Faculty status in a climate of change

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Academic Health Centers
• Faculty Development

Background:

• A 1980 survey established a baseline for predoctoral dental education faculty.
• Subsequent changes in faculty demographics and academic requirements necessitate updated analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current status of full-time faculty in predoctoral dental education programs.
• To compare current faculty data with 1980 survey responses.
• To identify trends and challenges in dental school faculty composition and expectations.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to schools offering predoctoral dental education programs.
• A response rate of 72.7% ensured a representative sample of dental schools.
• Data from the current survey were compared to identical survey data from 1980.

Main Results:

• A decrease in full-time clinical faculty since 1980, alongside an increase in tenure proportion.
• The rise of dual tracks and full-time, non-tenure-track appointments is confirmed.
• Faculty age remains stable due to early retirement; turnover is constant at 33% over five years.
• Dental schools appear to have increased scholarship expectations for tenure review.

Conclusions:

• Dental faculties face a dual challenge: increasing scholarship demands and a potential shortage of research-capable clinical faculty.
• The evolving faculty landscape requires strategic planning to ensure the long-term viability of dental education and academic health centers.
• Addressing these trends is crucial for maintaining the quality of dental research and clinical practice.