COACHE Surveys

Yes, IU Bloomington first participated in the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey in 2005, and recent participations have been in 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2023. We generally follow a three-year cycle, as recommended by the COACHE team. The only exception was in 2023, when the survey was postponed by a year due to COVID. 

First, COACHE handles all direct email communication with participants and compiles both the quantitative results and the open-ended responses. Before any data are returned to us, the COACHE team reviews all qualitative responses and redacts potential identifiers, such as names or departments. In addition, open-ended responses are provided only in aggregated, thematic form and are not included in the individual-level raw data. As a result, comments cannot be linked to individual records. While this does limit some contextual analysis, it is a deliberate safeguard to prevent re-identification. 

Second, once we receive the data and begin our internal analyses. We take additional steps to prevent re-identification by masking small cells. For example, if a unit has only two women full professors and both respond to the survey, we would not report those results using the combination of the two variables; instead, we would aggregate the data to a higher level. For instance, reporting the results by gender, or by rank, but not by gender and rank simultaneously. This allows us to use the data responsibly while maintaining confidentiality. 

Finally, in accordance with IRB requirements, the raw data are not shared with anyone other than the designated data file recipient. For IU Bloomington, it is the Director of Faculty Analytics at OVPFAA. Their access is permitted because they're not in a position to make or influence faculty personnel decisions, such as tenure and promotion. This provides an additional layer of protection of confidentiality. 

IUB uses COACHE results to inform decision-making in programs and initiatives related to faculty success and development. Here are some examples: 

• The Initiative for the Advancement of Women was established based on the committee review of the COACHE 2016 survey results, with the goal to promote professional development and social networking among women-identifying faculty. In partnership with the Institute for Advanced Study, the Recently Tenured Working Group program was created in response to associate professors’ need for support in advancing their careers after tenure. 

• Clarity of tenure policies and tenure expectations emerged as areas of concern in COACHE 2019 peer comparison results. In response, OVPFAA created the Promotion and Tenure workshops to address questions about the overall process and specific ranks. In COACHE 2023, these areas were identified as strengths.   

• To address the need for effective mentoring on campus, as reflected in COACHE 2023 results, the Methods and Practices to Succeed (MAPS) program was developed. This small-group program provides structure and accountability for faculty in developing and achieving their research, teaching, and service goals.

• In COACHE 2019, participants in the Scholarly Writing Program (SWP) reported a strong sense of belonging to IUB, reinforcing continued support for SWP to serve faculty across disciplines and at all career stages.

In previous survey cycles, committees or working groups were typically formed after IUB received the data from COACHE to review the results. This time, in line with best practices in place at other institutions, IUB is establishinga campus committee before the survey is launched that will oversee a three-year cycle of promoting faculty engagement in survey participation, interpreting results, identifying priority areas for improvement, and implementing recommended actions. 

Summary reports, presentations, and a dashboard from the most recent survey cycles are available here. An IU login is required to access the dashboard.  

Access to the COACHE dashboard is limited to full-time faculty members at IUB, as they are the target population of the survey.

The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) instrument is designed to survey the job satisfaction of full-time faculty members and does not include a module for part-time faculty.  

The survey focuses on the three core pillars of faculty life—teaching, research, and service—and many of its questions are not applicable to the professional experiences of postdocs or academic specialists.