Job Satisfaction, Enrichment, and Institutional Policy: Listening to Faculty Mothers

Abstract

With a growing number of mothers in academia, this study gives voice to the experiences and perceptions of faculty mothers from a large, public, doctoral-granting university in the Northeast region of the United States. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to assess overall job satisfaction for faculty mothers in academia by examining the variables of institutional policy, work/family enrichment, and the role of support. Findings highlight specific policies and familial and institutional variables that impact the lives of faculty mothers across departments and colleges. Recommendations are shared, advocating for awareness and change to retain valuable faculty members who provide fundamental resources to students.