Status of current dental hygiene faculty and perceptions of important qualifications for future faculty

Dental hygiene educators are expressing concerns about faculty retirement causing an educator shortage. The primary objective of this study was to investigate current dental hygiene faculty demographic characteristics, future plans and perceptions of important skills for future faculty. A Web-based survey instrument was designed after reviewing the literature and consulting with dental hygiene faculty. Permission to conduct this study was obtained from the University of Michigan. The survey investigated demographic characteristics, future plans and perceptions of important skills of future faculty. A cover letter was sent via e-mail to dental hygiene program directors requesting them to forward the link to faculty. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square testing in SPSS. The response rate was 65%. Program directors provided 24% of responses while non-directors provided 76%. The average age of faculty was 50 years. Within 5 years, 60 of the responding faculty will retire, which includes 20 program directors. Eight percent were in their first year of teaching. Greater than 90% of faculty perceived clinical, educational and technological skills as important for future faculty. Only 53% believed research skills were important, a significantly lower result (p