PI: Jennifer Sheridan
Study Description
The Study of Faculty Worklife is a longitudinal climate survey of faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The original (2003) instrument was developed by WISELI staff and evaluators, and was based on extensive interviews with women STEMM faculty at UW-Madison. Data collection is accomplished via a postal survey, administered by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center. The survey primarily measures faculty attitudes about their department climate, hiring and promotion processes, and job satisfaction. On some survey years, we also measure incidence of sexual harassment and hostile/intimidating behavior, faculty productivity and/or faculty morale.
To date, seven waves of data collection (2003, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022) have occurred. All waves include tenured/tenure-track faculty at UW-Madison. Some waves also include clinical and/or CHS faculty in selected schools and colleges.
The surveys have been funded by a variety of sources, including the National Science Foundation ADVANCE program, the Office of the Provost, the College of Letters and Science, the College of Engineering, the National Institutes for Health and the School of Medicine and Public Health, and through WISELI’s own income-generating activities.
The survey data have been instrumental to WISELI’s efforts to transform the institution. A number of reports, presentations, and publications have resulted from the survey data, and more will come as the climate survey data have become an important campus resource on faculty and staff attitudes on satisfaction, climate, and more.
Survey Instrument & Results
(TT=Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty; CHS=CHS Faculty; C=Clinical Faculty)
Use of Study of Faculty Worklife Survey Instruments
Researchers conducting their own faculty climate surveys are welcome to use any of the questionnaire items from the Study of Faculty Worklife instruments; we only ask that you please cite the instruments you borrowed from in any reports or published work that uses our items. To cite a Study of Faculty Worklife instrument, please visit our Trademarks & Copyrights page, specifically the Suggested citations tab.
Publications, Reports, & Media
Survey highlights pandemic stressors, finds improving climate for many, but not all, underrepresented faculty
In 2022, a large majority of University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty who responded to a confidential survey indicated they feel respected by their colleagues, students and department leaders and are satisfied with their salaries and benefits, …
Threats, Abuse, Retaliation: UW-Madison Confronts Persistent Problem of Academic Bullying
UW-Madison has made strides in stemming bullying.
Write More Articles, Get More Grants: The Impact of Department Climate on Faculty Research Productivity
Sheridan, Jennifer; Julia Savoy; Anna Kaatz; You-Geon Lee; Amarette Filut; and Molly Carnes. 2017. “Write More Articles, Get More Grants: The Impact of Department Climate on Faculty Research Productivity.” Journal of Women’s Health. 26(5): 587-596.
Searching for Excellence & Diversity® Workshop: Improving Faculty Diversity by Educating Faculty Search Committees
Sheridan, Jennifer; Eve Fine; Molly Carnes; Amy Wendt; and Jo Handelsman. 2015. “Searching for Excellence & Diversity® Workshop: Improving Faculty Diversity by Educating Faculty Search Committees.” In Personalauswahl in der Wissenschaft (C. Peus et al., Eds.) Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
Life Happens: The Vilas Life Cycle Professorship Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sheridan, Jennifer; Christine Maidl Pribbenow; Molly Carnes; Jo Handelsman; and Amy Wendt. 2015. “Life Happens: The Vilas Life Cycle Professorship Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.” In Family Friendly Policies and Practices in Academe (Catherine R. Solomon and Erin K. Anderson, Eds.) Washington DC: Lexington Books.
Minimizing the Influence of Gender Bias on the Faculty Search Process
Fine, Eve; Jennifer Sheridan; Molly Carnes; Jo Handelsman; Christine Pribbenow; Julia Savoy; and Amy Wendt. 2014. “Minimizing the Influence of Gender Bias on the Faculty Search Process.” In Advances in Gender Research: Gender Transformations in the Academy (Vasilikie Demos, Catherine White Berheide, and Marcia Texler Segal, Eds.) Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing.
Searching for Excellence & Diversity®: Workshops for Search Committees
Fine, Eve and Molly Carnes. “Searching for Excellence & Diversity®: Workshops for Search Committees. GWIMS Watch (Summer, 2013): 7-8.
Searching for Excellence & Diversity: Increasing the Hiring of Women Faculty at One Academic Medical Center
Sheridan, Jennifer; Eve Fine; Christine Maidl Pribbenow; Jo Handelsman; Molly Carnes. 2010. “Searching for Excellence & Diversity: Increasing the Hiring of Women Faculty at One Academic Medical Center.” Academic Medicine. 85(6):999-1007.
The Tenure Process and Extending the Tenure Clock: The Experience of Faculty at One University
Pribbenow, Christine Maidl; Jennifer Sheridan; Jessica Winchell; Deveny benting; Jo Handelsman; and Molly Carnes. 2010. “The Tenure Process and Extending the Tenure Clock: The Experience of Faculty at One University.” Higher Education Policy. 23:17-38
Searching for Excellence & Diversity: Does Training Faculty Search Committees Improve Hiring of Women?
Sheridan, Jennifer; Eve Fine; Jessica Winchell; Christine Maidl Pribbenow; Molly Carnes; and Jo Handelsman. 2007. “Searching for Excellence & Diversity: Does Training Faculty Search Committees Improve Hiring of Women?” American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) 2007 Conference Proceedings. June 2007.
Climate Change at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: What Changed, and Did ADVANCE Have an Impact?
Sheridan, Jennifer; Christine Maidl Pribbenow; Eve Fine; Jo Handelsman; and Molly Carnes. 2007. “Climate Change at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: What Changed, and Did ADVANCE Have an Impact?” Women in Engineering Programs & Advocates Network (WEPAN) 2007 Conference Proceedings. June 2007.
How a sociologist is pushing to improve academia’s workplace climate
“How a sociologist is pushing to improve academia’s workplace climate.” Maggie Kuo. Science Careers Online. May 2, 2017.
UW–Madison worklife survey finds budget cuts shook morale of 91% of faculty
“UW–Madison worklife survey finds budget cuts shook morale of 91% of faculty.” Pat Schneider. The Capital Times. April 6, 2017.
Faculty of Color Face Unique Challenges at Mostly-White UW
“Faculty of Color Face Unique Challenges at Mostly-White UW.” Anne Blackbourne. The Badger Herald. September 8, 2015.
Results from the 2016 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison: Tenured & Tenure-Track Faculty
Sheridan, Jennifer. March 30, 2017. "Results from the 2016 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison: Tenured & Tenure-Track Faculty."
Departmental Climate in the College of Engineering: Evidence from the Study of Faculty Worklife
Savoy, Julia N. and Jennifer Sheridan. May 30, 2014. “Departmental Climate in the College of Engineering: Evidence from the Study of Faculty Worklife.”
Faculty climate survey shows most satisfied but room for improvement
“Faculty climate survey shows most satisfied but room for improvement.” University of Wisconsin-Madison Communications. November 14, 2013.
Unwelcome: UW–Madison has work to do in building a comfortable workplace for minority faculty
“Unwelcome: UW–Madison has work to do in building a comfortable workplace for minority faculty.” Pat Schneider. The Capital Times. November 13, 2013.
Results from the 2012 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison (Tenured, Tenure Track)
Savoy, Julia N. and Jennifer Sheridan. 2013. “Results from the 2012 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison.” Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty.
Results from the 2012 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison (Clinical, CHS)
Savoy, Julia N. and Jennifer Sheridan. 2013. “Results from the 2012 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison.” Clinical and CHS Faculty.
Results from the 2010 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison: School of Medicine & Public Health Faculty
Savoy, Julia N. and Jennifer Sheridan. August 29, 2011. “Results from the 2010 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison: School of Medicine & Public Health Faculty.”
Results from the 2010 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison: Clinical Faculty
Savoy, Julia N. and Jennifer Sheridan. June 6, 2011. “Results from the 2010 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison: Clinical Faculty.”
Climate Change for Faculty at UW–Madison: Evidence from the 2003 and 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife (2007)
Sheridan, Jennifer. February 8, 2007. “Climate Change for Faculty at UW–Madison: Evidence from the 2003 and 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife.” Report prepared for the Campus Diversity Plan Oversight Committee.
Climate Change for Faculty at UW–Madison: Evidence from the 2003 and 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife
Sheridan, Jennifer. December 13, 2006. “Climate Change for Faculty at UW–Madison: Evidence from the 2003 and 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife.” Report prepared for the Committee on Women in the University.
Department Climate in the College of Letters and Sciences: Evidence from the 2003 and 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife
Sheridan, Jennifer. December 4, 2006. “Department Climate in the College of Letters and Sciences: Evidence from the 2003 and 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife.” Report prepared for the Equity and Diversity Committee in the College of Letters & Sciences.
Perceived Benefits of and Barriers to Interdisciplinary Research at the UW–Madison: Evidence from the 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sheridan, Jennifer. October 31, 2006. "Perceived Benefits of and Barriers to Interdisciplinary Research at the UW–Madison: Evidence from the 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife at the University of Wisconsin–Madison." Prepared for and presented to the steering committee for the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery.
Evaluation of the Sexual Harassment Information Sessions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Winchell, Jessica K. and Jennifer Sheridan. September 2006. “Evaluation of the Sexual Harassment Information Sessions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”
Using Program Evaluation To Ensure the Success of Your ADVANCE Program
Frehill, Lisa; Elena Batista; Sheila Edwards-Lange; Cecily Jeser-Cannavale; Jan Malley; Jennifer Sheridan; Kim Sullivan; and Helena Sviglin. May 2006. “Using Program Evaluation To Ensure the Success of Your ADVANCE Program.” http://www.advance.nmsu.edu/Documents/PDF/toolkit2.pdf .
Evaluation of the Gender Pay Equity Study and Equity of Faculty Salaries Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Winchell, Jessica K. and Christine Maidl Pribbenow. April 2006. “Evaluation of the Gender Pay Equity Study and Equity of Faculty Salaries Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”
Results from the 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison
Sheridan, Jennifer and Jessica Winchell. 2006. "Results from the 2006 Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison."
The Climate at UW–Madison: Begins Sunny and Warm, Ends Chilly
O'Connell, Kathleen; Christine Maidl Pribbenow; and Deveny Benting. March 2006. "The Climate at UW–Madison: Begins Sunny and Warm, Ends Chilly." (PDF)
WISELI Survey to Analyze Quality of Worklife for UW–Madison Faculty
“WISELI Survey to Analyze Quality of Worklife for UW–Madison Faculty.” Wisconsin Week. January 17, 2006.
Evaluation of Childcare Needs and Practices at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sheridan, Jennifer; Deveny Benting; and Christine Maidl Pribbenow. December 2005. “Evaluation of Childcare Needs and Practices at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”
Evaluation of the Tenure Clock Extension Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sheridan, Jennifer and Deveny Benting. October 29, 2004. “Evaluation of the Tenure Clock Extension Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”
Preliminary Results from the Study of Faculty and Academic Staff Worklife at the University of Wisconsin–Madison: Selected Analyses of Two Category B Academic Staff Titles in the College of Engineering
Preliminary Results from the Study of Faculty and Academic Staff Worklife at the University of Wisconsin–Madison: Selected Analyses of Two Category B Academic Staff Titles in the College of Engineering.
Evaluation of the Women Faculty Mentoring Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Sheridan, Jennifer; Deveny Benting; and Christine Maidl Pribbenow. July 27, 2004. “Evaluation of the Women Faculty Mentoring Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”
Results of the Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison
Sheridan, Jennifer and Jessica Winchell. 2003. “Results of the Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison.”