COACHE II: WHAT'S CHANGED
Second Survey & Improvement Cycle, 2022-25
The comparative nature of the COACHE survey process is extremely helpful for the university to address concerns identified by faculty, to formulate plans, take action, and then reassess and reevaluate how the university can continue to improve.
In this section, you will find more information about:
- Areas of concern in 2020 that did not rise to the same level of concern in the 2023 survey and were addressed in the COACHE I Action Plan
- An area of concern from 2020 that has now been identified as a strength in the 2023 survey
- Areas of concern from 2020 that remain areas where there is room for improvement in 2023
- A new area of concern that emerged from the 2023 survey that was not present in the 2020 results
Areas of Concern in 2020 That Did Not Rise to the Same Level of Concern in 2023 and Were Addressed by the COACHE I Action Plan
Results of the 2023 survey showed how the first COACHE action plan had an impact in addressing some particular areas of concern faculty identified in 2020. They did not appear as areas of concern in the 2023 results. Here, we will help to explain what elements of the action plan helped to address the concern in question, in addition to other activities by the university. (To read the full action plan report, click here.)
Appreciation and Recognition
A robust series of activities were implemented to increase recognition of faculty excellence and to demonstrate appreciation by the university, including awards recognizing the contributions of outstanding non-tenure track faculty, a new award for mentoring excellence, the Recognizing Outstanding Achievements in Research & Scholarship (ROAR) award, and recognition online through communications channels of the Office of the Provost and the university (such as the Provost’s Newsletter and the Provost’s Office social media presence).
Governance
The 2023 results in particular noted several aspects of governance that are areas of strength, many boiling down to the importance of communication, recognition, and faculty input. Since 2020, communications from the institution about important decisions have significantly increased, using campus email, newsletters, and other channels, disseminating information about progress and final results. Additionally, the university has made an effort at an institutional level to garner input prior to presentations and town halls through the use of forms for submissions of questions and comments in advance, in addition to more solicitation for feedback.
Interdisciplinary Work
Interdisciplinary work is at the heart of the projects of the Research Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) challenge, launched by the Office of the Provost and the Vice President for Research & Economic Development to leverage the strengths of Georgia State’s research community to address complex problems through interdisciplinary collaboration. Following the sunset of the interdisciplinary Next Generation Program in 2022, support for such research and scholarship has been integrated into the fabric of the 2023-33 strategic plan.
Faculty Leadership
Within the area of leadership, faculty identified in 2020 trust and understanding issues at hand at the university as areas where the university had room for improvement. In the 2023 survey results, faculty particularly pointed to communication of priorities as an aspect of strength for both senior and departmental leadership. In the academic affairs side of the house, Georgia State’s Office of the Provost and other academic offices have made increased efforts to provide regular communications about institutional activities, plans and priorities, with increased email communications compared to pre-2020 years as well as other communications channels. Leadership’s willingness to ensure faculty input was also found as an aspect of strength for departmental leadership in addition to fairness in evaluating work. Leadership programming, including workshops, seminars, and general check-in/lunch-and-share sessions offered through the Office of Faculty Affairs also provide support to faculty leaders.
Belongingness
Efforts in this space were numerous, with belongingness as a critical component of the university’s 2023-33 strategic plan. In addition to the central digital information hub now aligned with the strategic plan as belonging.gsu.edu, activities included the continuing work by the Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni, and outreach and recruiting of doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds at various conferences (both virtual and in-person). Faculty affinity groups were started to engage in and support conversations and community engagement among faculty, especially including those from underrepresented groups.
Mentoring
The Office of the Provost and the Office of Faculty Affairs undertook activities that made significant progress in this area, including (but not limited to) the Mentoring Faculty Workshop Series, creation of a mentoring excellence award, the appointment of college mentor advocates, and the inclusion of mentoring in the revised university promotion and tenure manuals. In the interim between the end of COACHE I and a new COACHE II action plan, in August 2023 the Office of Faculty Affairs implemented a new mentoring resources website to support mentoring at the university.
Area of Concern in 2020 That Turned Into a Strength
Shared Sense of Purpose
The results of the 2023 survey indicate areas of strength in an overall sense of shared responsibility, consideration of one another’s views between faculty and administration, and time for faculty input, among other matters. Town halls, workshops and meetings since the 2020 action plan have considered the importance of faculty input, by allowing space for questions and comments – soliciting feedback before and during these events. Importantly, this spirit of collaboration was strong in the formulation of the university’s new 2023-33 strategic plan.
Areas of Concern from 2020 for Continuing Improvement
In the action plan, the university planned and took action to address concerns identified by faculty. The results of the second COACHE survey show that there is continued room for improvement for certain areas that were identified in the original 2020 survey.
It is important to note that a new action plan will be developed in late Fall 2023-early Spring 2024 to address the concerns identified in the 2023 survey. Below is information about the activities that have recently taken place or are currently taking place as of the time of this report in October 2023 (before the creation and implementation of a new action plan).
The Office of the Provost acknowledges that this work continues, and that more can — and will — be done.
Benefits & Salary
The university performed a comprehensive salary study across the institution during 2021-22. The results provided valuable insights that are being utilized to address concerns regarding salary equity and competitiveness. Keeping in mind the budgetary situation of the institution as of 2023, Georgia State will work to establish a long-term plan to support salary adjustments as funding becomes available.
Nature of Work: Service
The university has taken strong actions to identify best practices for allocating service assignments and engaged in conversations about expected service loads. The institution during 2022-23 offered the Equity-Minded Faculty Workloads workshops to university academic administrators, for which the university has developed dashboards for units to determine equitable workloads. The workshop series continues during the 2023-24 academic year, and initial sessions offered in 2022-23 were offered for new department chairs and administrators during Fall 2023.
Personal and Family Policies
Faculty in the 2023 survey reported that this continues to be an area of concern. In particular, balance between professional and personal life, institutional supports for family/career, leave policies and flexible workload were noted as areas with room for improvement. The university continues to evaluate policies and procedures in support of faculty. Prior to the next action plan, the university is taking action to address professional/personal life balance through a new online wellness hub and the inaugural Faculty Wellness Workshop Series. The wellness hub is anticipated for launch by the Spring 2024 semester, if not earlier.
New Area of Concern
Nature of Work: Teaching
In the 2023 survey results, faculty identified support for teaching as an area where the university has both aspects of strength to teaching, and where the university has room for improvement. As strengths, faculty pointed to support for development and teaching of online/hybrid courses, as well as teaching schedules. In terms of aspects of teaching where Georgia State has room for improvement, the survey findings indicated the number of courses taught, time spent on teaching, and support for assessment student learning, as aspects where GSU can make progress.