A FACULTY IN TRANSITION: A 28-YEAR STUDY OF THE JMU FACULTY

A FACULTY IN TRANSITION:
A 28-YEAR STUDY OF THE JMU FACULTY
September 2014
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................................... ii
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1
Research Questions.............................................................................................................................. 1
Methodology ........................................................................................................... 2
Results ...................................................................................................................... 3
Demographics ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Compensation .....................................................................................................................................22
Faculty Resources ...............................................................................................................................26
Trends .................................................................................................................... 31
A Faculty in Transition
Page i
Executive Summary
The Office of Institutional Research has collected and reported electronic data on faculty since 1986.
The purpose of this study of instructional faculty is to explore the ways the JMU faculty have
changed since 1986 and provide useful information to the university community. As a result of these
analyses, several important trends are noteworthy.








The number of full-time faculty has grown at a higher rate than increases in students. The
percentage of faculty with tenure increased from 66 percent in 1986-87 to 72 percent in
1991-92, but has declined to 53 percent by 2013-14. The college with the highest percent of
tenured faculty is Visual and Performing Arts. Since 1986-87 the number of FTE students
per full-time faculty decreased by 2.1 percentage points.
The percentage of faculty holding the terminal degree increased from 70 percent in 1986 to
74 percent in 2013, but is down from the high of 85 percent in 1997. The percentage of
female faculty with a terminal degree increased from 51 percent in 1986 to 68 percent in
2013.
Thirty-two percent of the fall 2013 faculty had worked at JMU five years or less. This
percentage has changed little since 1990. The median years (middle) of JMU experience
declined from 11 in 1990 to nine in 2013. Faculty with 26 or more years of experience
increased from six percent in 1990 to seven percent in 2013. Sixty-eight percent of JMU
faculty began their employment during the Rose presidency (1998 to 2012), 26 percent
during the Carrier years, 12 percent since President Alger became president and four were
hired during the Miller presidency.
Sixty-one percent of new tenure-track assistant professors were awarded tenure within seven
years. Ninety-three percent of those who earned tenure were employed 10 years after joining
the faculty.
Annual percentage changes in the average JMU faculty salary since 1986-87 ranged from
10.1 percent in 1989-90 to –1.8 percent in 1992-93. Annual percentage changes in total
compensation (salary + fringe benefits) ranged from 10.8 percent in 1989-90 to –4.0 percent
in 1991-92. In 2013-14, total compensation increased by 6.3 percent. In 2013-14, benefits
accounted for 33.3 percent of total compensation, up from 25.1 percent in 1986-87. This
primarily reflects increasing medical costs borne by the Commonwealth.
The five-year percentage retention rate of new non-tenure track faculty has increased in
recent years to the mid-40s while the retention rate of faculty that were either tenure-track or
tenured upon first employment at JMU has remained steady at approximately 70 percent.
The most recent student-to-faculty ratio, 16.0:1, remains among the lowest in the last 20
years, down from 19.2:1 in 1997. The percentage of total fall credit hours taught by full-time
faculty was approximately 77 percent.
Since 1991-92 JMU’s proportion of full-time faculty who are female increased from 38
percent to 48 percent. The proportion of faculty who are female is likely to continue to
increase because the number of women enrolled in higher education is higher than men. The
national proportion of female faculty is now also 48 percent
A Faculty in Transition
Page ii
A Faculty in Transition
Introduction
James Madison University is a very dynamic institution that has experienced significant changes in
many areas in the past 27 years. The on-campus headcount increased from 9,757 in 1986 to 19,484
in 2013. Majors were added or expanded as needed. Additional faculty have been hired to meet
enrollment demands for the new or expanded majors.
The Office of Institutional Research (OIR) is responsible for collecting and reporting data on JMU’s
faculty to the Commonwealth of Virginia (e.g., SCHEV) and the federal government (e.g., IPEDS)
along with organizations such as the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the
College and University Professional Association (CUPA). In 1986, OIR created an electronic
database of faculty to facilitate the analyses of faculty data and respond faster to various internal and
external constituencies. Demographic changes occur slowly at JMU, so it is important to review
long-term demographic data to discover meaningful change. This database continues to be an
invaluable warehouse of information about faculty and enables an exploration of long-term changes
in the faculty.
University Planning & Analysis biennially reviews the changes in JMU’s faculty to shed light on
trends that may affect policy and help senior administrators to better understand the needs of JMU’s
faculty. This is the 12th report in this series and covers the period from fall 1986 to fall 2013.
Research Questions
While there are many questions that could be asked about the changes in JMU’s faculty, three
primary research questions are addressed in this study.
1. How have faculty demographics (percent tenured, percent with terminal degree, race/ethnicity,
gender, etc.) changed since 1986? How closely do these trends mirror the changes that have
occurred nationally?
2. How well have faculty salaries and compensation kept pace with inflation? How closely do
these trends mirror the changes that have occurred nationally?
3. How are faculty resources allocated for instruction?
A Faculty in Transition
Page 1
Methodology
The Office of Institutional Research has reported salary statistics to the Commonwealth of Virginia
(SCHEV), the federal government (IPEDS), and selected outside organizations (AAUP, CUPA)
since the early 1970s. Beginning in 1986, these data have been stored in electronic databases
maintained by OIR. This 27-year collection of official JMU data is an invaluable resource for
analyzing the changes in JMU’s faculty and uncovering trends. The data are electronically stored in
Microsoft Access® tables. Standard queries and reports are developed in Access® and Tableau® to
analyze the data for this report. While it is recognized that many librarians are considered to be
faculty and can obtain tenure, standard definitions of faculty for national data collections do not
include them in the definition of instructional faculty. Therefore, librarians are not included in this
study.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 2
Results
Demographics
Change occurs, but often it cannot be understood unless one considers several years of data. Many
important changes in the demographics of JMU’s instructional faculty have occurred since 1986.
This section displays tables and graphs that highlight these changes. Tables 1 and 2 display
information about the number of faculty and tenure status. Tables 3 and 4 display information about
the number of faculty who possess terminal degrees.
Table 1
Full-Time Instructional Faculty by Tenure Status and Per FTE Student1
Year
1986-87
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1996-97
1997-98
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Change
Percent ∆
1
Faculty
Total
450
477
492
508
559
581
675
685
704
721
749
795
831
854
897
906
906
924
940
960
510
113%
Tenured
Assistant
Professor
36
28
26
24
16
11
6
7
7
6
5
3
3
4
4
3
3
2
1
2
-34
-94%
Tenured
Associate
Professor
127
130
127
141
145
140
133
128
123
131
141
122
162
170
181
192
201
210
206
236
107
84%
Tenured
Professor
134
184
182
183
212
207
203
210
220
212
216
231
244
248
254
261
259
269
262
276
142
106%
Tenured
Total
297
342
335
348
373
358
342
345
350
349
362
356
409
422
439
456
463
481
469
512
215
72%
Percent
Tenured
66%
72%
68%
69%
67%
62%
51%
50%
50%
48%
48%
45%
49%
49%
49%
50%
51%
52%
50%
53%
-13%
Percent
Faculty in
NonTenure
Track
Positions
13%
9%
13%
13%
19%
22%
27%
26%
26%
26%
24%
24%
23%
24%
24%
21%
21%
22%
23%
22%
9%
Regular
Session
FTES
9,297
10,620
10,720
10,711
12,119
12,877
13,823
14,094
14,458
14,732
14,857
15,462
15,869
16,114
16,794
17,077
17,209
17,481
17,727
317,875
8,524
92%
FTE
Students
per FT
Faculty 2
20.7
22.3
21.8
21.1
21.7
22.2
20.5
20.6
20.5
20.4
19.8
19.4
19.1
18.9
18.7
18.7
19.0
18.9
18.7
18.6
(2.06)
Source: Statistical Summary Table 4-1
2
This statistic is a ratio of FTE students to full-time (FT) faculty. It is not the FTE student-to-FTE faculty ratio
which is displayed in Table 19 on Page 30. The purpose of this table is to investigate whether the number of fulltime faculty per student has declined at a similar rate to the FTE student-to FTE faculty ratio.
3
Estimated – From annual projections: http://www.jmu.edu/instresrch/Projections/project.shtml
A Faculty in Transition
Page 3
Table 1 shows that the number of faculty more than doubled between 1986 and 2013, actually
outpacing enrollment growth during the same period. The number of full-time equivalent students
(FTES) increased by 92 percent and the number of full-time faculty per FTE student decreased by
2.0. The fall 2013 student-to-faculty ratio was 16.0 to 1. The percentage of faculty with tenure
increased from 66 percent in 1986 to 72 percent in 1991. By fall 2005, the percentage of tenured
faculty had steadily declined to 45. In 2013, the percentage of tenured faculty was 53 percent. The
percentage of full-time non-tenure track positions increased from a low of nine percent in 2001-02
to a high of 26 percent in 2002-03. In 2013-14 the percentage declined to 22 percent. As shown in
Table 2, the percent of tenured faculty varies by college from 43 percent in Education to a high of
65 percent in Visual and Performing Arts.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 4
Table 2
Number of Full-Time Instructional Faculty and Tenure Status by College, Fall 2013 4
College
Arts & Letters
Business
Education
Health and Behavioral Studies
Integrated Science & Engineering
Science & Mathematics
Visual & Performing Arts
University Studies
Other
Total
Number
Faculty
252
132
54
160
77
151
94
23
17
960
Number Tenured By Rank
Assistant
Professor
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
Associate
Professor
73
26
14
23
16
37
36
8
1
324
Professor
57
42
11
49
30
47
33
4
3
276
Total
Table 3
Number and Percentage of Faculty Holding Terminal Degree5
Year
1986-87
1987-88
1988-89
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
Number of Faculty
Male
Female
331
119
332
119
337
133
333
138
330
142
335
142
342
150
348
160
349
171
354
174
4
Source: Statistical Summary Table 4-1
5
Source: Statistical Summary Table 4-2
A Faculty in Transition
Number With
Terminal Degree
Male
Female
256
61
256
63
265
72
268
76
272
80
282
93
285
105
295
116
299
120
305
131
Percentage Terminal
Degree
Male
Female
77%
51%
77%
53%
79%
54%
80%
55%
82%
56%
84%
65%
83%
70%
85%
73%
86%
70%
86%
75%
130
69
25
72
46
85
69
12
4
512
Percent
Tenured
52%
52%
46%
45%
60%
56%
73%
52%
24%
53%
Total
Percentage
Holding
Terminal
Degree
70%
71%
72%
73%
75%
79%
79%
81%
81%
83%
Page 5
Year
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Change
Number of Faculty
Male
Female
369
190
378
203
394
223
402
238
422
253
426
259
436
268
438
283
444
305
465
330
472
359
479
375
488
409
494
412
496
410
501
423
484
446
499
461
168
342
Number With
Terminal Degree
Male
Female
312
137
330
165
341
178
350
179
359
189
366
199
381
207
376
215
379
229
391
246
389
268
400
282
400
300
407
303
402
305
416
312
396
298
395
314
139
253
Percentage Terminal
Degree
Male
Female
85%
72%
87%
81%
87%
80%
87%
75%
85%
75%
86%
77%
87%
77%
86%
76%
85%
75%
84%
75%
82%
75%
84%
75%
82%
73%
82%
74%
81%
74%
83%
74%
82%
67%
79%
68%
2%
17%
Total
Percentage
Holding
Terminal
Degree
80%
85%
84%
83%
81%
82%
84%
82%
81%
80%
79%
80%
78%
78%
78%
79%
74%
74%
4%
The percentage of faculty with a terminal degree increased by four percentage points between 1986
and 2013. The major change in the faculty has been the dramatic increase in female faculty. Since
1986:

Female faculty increased by 287 percent while male faculty increased by 51 percent.

Females with a terminal degree increased by 415 percent while males increased by 54
percent.

The percentage of females with a terminal degree increased by 17 percentage points (51
percent to 68 percent) while males increased by two percentage points, reducing the
percentage gap between males and females holding terminal degrees from 26 to 11.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 6
Table 4
Number and Percentage of Faculty Holding Terminal Degree by College, Fall 20136
College
Arts & Letters
Business
Education
Health and Behavioral Studies
Integrated Science &
Engineering
Science and Mathematics
Visual & Performing Arts
University Studies
Other
Total
6
Number of
Faculty
Male
Female
138
89
13
44
114
43
41
116
56
88
54
8
9
499
Number of Faculty
with Terminal
Degree
Male
Female
112
65
11
37
79
21
32
76
21
51
63
40
15
8
461
80
27
7
5
395
Percentage
Terminal Degree
Male
Female
Percentage
Holding
Terminal
Degree
81%
73%
85%
84%
69%
49%
78%
66%
76%
65%
80%
71%
19
91%
90%
91%
53
19
11
4
314
91%
50%
88%
56%
79%
84%
48%
73%
50%
68%
88%
49%
78%
53%
74%
Source: Statistical Summary Table 4-2
A Faculty in Transition
Page 7
The percentage of faculty holding the terminal degree increased from 70 percent in 1986 to 74
percent in 2013. The year with the highest percentage of terminal-degreed instructional faculty was
1997 (85 percent). The percentage with a terminal degree has been trending downward since the
early 2000s. The percentage of faculty holding a terminal degree ranges from 88 percent in Science
& Mathematics to 49 percent in Visual and Performing Arts.
Tables 5 and 6 display instructional faculty by gender and ethnic distributions. Beginning with 2010,
race and ethnicity data were collected according to the new federal categories, making comparisons
with previous years problematic. Table 5 displays gender since 1986. Table 7 displays the changes in
the number of 10- and 12-month faculty. Tables 8, 9, and 10 display information about years of
employment and age of the faculty.
7
31
34
39
45
762
769
776
782
0
0
0
0
15
16
18
21
2
2
3
7
47
52
57
58
NonResident
Alien
Unreported
Multi-Race
Hispanic
Hawaiian/
Other Pacific
Islander
1
1
1
1
Caucasian
24
25
21
23
Asian
American
Indian
26%
38%
38%
38%
39%
41%
42%
43%
44%
46%
46%
45%
46%
47%
48%
AfricanAmerican
120
253
259
268
283
305
331
359
375
409
412
410
423
446
461
Percent
Female
337
422
426
439
440
444
465
472
479
488
494
496
501
494
499
Female
457
675
685
707
723
749
796
831
854
897
906
906
924
940
960
Male
Fall
1986
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Faculty Total
Table 5
Gender and Ethnic Origin, Instructional Faculty 7
NA
NA
NA
NA
24
26
32
28
29
27
27
24
25
25
23
Source: Statistical Summary Table 4-6
Note: The federal race/ethnicity categories changed beginning with 2010, so the data prior to 2010 are not presented.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 8
The most obvious change since 1986 is in the dramatic increase in number and percentage of female
faculty. Since 1986 male faculty increased by 162 (48%), but female faculty increased by 284% from
120 to 461. Female faculty now represent 48% of all faculty, up from 26% in 1986.
Caucasian faculty represent 89% of all faculty who are citizens or resident alians and who reported
their race/ethnicity.
.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 9
Unknown or
Unreported
Multi-Race
Caucasian
1
5
139
1
0
10
2
77
56 (73%)
21 (27%)
5
0
2
64
1
0
3
2
151
88 (58%)
63 (42%)
2
0
15
125
1
1
6
1
94
54 (57%)
40 (43%)
3
0
3
77
2
0
7
2
23
8 (35%)
15 (65%)
0
0
22
0
0
1
17
9 (53%)
8 (47%)
960 499 (52%) 461 (48%)
2
23
11
782
1
21
7
2
58
0
0
1
8
9
2
1
45
195
104
45
9
1
5
5
1
22
6
1
NonResident
Alien
2
3
5
1
Hispanic
American
Indian
116 73%
252 138 (55%) 144 (45%)
132 89 (67%) 43 (33%)
54 13 (24%) 41 (76%)
Asian
AfricanAmerican
44 (27%)
Female
160
Male
College
Arts & Letters
Business
Education
Health and
Behavioral
Studies
Integrated
Science &
Engineering
Science &
Mathematics
Visual &
Performing
Arts
University
Studies
Other
Total
Faculty Total
Table 6
Gender and Ethnic Origin, Instructional Faculty, Fall 20138
10
6
23
In 1987, the number of months in which department heads were contractually employed increased
from 10 to 12 months to deal with the increased duties associated with a management position,
especially academic department heads. As shown in Table 7, seven percent of all instructional faculty
were employed 12 months in 1987. By 2013, this had increased to 10 percent. Between 1987 and
2013, the percentage of faculty on 10-month contracts increased by 90 percent while 12-month
faculty more than tripled. The reasons for the increase in 12-month faculty are varied. Some
additional 12-month faculty are needed to help manage the complexity of some departments or to
enhance educational support services such as the Center for Faculty Innovation, University
Advising, and University Programs. The proportion of full-time faculty employed for 12-months has
changed little since 2005.
8
Source: Historical Faculty Database
A Faculty in Transition
Page 10
Table 7
10- and 12-Month Instructional Faculty9
9
88
91
142
86
450
424
438
433
435
441
455
489
520
549
588
596
631
638
652
663
680
716
741
755
797
803
808
830
842
857
407
0
18
26
28
27
31
32
28
27
26
23
30
28
32
34
37
42
45
47
48
52
55
51
51
55
58
58
0
1
2
3
2
1
2
2
2
2
3
10
9
10
10
11
17
14
15
14
11
13
11
11
10
15
2
4
4
2
1
2
2
2
2
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
4
8
12
11
18
16
14
13
14
10
19
15
8
3
33
39
43
41
41
41
39
39
32
29
44
44
47
52
58
69
79
90
89
100
103
98
94
98
103
100
Percent of
Total
1
10
7
10
11
7
5
7
8
4
3
4
6
4
8
8
6
12
16
16
19
19
22
19
19
20
Total
Instructor
/Lecturer
38
40
39
41
35
37
42
27
35
39
46
51
56
67
67
74
85
103
110
107
116
103
112
117
121
124
Assistant
Professor
126
119
130
117
110
114
132
129
136
153
178
188
218
206
218
224
232
237
239
253
266
279
270
269
271
268
Associate
Professor
Instructor
/Lecturer
149
142
137
137
140
134
130
150
163
173
184
174
177
180
173
181
185
179
186
190
202
207
210
217
235
240
Professor
Assistant
Professor
137
123
132
138
150
156
151
183
186
184
180
183
180
185
194
184
178
197
206
205
213
214
216
227
215
225
12-Month
Total
Associate
Professor
Fall
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Change
Professor
10-Month
1%
7%
8%
9%
9%
9%
8%
7%
7%
6%
5%
7%
7%
7%
7%
8%
9%
10%
11%
11%
11%
11%
11%
10%
10%
11%
10%
Source: Historical Faculty Database
A Faculty in Transition
Page 11
In the last 10 years, an influx of new faculty resulted from many senior faculty retiring and an
increase in new positions to accommodate enrollment growth. When compared with 1990-91, the
profile of the faculty years in service at JMU has changed somewhat. In 1990, 32 percent of the
faculty had five years or less experience. The average number of years at JMU was 11.6 (median 11).
In 2013, 32 percent had five years or less experience and the average years at JMU for all faculty was
10.8 (median=9). As shown in Table 10, the median age of the faculty has increased from 44 to 47.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 12
Table 8
Years Employed at JMU, Fall 1990 and Fall 2013 10
Years Employed
New
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
31+
Average Years
Median Years
Max Service Years
Average Age
Median Age
Oldest
Youngest
Total
1990-91
33
121
72
83
88
53
19
7
12
11
32
47
44
72
25
476
Percent of
Total
7%
25%
15%
17%
19%
11%
4%
2%
2013-14
59
249
228
182
114
65
35
28
11
9
48
48
47
78
24
960
Percent of
Total
6%
26%
24%
19%
8%
7%
4%
3%
The table above displays the changes in the distribution of years of JMU experience for faculty
between 1990 and 2013. In 1990, six percent of the faculty had 26 or more years of experience at
JMU compared to seven percent in 2013. In fall 2013, the number of years employed ranged from
zero to 48, while age ranged from 24 to 78. In 2013, the average age of newly hired faculty was 41
years, the highest age ever.
The typical faculty member has slightly less JMU experience than 15 years ago which is not
surprising since JMU’s undergraduate population has grown more than 80 percent since 1990. The
median years at JMU for all faculty decreased from 11 in 1990 to nine in 2013. The median age of
the faculty (both new and continuing) increased from 44 years in 1990 to 47 in 2013. In 1990 the
oldest faculty member was 72 compared to 78 in 2013. In 1990 the longest service for a faculty
member was 32 years while it was 48 in 2013.
10
Source: Historical Faculty Database
A Faculty in Transition
Page 13
Table 9 displays for fall 2013 the average and median years at JMU and average and median ages by
college. The average and median ages vary only slightly between the colleges. The College of
Education has lowest median years of JMU service.
22%
2
7
2
1
4
23
12
11
28
48
47
63
28
17
9
5
28
44
38
67
31
59
249
228
182
114
65
35
28
960
11
9
48
48
47
78
24
13%
53%
32%
1
Percent
34%
2
1
6
10
1
2
1
Grand Total
31%
2
19
22
27
10
6
4
4
94
12
11
45
50
49
73
29
Other
36%
77
10
9
43
48
49
77
25
8
43
36
25
13
12
7
7
151
11
9
48
47
45
77
24
University
Studies
39%
5
19
15
17
16
4
1
Visual &
Performing
Arts
25%
1
54
8
7
37
50
48
71
31
13
45
39
27
19
12
2
3
160
10
10
27
49
51
69
29
Science &
Math
35%
5
16
18
6
6
2
Health and
Behavioral
Studies
6
27
29
24
18
12
10
6
132
13
11
38
51
51
68
27
Integrated
Science and
Engineering
16
72
61
45
27
15
9
7
252
10
8
42
46
45
78
28
Education
Business
Years
Employed
New
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
31+
Total
Average Years
Median Years
Max Years
Average Age
Median Age
Oldest
Youngest
Percent 5 Years
or Less
Arts & Letters
Table 9
Years Employed at JMU and Average Age by College, Fall 201311
6%
26%
24%
19%
12%
7%
4%
3%
100%
Table 10 displays historical information about the average number of years that faculty have
been employed at JMU and their average age. The data show that there have been some changes
in faculty experience since 1986. The average faculty member has been employed about the
same number of years and is about the same age. The average new faculty member is in his/her
middle to upper 30s.
11
Source: Historical Faculty Database
A Faculty in Transition
Page 14
Table 10
Average and Median Age, Years of Service: 1986-87 – 2013-1412
Year
1986-87
1987-88
1988-89
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Change
12
Faculty
Total
459
457
477
476
476
482
495
508
520
528
559
581
617
640
675
685
704
721
749
795
831
854
897
906
906
924
940
960
501
Average
JMU Years
9.9
10.5
10.6
11.2
11.6
12.0
11.1
11.5
12.0
12.1
11.8
11.2
10.3
10.4
9.9
10.1
10.3
10.2
9.9
10.0
10.1
10.2
10.2
10.6
10.4
10.6
10.6
10.8
0.9
Median
JMU Years
10
10
10
11
11
12
10
10
10
11
10
9
7
7
6
6
6
6
7
7
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
(1)
Average
Age
44.4
44.9
45.3
45.7
46.5
46.8
46.3
46.7
47.2
47.5
47.5
47.3
46.9
47.2
46.8
47.2
47.7
47.5
47.1
47.2
47.3
47.5
47.5
47.8
47.8
47.8
47.9
47.9
3.5
Median
Age
44
44
45
45
44
47
46
46
47
48
48
48
47
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
47
48
48
48
47
47
47
3
Average
Age of
New
Faculty
38.0
35.3
37.0
34.8
39.8
35.7
38.3
38.5
38.4
37.7
38.7
38.4
39.4
38.7
37.7
39.1
37.1
38.3
38.0
38.5
38.1
40.4
38.2
36.4
38.6
37.9
36.9
40.6
2.6
Source: Historical Faculty Database
A Faculty in Transition
Page 15
In the early 1990s JMU inaugurated the College of Integrated Science and Technology. CISAT was
to have a unique curriculum, mission and faculty. Many faculty were recruited from business and
industry where tenure was not possible. Academic Affairs decided that many of these new faculty
would be offered Revolving Term Appointments (RTA) instead of the opportunity to gain tenure.
The RTA offered the University the opportunity to continue to hire excellent faculty for whom
tenure was not a major concern, but would have more flexibility in hiring and adjusting to changing
student major choices. In 1991-92 96 percent of full-time faculty were either tenured or tenure track.
By 1999-2000 the percentage had decreased to 76 percent. By 2013-14 the percentage tenured or
tenure track increased to 90 percent. It is now likely that the percentage of faculty that are tenured
will increase over the next five to ten years.
Table 11
Percent of Full-Time Instructional That Were Either Tenured or Tenure Track by Rank and Year
Academic
Year
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Professor
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
99.5%
100.0%
100.0%
99.5%
98.6%
98.0%
98.1%
97.6%
97.2%
96.9%
98.6%
98.6%
97.5%
98.4%
97.7%
97.7%
98.1%
97.8%
97.5%
98.1%
97.9%
A Faculty in Transition
Associate
Professor
98.7%
98.6%
99.3%
99.3%
98.1%
94.9%
90.6%
85.9%
83.4%
80.9%
80.9%
79.3%
78.1%
84.7%
87.4%
88.0%
91.6%
90.8%
91.9%
92.9%
94.4%
95.3%
94.9%
95.0%
Assistant
Professor
83.9%
92.2%
77.6%
76.3%
70.8%
74.0%
58.7%
60.0%
45.9%
49.0%
60.8%
69.4%
68.1%
67.8%
72.7%
79.3%
78.0%
76.8%
78.3%
82.5%
82.6%
78.9%
77.2%
78.8%
Instructor /
Lecturer
19.4%
15.4%
20.5%
15.4%
14.7%
13.8%
8.1%
7.7%
4.3%
2.0%
1.8%
4.4%
3.0%
0.0%
1.1%
5.4%
4.1%
3.4%
3.7%
4.2%
3.2%
3.8%
3.0%
2.2%
Percent Prof, Assoc,
and Asst Prof that Are
Tenured or Tenure
Track
95.5%
97.5%
93.1%
93.0%
91.6%
91.6%
85.8%
83.4%
76.7%
76.4%
79.1%
82.2%
81.3%
83.3%
85.6%
88.2%
89.1%
88.2%
89.0%
90.9%
91.3%
90.3%
89.8%
90.4%
Page 16
Each year, JMU hires new faculty to replace faculty who retire or leave JMU, as well as to
accommodate enrollment growth. A frequently asked question is what proportion of faculty who
became assistant tenure-track professors earn tenure and continue to teach at JMU? Has this
proportion increased or decreased? Table 12 displays the number of new tenure-track assistant
professors hired since 1991-92. These faculty include those who were initially hired into an
instructor position and were later promoted into an assistant professor tenure-track position.
Between 1990 and 2006, 61 percent of those hired into a tenure-track position had earned tenure. It
appears that between the third and fourth years the highest percentage of tenure-track faculty leave
JMU. Once a faculty member has earned tenure, however, he/she tends to remain at JMU. Of the
208 faculty who earned tenure between 1990 and 2003, 194 (93 percent) were employed after ten
years at JMU. Eighty-six percent were still employed after 15 years. A few faculty tend to leave JMU
within a year or two of earning tenure.
Another concern is the retention rates of new faculty, regardless of their rank. Qualified faculty are
difficult to find in some disciplines, and it is much better for the department and the institution if
the faculty hired remain at JMU. However, it has been speculated that faculty are leaving JMU faster
than in previous years. The second graph on page 19 displays the five-year retention rates of new
faculty since 1987. It appears that the five-year retention rate of new non-tenure track faculty has
increased in recent years while the retention rate of faculty that were either tenure-track or tenured
upon first employment at JMU has remained steady.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 17
Number
Retained
10 Years
13
13
13
11
13
65%
10
77%
1992-93
18
17
15
13
13
12
12
12
12
67%
12
100%
1993-94
15
15
13
12
14
12
10
8
10
67%
8
80%
1994-95
17
17
14
12
11
11
10
10
9
53%
8
89%
1995-96
26
24
23
18
14
13
12
10
11
42%
10
91%
1996-97
8
7
7
7
7
5
5
5
5
63%
5
100%
1997-98
27
22
18
18
17
16
16
16
16
59%
16
100%
1998-99
23
22
22
18
16
16
14
14
14
61%
14
100%
1999-00
27
26
21
18
17
14
13
13
13
48%
13
100%
2000-01
60
53
47
41
41
39
34
34
34
57%
33
97%
2001-02
44
41
38
34
34
33
32
30
30
68%
30
100%
2002-03
34
33
31
27
23
22
22
19
19
56%
17
89%
2003-04
34
32
32
28
27
26
25
24
22
65%
18
82%
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Percent
Retained
56
48
46
42
50
59
36
35
43
54
51
47
43
42
48
55
34
34
42
47
45
40
40
44
51
34
32
43
40
39
35
43
45
32
39
39
39
33
40
34
37
37
35
29
38
38
35
33
28
35
33
34
35
32
30
25
12
9
3
1
0
63%
67%
65%
60%
24%
15%
8%
3%
0%
94%
87%
78%
72%
69%
65%
61%
13
61%
6 Years
1 Year
Begin
Percent
Tenured
Retained
10 Years
Percent
Tenured
16
7 Years
18
5 Years
18
4 Years
20
3 Years
1991-92
Fall
2 Years
Number
Earned
Tenure
Table 12
Retention of New Tenure Track Assistant Professors13
93%
Source: Historical Faculty Database
A Faculty in Transition
Page 18
One measure of faculty qualifications is the percentage holding a terminal degree in their field. Table
13 displays the number and percentage of new faculty with a terminal degree by rank. A significantly
smaller proportion of faculty at the instructor rank has a terminal degree. Seventy-six percent of new
assistant professors held a terminal degree when hired, while 92 percent of new professors and 93
percent of associate professors held the terminal degree. The overall percentage of new faculty with
a terminal degree ranged from a low of 38 percent in 1991 to a high of 81 percent in 2003 and 2013.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 19
14
68%
82%
73%
85%
53%
79%
76%
80%
75%
86%
79%
91%
84%
71%
63%
69%
83%
84%
79%
88%
68%
83%
65%
63%
67%
81%
73%
89%
76%
7
3
5
2
3
1
3
7
3
6
10
12
10
7
13
11
1
2
5
0
5
7
5
0
3
5
4
8
148
100%
100%
80%
100%
100%
0%
100%
100%
100%
100%
90%
83%
90%
86%
92%
100%
100%
100%
100%
0%
100%
100%
100%
0%
100%
100%
75%
100%
93%
4
1
2
2
4
0
4
4
3
3
1
3
4
3
1
2
1
1
5
6
2
5
4
3
5
2
2
1
78
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
0%
100%
100%
100%
100%
0%
33%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
80%
100%
67%
100%
100%
100%
100%
92%
51
31
46
27
33
32
68
41
38
62
60
72
89
58
81
61
50
63
81
62
72
64
66
49
57
54
63
59
1,588
Percent
Terminal
Total
New Faculty
Percent
Terminal
Total
New Prof
22
17
22
13
17
14
38
20
24
37
34
44
62
42
57
36
41
51
54
42
47
40
46
41
39
43
45
38
1,026
Percent
Terminal
6%
0%
0%
0%
0%
6%
17%
10%
25%
19%
20%
23%
23%
0%
10%
27%
29%
44%
35%
7%
0%
33%
27%
0%
0%
0%
25%
42%
15%
Total
New
Associate
Prof
Total
New
Assistant Prof
18
10
17
10
9
17
23
10
8
16
15
13
13
6
10
12
7
9
17
14
18
12
11
5
10
4
12
12
336
Percent
Terminal
Percent
Terminal
Fall
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Totals
Total New
Instructors
Table 13
New Terminal Degreed Instructional Faculty14
53%
58%
48%
56%
48%
38%
59%
68%
68%
71%
65%
75%
76%
67%
62%
68%
76%
81%
74%
71%
56%
75%
64%
57%
60%
78%
65%
81%
66%
Source: Faculty Historical Database.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 20
The chart below indicates that there has been a gradual increase in the percentage of new faculty
holding the terminal degree since 1986. The dip in the percentage of new associate and full
professors holding the terminal degree is due to the fact that only one faculty member was hired,
and this person did not have a terminal degree. The nine years in which no new instructors had a
terminal degree is not surprising because a much smaller percentage of new instructors possess
terminal degrees (15 percent). In most disciplines and at institutions a terminal degree is required to
become tenure eligible and become assistant professors. Over the years many instructors became
tenure-track and eventually earned tenure once their earned a terminal degree.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 21
Compensation
The tables and graphs in this section focus on faculty compensation since 1986. Table 14 displays
the average salary by rank by year as reported to the American Association of University Professors
(AAUP). Table 14 displays the average salary of 9/10-month faculty. Table 15 displays total
compensation (salary + benefits) since 1986. Table 16 shows the percent increases for continuing
faculty. When the average faculty salary for 2013-14 is adjusted to 1986 dollars one discovers that
the average JMU faculty salary has increased by $963 (2.9 percent). The average salaries of new
faculty by tenure status rose at the same rate as all faculty.
Table 14
Average Salary by Rank Since 1986-8715
Year
1986-87
1987-88
1988-89
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
Professor
39,389
42,499
46,235
50,829
50,958
52,135
55,254
56,991
59,158
62,312
66,342
70,206
72,223
72,325
71,690
73,066
77,648
80,204
83,810
87,587
87,417
87,731
86,841
87,360
Associate
Professor
33,818
36,420
39,246
43,791
43,650
44,674
47,439
48,235
49,899
53,371
55,943
58,818
59,695
59,153
58,312
59,758
62,798
66,051
67,847
68,984
69,216
67,790
66,941
66,489
Assistant
Professor
29,341
31,052
33,435
36,596
35,296
36,558
39,017
40,415
40,711
43,038
44,418
46,009
46,518
46,376
46,620
47,852
50,559
53,561
54,823
56,994
56,278
57,646
58,357
60,382
Instructor
21,555
23,547
25,607
28,603
29,113
28,506
30,866
31,180
32,069
33,604
34,622
36,407
39,359
39,531
39,601
41,483
42,936
44,301
46,210
48,982
49,188
49,758
50,003
50,976
All Ranks
33,225
35,647
38,724
43,576
42,800
44,086
47,286
48,857
49,979
52,519
54,394
56,859
57,407
57,349
57,077
58,030
60,731
63,684
65,550
68,192
67,606
68,073
67,787
68,735
Percent
Change
-7.3%
8.6%
-1.7%
-1.8%
3.0%
7.3%
3.3%
2.3%
5.1%
3.6%
4.5%
1.0%
-0.1%
-0.5%
1.7%
4.7%
4.9%
2.9%
4.0%
-0.9%
0.7%
-0.4%
1.4%
2012-13
87,601
67,335
61,289
52,802
69,261
0.8%
2013-14
Change
Percent Change
Adjusted to
1986 16
91,029
51,640
131%
71,125
37,307
110%
64,231
34,800
119%
54,697
33,142
154%
72,667
39,442
119%
4.9%
42,826
33,462
30,219
25,733
34,188
15
Source: AAUP Annual Survey
16
Inflation calculator from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 22
Table 15
Average Compensation by Rank
Year
1986-87
1987-88
1988-89
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Change
Percent
Change
Professor
49,019
52,772
57,153
62,410
65,579
63,107
62,784
64,594
68,010
70,286
72,818
77,058
82,737
88,083
91,232
91,288
88,978
93,048
99,966
104,833
110,440
115,560
115,359
114,768
113,880
114,789
113,071
118,367
69,348
Associate
Professor
42,281
45,464
48,790
53,820
56,530
54,723
54,367
55,995
59,039
60,351
62,219
66,706
70,425
74,515
76,248
75,730
74,325
77,559
82,550
87,061
90,992
92,800
93,066
90,589
89,781
87,073
88,872
95,084
52,803
Assistant
Professor
36,874
38,999
41,802
46,581
48,729
45,909
44,698
46,615
49,295
49,902
51,343
54,563
56,646
59,096
60,248
60,337
60,802
63,350
67,825
72,017
75,117
78,240
77,347
78,401
79,219
79,663
81,674
86,975
50,101
Instructor
27,428
29,924
32,355
35,746
38,503
36,747
37,443
37,108
39,675
39,982
41,139
43,357
44,959
47,557
51,548
51,985
52,242
55,542
58,452
60,692
64,592
68,441
68,715
68,878
69,284
69,339
71,270
75,770
48,342
All Ranks
41,564
44,525
48,146
53,358
56,677
54,418
53,359
55,291
58,822
60,974
62,178
65,641
68,535
72,113
73,399
73,447
72,589
75,355
79,907
84,039
88,185
91,892
91,160
90,988
90,757
90,671
91,143
96,861
55,297
141%
125%
136%
176%
133%
Percent
Change
-7.1%
8.1%
10.8%
6.2%
-4.0%
-1.9%
3.6%
6.4%
3.7%
2.0%
5.6%
4.4%
5.2%
1.8%
0.7%
-1.7%
3.8%
6.0%
5.2%
4.9%
4.2%
-0.8%
-0.2%
-0.3%
-0.1%
0.5%
6.3%
Benefits as
Percent of
Salary
25.1
24.9
24.3
25.2
27.9
24.9
24.7
25.4
24.4
24.8
24.4
25.0
26.0
26.8
27.9
28.1
27.2
29.9
31.6
32.0
34.5
34.7
34.8
33.7
33.9
31.9
31.6
33.3
Continuing assistant professors had greater percentage salary increases than professors and associate
professors in 18 of the last 20 years (Table 16). Although professors have the highest average salary
and compensation, their overall percentage increases tend to be smaller than associate or assistant
professors. Professors are not eligible for salary increases associated with promotion to a new rank
as are assistant and associate professors. Benefits as a percentage of total compensation have
increased by more than eight percentage points to 33.3 percent since 1986-87, but the percentage
has declined since the high of 34.8 percent in 2008-09.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 23
Table 16
Percent Salary Increases for Continuing 17 Faculty
Fall
1986-87
1987-88
1988-89
1989-90
1990-91
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Professor
11.74
7.10
9.80
9.01
3.21
0.54
0.57
2.30
3.35
2.88
4.15
5.89
6.05
5.63
2.24
0.60
0.30
2.31
7.49
5.44
3.97
4.52
0.12
0.15
0.00
2.00
0.40
5.40
Associate
Professor
11.81
8.60
10.20
10.02
3.78
1.47
0.38
3.00
3.95
3.98
4.62
7.23
6.75
6.73
3.64
1.11
0.18
4.10
7.30
7.97
5.09
5.61
0.64
0.61
1.00
2.10
2.20
7.40
Assistant
Professor
11.95
9.40
11.80
11.59
4.49
0.81
0.31
3.03
4.59
4.80
5.49
7.59
7.51
7.38
4.32
1.55
0.52
5.35
7.36
8.25
5.59
5.76
1.55
1.33
0.80
3.10
2.30
6.50
Instructor
10.32
9.70
12.60
14.54
3.84
1.69
0.33
3.52
5.06
9.28
5.28
7.06
8.35
7.21
5.27
0.79
1.09
6.44
5.71
5.48
4.81
5.41
0.79
0.84
0.70
2.20
2.20
6.50
Total
11.75
8.30
10.40
10.18
3.69
0.94
0.46
2.72
3.85
3.76
4.59
6.69
6.65
6.43
3.29
0.99
0.36
3.87
7.27
6.88
4.75
5.20
0.68
0.65
0.50
2.40
1.50
6.30
Salary increases have not been available for most faculty in the last several years due to budget
shortfalls in the Commonwealth. However, some faculty received raises due to promotions (assistant
to associate professor or associate professor to full professor) and/or equity raises. The data above
reflect these increases, using AAUP definitions, as well as increases authorized by the
Commonwealth in the years in which they were granted. For example, an associate professor that
was promoted to professor was analyzed as an associate professor with the new salary adjustment
included.
17
Continuing faculty were employed the previous year. Faculty who were promoted were analyzed as if they were
still in the previous rank. Source and methodology: AAUP Annual Survey.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 24
In July 2007, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) negotiated a new faculty
salary peer group with each public institution. The purpose of the faculty peer group is to establish a
basis upon which funds can be allocated for faculty salaries that enable the institutions to compete
for high-quality faculty. The Commonwealth’s objective is to fund faculty salaries at the 60th
percentile of a national group. This is JMU’s third peer group since 1986.
Table 17 displays the current peer institutions and some comparable statistics, including the 2011-12
faculty salary average. The current peer group consists of 10 private and 15 public institutions,
excluding JMU. Each institution has an undergraduate profile, as categorized by the Carnegie
Foundation, as either “More Selective” or “Selective.” In 2012 IPEDS changed the methodology for
calculating average salaries, and the data, in our opinion, are not stable enough to make calculations,
so we used 2011-12 data for this report. The average salary in 2011-12 was approximately $78,500
and the 60th percentile was approximately $82,821. The 60th percentile is $14,614 higher than JMU’s
A Faculty in Transition
Page 25
current average. JMU ranked 19th in this list. This means that additional dollars would need to be
allocated by the General Assembly over the next several years to bring JMU’s average to the 60th
percentile. The JMU average salary increased to $72,665 in 2013-14 due to increased authorized by
the General Assembly and additional dollars funded by JMU. The General Assembly did not
authorize any money for faculty salary increases for 2014-15 due to shortfall in revenues by the
Commonwealth.
Table 17
Salary Data for Faculty Peer Group (In Thousands of Dollars), 2011-1218
Institution
Boston College
Hofstra University
St. John's University-New York
Loyola Marymount University
Rowan University
Fairfield University
Texas Christian University
Marquette University
The University of Alabama
Baylor University
Duquesne University
Bloomsburg University of Penn.
Gonzaga University
Ohio Univ. Main Campus
Miami Univ. Oxford
Illinois State University
Univ. of North Carolina Wilmington
James Madison Univ.
Appalachian State Univ.
Eastern Illinois University
University of Northern Iowa
College of Charleston
Western Washington University
Truman State University
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Average
60th Percentile
JMU Distance From
State
MA
NY
NY
CA
NJ
CT
TX
WI
AL
TX
PA
PA
WA
OH
OH
IL
NC
VA
NC
IL
IA
SC
WA
MO
WI
WI
Control
Private
Private
Private
Private
Public
Private
Private
Private
Public
Private
Private
Public
Private
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Total
Headcount
14,605
11,023
21,087
9,492
12,183
4,999
9,727
11,749
33,503
15,364
9,956
9,950
7,781
27,402
17,683
20,706
13,733
19,927
17,589
10,417
12,273
11,723
14,833
6,237
11,067
10,385
6 Year
Grad
Rate
92
61
59
75
71
81
75
80
67
75
74
64
81
63
80
71
69
80
66
60
66
69
67
74
65
70
Student
Faculty
Ratio
15
14
18
11
16
11
13
14
20
15
14
20
11
19
16
19
16
16
16
15
16
16
21
17
21
20
Average
Salary
(111-12)
114,688
109,442
107,859
96,823
93,528
89,505
88,570
84,957
84,041
82,704
79,470
77,904
77,227
74,128
73,415
70,928
70,725
68,736
68,207
68,141
67,742
65,965
65,587
61,780
59,476
58,870
79,247
82,821
60th
Percentile
14,614
18
Source: AAUP Faculty Salary Data as Published in Academe and the federal Integrated Postsecondary
Educational Data System. IPEDS data collection changed in 2012-13 and data for AAUP and IPEDS were not yet
stable when this report was written.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 26
Faculty Resources
Table 18 displays the changes in faculty FTE (summer, fall, spring and total) since 1994-95. The fulltime equivalent faculty (FTEF) grew by 84 percent. The FTEF for the fall and spring terms are
virtually identical even though historically spring headcounts are approximately five percent lower
than fall, primarily due to December graduation. Table 17 also displays the number of degrees
conferred and the ratio of FTE faculty to total degrees conferred.
Table 18
Faculty FTE (FT and PT) and Degrees Conferred, 1994-95 to 2012-13
Academic Year
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
Percentage
Change
Summer
FTEF
132.8
126.8
135.1
137.8
155.4
152.5
149.9
161.9
160.9
172.9
185.2
197.3
204.3
204.6
219.5
215.9
231.2
237.3
235.6
77%
Fall
FTEF
611.5
609.3
652.5
687.2
744.3
764.6
822.4
824.3
855.8
880.3
910.6
968.6
1,009.0
1,033.7
1,092.3
1,123.8
1,136.0
1,159.3
1,176.0
92%
Spring
FTEF
612.7
601.2
644.9
694.8
742.3
763.0
821.0
836.3
855.0
871.9
909.0
957.2
1,010.8
1,033.8
1,102.4
1,117.5
1,138.2
1,179.8
1,180.8
93%
FTEF
Total
678.5
668.7
716.3
759.9
821.0
840.1
896.7
911.3
935.9
962.6
1,002.4
1,061.6
1,112.1
1,136.1
1,207.1
1,228.6
1,252.7
1,288.2
1,296.2
91%
Degrees
Conferred
2,685
2,666
2,571
2,738
2,906
3,472
3,384
3,435
3,474
3,685
3,778
4,027
4,034
4,143
4,334
4,411
4,608
4,908
4,824
FTEF/
Degree
Ratio
3.96
3.99
3.59
3.60
3.54
4.13
3.77
3.77
3.71
3.83
3.77
3.79
3.63
3.65
3.59
3.59
3.68
3.81
3.72
80%
On page 28 the second chart plots the ratio of FTE faculty to degrees conferred. The ratios have
varied little over the years with the exception of years like 1999-00 when the large “bubble” of
freshmen four years earlier began to graduate.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 27
A Faculty in Transition
Page 28
Table 19 displays four measures of faculty resources and use. Each measure is described and
analyzed below.




The “Student-To-Faculty Ratio” is calculated by dividing the full-time equivalent
students in a fall term (15 credits per undergraduate and 12 per graduate student) by the
full-time equivalent faculty (FTEF). Since 1991, the ratio has varied from 19.2 in 1997 to
16.0 in 2013-14.
The “Total Student Credit Hours per Full-Time Equivalent Faculty” figures represent
the total number of credit hours taught divided by the total FTE faculty. This number
has varied from 284.8 in 1997 to 236.4 in 2009. It was 237.4 in 2013.
The “Percentage of Total Fall Credit Hours Taught by Full-Time Faculty” seeks to
explore the distribution of total effort between full-time and part-time faculty. The
percent ranged from 80.9 in 2004 to 77.1 in 1994. It was 77.4 percent in 2013. This ratio
has changed little in the last 20+ years, indicating that JMU continues to value the
interaction of students with full-time faculty.
The “Percent of Lower Division Student Course Enrollments Taught by Full-Time
Faculty” figures are calculated by section. Lower Division courses are courses at the 100and 200-levels. Individualized instruction is not included. A section is defined as an
organized course offered for credit and not a subsection such as a laboratory or
discussion session. Sections also include mass sections. For example, a Biology 130
lecture is typically taught by one faculty member, but is listed in the schedule of classes
as four sections to assign students to labs. The section analysis combines the lab
sections, counting them as one lecture section. So, the same Biology 130 course has four
subsections. The percentage of sections taught by full-time faculty ranged from 76.4 in
1998 to 63.0 in 2010.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 29
Table 19
Measures of Faculty Resources and Use: Fall 1991 to Fall 2013
Fall
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Change
since 1991
Studentto-Faculty
Ratio
18.9 : 1
18.3 : 1
18.2 : 1
18.3 : 1
18.8 : 1
19.1 : 1
19.2 : 1
18.8 : 1
18.3 : 1
17.5 : 1
17.5 : 1
17.4 : 1
17.3 : 1
16.8 : 1
16.6 : 1
16.2 : 1
16.4 : 1
16.0 : 1
16.0 : 1
16.1 : 1
16.1 : 1
16.1 : 1
16.0 : 1
(2.9 : 1)
Total Student
Credit Hours
per FullTime
Equivalent
Faculty
281.2
271.6
270.2
271.5
279.0
283.7
284.8
279.8
272.0
260.3
263.3
257.7
258.3
250.6
247.1
240.8
242.7
237.1
236.4
238.2
238.3
238.0
237.4
(43.8)
Percentage
of Total Fall
Credit
Hours
Taught by
Full-Time
Faculty
78.5%
79.5%
77.7%
77.1%
79.6%
79.5%
78.2%
79.6%
79.8%
78.6%
80.1%
80.7%
79.9%
80.9%
80.0%
80.2%
79.8%
79.4%
78.3%
77.9%
77.9%
77.6%
77.4%
(1.1%)
Percentage of
Freshman and
Sophomore
Student Courses
Taught by FullTime Faculty
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
75.9%
74.3%
76.4%
75.7%
73.7%
75.8%
71.0%
73.0%
64.3%
71.1%
70.7%
70.3%
68.7%
66.1%
63.0%
64.3%
64.1%
65.0%
(10.9%)
Regular
Session (Fall
+ Spring)
FTE
Students
10,620
10,720
10,711
10,869
11,087
12,119
12,877
13,539
13,697
13,823
14,094
14,496
14,732
14,857
15,462
15,869
16,115
16,794
17,077
17,209
17,481
17,591
17,821 19
6,774
There have been some changes in how faculty resources have been employed since 1991. The
student-to-faculty ratio is not an indicator of class size, but is a measure of the typical number of
students he/she will work with in an instructional activity. The ratio has declined by 2.9 since 1991, a
major accomplishment by the senior administration in securing and allocating additional funding for
instructional faculty at an institution of JMU’s size and breadth of programs, especially during a time
of significant budget problems. While full-time faculty teach the vast majority of credit hours, fulltime faculty are less likely than in 1996 to teach lower division (100- and 200-level) sections.
19
Estimated fall 2013
A Faculty in Transition
Page 30
Trends
This study of instructional faculty was designed to explore the ways the JMU faculty have changed
since 1986 and provide useful information to the university community.
There are several important trends developing nationally that reflect changes seen at JMU over the
years. Below are a few of the most significant.
•
There has been a national trend of declining proportion of faculty with tenure status.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2011-12, 55.6 percent of
faculty in public Master’s level institutions had tenure. In 1993-94 the percentage was 61 20.
At JMU the percentage of tenured faculty was 69 percent in 1993-94. JMU’s faculty tenure
rate declined from a high of 72 percent in 1991-92 to 45 percent in 2005-06. It increased to
53 percent in 2013-14.
•
Another important national trend is the increasing proportion of full-time faculty who are
female. Since 1991-92 JMU’s proportion of full-time faculty who are female increased from
38 percent to 48 percent. The proportion of faculty who are female is likely to increase
because the number of women enrolled in higher education is higher than men. The national
proportion of female faculty is now also 48 percent. 21
•
Salary and compensation trends have been quite variable in the last two decades. The
difference between the JMU average salary and the 60th percentile for national peers has
increased from approximately -$10,700 per faculty to -$14,600. The annual percentage salary
increases for JMU have been significantly more variable than the national peers. It is
uncertain the direction faculty salaries will take in the next several years, but Virginia
continues to have significant revenue issues that will affect employee compensation. In 2014
the General Assembly allocated no faculty salary increases due to reduced tax revenues in the
Commonwealth.
OIR will continue to update this report biennially to provide an ongoing summary of changes in
JMU’s faculty. Questions about this study can be directed to the JMU Office of Institutional
Research at (540) 568-7208 or [email protected]. OIR occasionally receives requests to provide
faculty resource use data by college and department. Questions about the relative distribution of
resources and their use by department should be directed to the Office of the Provost for Academic
Affairs.
20
Digest of Education Statistics, Table 305, 2012.
21
Digest of Education Statistics, 2012.
A Faculty in Transition
Page 31