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During the months of November and December, MIT is repeating the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) Faculty Survey. This survey was last conducted in 1995. HERI conducts several national surveys every year and is well respected in the area of Higher Education Research. This fall MIT participated in its national study of college freshmen for the first time.
When MIT administered this survey in 1995, the data on faculty stress, factors leading up to retirement, work, and personal satisfaction provided some valuable insight to the particular needs of our faculty.
When this data was compared to national and peer norms, we were better able to understand some of the specific aspects of MIT’s unique culture.
Using results from the 1995 and 1998 survey, MIT will examine changes in faculty issues at MIT.
The base of the HERI survey is almost identical to the 1995 version. Faculty members are asked for basic demographic data, ratings of satisfaction with MIT, information on teaching methodology, sources of stress and personal perceptions of MIT and MIT students [see M.I.T. Numbers]. This year’s survey includes 20 local MIT questions that address issues of particular interest to our faculty and the environment at MIT. One set of questions focuses on the residential resources available to faculty on campus. The MIT Planning Office has begun the first phase of planning for the construction of housing for faculty and staff on the western perimeter of the campus. Faculty preferences for types of housing, ownership models, and location will guide MIT’s planning efforts.
Another important set of questions asks about retirement and post retirement plans. There are also several questions concerning communication, formal and informal, and community issues.
Individuals are asked to return completed surveys directly to HERI. No one at MIT will see individual responses and the data will be examined in the aggregate.
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