Study of Faculty Worklife at UW–Madison

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.

Respondent protections

Survey Instrument & Results

(TT=Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty; CHS=CHS Faculty; C=Clinical Faculty)

Wave 4/CHS & C: 2012

Photo preview of survey instrument.

Instrument / Executive Summary / Full results

Wave 3/CHS & C: 2010

Photo preview of survey instrument.

Instrument / Executive Summary / Full results

Wave 1: 2003

Photo preview of survey instrument front.

Instrument / Results

Wave 2: 2006

Photo preview of survey instrument front.

Instrument / Results

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