Inside Iowa State

July 1, 2005

Faculty report nearly 60 hour work week

Iowa State faculty reported working an average of 57.9 hours per week during FY05, according to a report recently submitted to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

Faculty at the University of Iowa reported putting in an average of 57.4 hour per week, while those at the University of Northern Iowa reported 53.4 hours.

In order to better compare faculty activity at the three state universities, the regents late last year approved a new format for the Faculty Activities Report. The new format requires faculty at the three universities to answer a series of common questions.

The report, using the new format, was received by the regents in June (future reports will be submitted every two years rather than annually) and provides self-reported information on faculty activities at all three universities for FY05.

According to the report, Iowa State tenured faculty reported a 59.5-hour week, tenure-track reported 57.8 and non-tenure-track faculty reported a 52.1-hour week.

Iowa State faculty said they spent 47 percent of their time on teaching activities; 36 percent on research; 12 percent on university, public and professional service; and 5 percent on administrative activities.

The report notes that the percentage of time devoted to teaching by faculty at the three universities has had only minor fluctuations during the past 15 years. Faculty at all three universities (regardless of rank) also continue to spend the highest percentage of their time on teaching efforts.

On average, Iowa State faculty spent about 27 hours a week involved in teaching activities and 21 hours per week on research.

Tenured and tenure-track faculty at Iowa State spent approximately the same percentage of their time teaching, but tenure-track faculty spent a greater proportion of their time on research and less on administrative activities than did tenured faculty.

According to a report recently submitted to the regents, Iowa State tenured faculty reported a 59.5-hour week, tenure-track reported 57.8 and non-tenure-track faculty reported a 52.1-hour week.