Job Satisfaction Factors Influencing Mentorship of Faculty in Academia

Abstract

Faculty have the role of educators, researchers, community service advocates, and mentors to name a few. The recruitment and promotion of a diverse faculty is critical for higher education. Mentoring has been identified as a significant element in addressing the underrepresentation of women and minorities (Kosoko-Lasaki, Sonnino, & Voytko, 2006). Bilimoria et al (2006) showed that there is a significant difference by gender on effective institutional leadership, institutional mentoring, internal relational support and academic job satisfaction. Using data from “The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education” (COACHE) 2011 survey, this study focuses on faculty job satisfaction/fulfillment, job importance and mentoring. This study provides a window to faculty’s job satisfaction/fulfillment and the importance of these factors, as it is distributed by gender and discipline. The study looks at the act of faculty mentoring of younger faculty and provides data on factors influencing the mentoring activity by type of discipline and faculty status.