for both female and male faculty; 6) a higher level of departmental support for work-family issues, less workplace incivility, and more positive attitudes about the university contributed to higher satisfaction, which in turn contributed to a greater likelihood of being retained at their universities for all faculty; 7) self-efficacy and willingness to pursue leadership had a significantly negative direct effect on retention for all faculty and for male faculty, but not for female faculty; 8) clarity and objectivity of departmental policies, respect, openness/transparency, and belief in university’s commitment to diversity had a significant effect on satisfaction for all faculty and for male, but not for female faculty; and 9) intersectionality among gender, race/ethnicity, and academic rank influenced certain aspects of faculty perceptions and retention outcomes. Policy implications included that university administrators should identify a specific set of leverage points to make policy and practice changes that are most likely to improve faculty retention outcomes. Institutional and departmental support for work-family balance should be implemented for all faculty across their life course. Institutions should provide local leadership opportunities to faculty in order to retain them at their institutions.
Kate Rousmaniere (Committee Chair)
Kathleen Knight Abowitz (Committee Member)
Rose Marie Ward (Committee Member)
Sarah Woodruff (Committee Member)
171 p.
Educational Leadership
Female STEM Faculty Retention; Gender Differences; Factors Impact Faculty Retention; Faculty Perceptions; Work Environment; Survival Analysis; Structural Equation Modeling

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Li, Y. (2018). STEM Faculty Retention: Examining Gender Differences in Faculty Perceptions of Organizational and Professional Factors [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1532550758001024

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Li, Yue. STEM Faculty Retention: Examining Gender Differences in Faculty Perceptions of Organizational and Professional Factors. 2018. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1532550758001024.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Li, Yue. "STEM Faculty Retention: Examining Gender Differences in Faculty Perceptions of Organizational and Professional Factors." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1532550758001024

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

miami1532550758001024
521
© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.