Looking Back, Looking Forward: How the Pandemic Influenced Faculty Values

The purpose of the study was to understand faculty career values and how faculty values and priorities were affected by COVID-19. Using a mixed-method design, this study found there were differences among the relative value faculty placed on research, teaching, and service, and these differences were consistent with expectations for faculty employed in various tenure and non-tenure line positions. In some instances, faculty values remained the same. In others, the faculty statements indicated changed values in the domains of faculty self-direction and sense of security, the former associated with work-life balance and burnout and the latter with salary and retirement concerns. This study provided insight into faculty values and priorities and how those values and priorities may have changed because of the pandemic. These understandings of faculty values and experiences have implications for faculty recruitment, retention, and development.