An environmental assessment of community college faculty satisfaction

This study sought to determine the perceptions and satisfaction of individuals employed as full-time teaching faculty in a multi-campus two-year public postsecondary institution. The Personal Assessment of College Environment (PACE) survey instrument developed by Dr. George A. Baker III was used to collect responses to 55 items in regard to the environmental elements of formal influence, communication, collaboration, organizational structure, work design and student focus. The aforementioned elements were investigated to determine ( a) the current level of faculty satisfaction; (b) the extent to which perceptions differed among division affiliations; ( c) the extent to which perceptions differed between campuses; and ( d) the extent to which perceptions differed when gender, ethnicity, years at Polk Community College or level of education were considered. Findings showed that faculty were generally satisfied with the climate of the institution overall. Faculty in the Math, Science and Health division were less satisfied than others with the organizational structure element of the environment. Male faculty members were generally less satisfied than their female counterparts with the environment. Faculty who had been at the college less than one year rated the highest levels of satisfaction overall