A study of the relationship between tenure and non-tenure track faculty of West Virginia University Extension and Public Service unit and job satisfaction.

Extension and Public Service has completed ten years in the tenure system at West Virginia University. During the ten year time span, problems associated with the tenure system have occurred. Tenure status of Extension faculty and their job satisfaction have been an important problem for supervisors as well as faculty members. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between tenure status, selected demographic characteristics of faculty and their job satisfaction. Procedure. The respondents for the study were all Extension faculty in the tenure and non-tenure status at West Virginia University. The data were collected by means of a self reporting mailed questionnaire. The respondents returned their completed surveys to the researcher for tabulation. The return rate of 162 out of 190 respondents represented a 85% return rate. The respondents returned surveys were analyzed using the General Linear Models included in the Statistical Analysis System. The variable were compared using analysis of various, Duncan\u27s Multiple Range Tests; Tukey\u27s Studentized Range Test, frequency and percentages. Results. Tenure status and job satisfaction. The analysis of the data revealed that non-tenured track status Extension faculty has a statistically significant relationship with their intrinsic job satisfaction. No statistically significant relationship exists between the respondents in the tenure track status and their job satisfaction. Demographic and job satisfaction. The analysis of the data revealed that a significant relationship exists between respondent\u27s age and their intrinsic job satisfaction and respondent\u27s years of experience at the institution and their intrinsic and overall job satisfaction. No relationship existed between respondent gender and job satisfaction in this study. Conclusions. Non-tenure track Extension faculty are statistically more satisfied with their jobs than are tenure track Extension faculty. Extension faculty ages, 23-33 & 46-50 exhibit higher job satisfaction than respondents 34-45 and more than 51 years of age. Extension faculty with more than 21 years of experience at the institution exhibit higher job satisfaction than faculty with 1-5 & 6-9 years of experience at the institution