Faculty resignations have been increasing at Iowa universities, The Daily Iowan reported.
According to the state Board of Regents’ Annual Human Resources Report, University of Iowa (UI) faculty resignations rose from 80 to 92 from fiscal year (FY) 2021 to FY 2022 – in FY 2020, there were 73 resignations. Iowa State University (ISU) saw an increase in faculty resignations from 36 to 44 and the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) saw its resignations more than double from 10 to 21.
Overall, faculty resignations at regent universities increased from 126 to 157 in FY 2021.
A recent 2022 Campus Climate Survey showed that over half of faculty, staff, and postdoctoral students said they considered leaving UI from 2021-22, with reasons including better salaries or compensation at another institution (62%); primary workplace climate/culture (59%); and campus climate/culture (26%); and bias at the university (75%).
The average salary at UI has increased steadily for faculty, postdoctoral and scientific employees, and merit employees since FY 2018, according to the regents report.
At UI, the school’s Campaign to Organize Graduate Students (COGS) recently requested a 10% salary bump, 12 weeks of parental leave, free parking or reimbursement of parking and/or bus fees, safe working conditions, personal protective equipment, a deadline for reappointment letters, and an option to work 20-25 days remotely.
COGS is scheduled to meet with the regents to continue negotiations in a closed session meeting Feb. 27.
