The Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) Faculty Satisfaction Survey is a national, research-based instrument administered by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. It is a respected tool for assessing faculty job satisfaction and the academic workplace experience.
Unlike general employee engagement surveys, the Faculty Satisfaction Survey is specifically tailored to the unique nuances of faculty life. This 25-minute online survey will be sent to all full-time Ohio State faculty who have been at the university for at least one year. The results will provide academic administrators the opportunity to gather insights into the faculty experience. The survey captures faculty sentiment about teaching, service and research, tenure and promotion, departmental engagement and collegiality, and other aspects of the academic workplace.
The data that Ohio State receives will be important in our efforts to Invest in Strength by ensuring that Ohio State is advancing a supportive, engaging and rewarding faculty experience.
Faculty satisfaction survey timeline
- Feb. 19: Survey launches
- April 2: Survey closes
- Late July to early August: Harvard shares survey results and key data with OAA leadership.
- Mid- to late-August: Survey results shared with faculty
- Autumn 2026: Ohio State will begin planning next steps based on the survey results.
Contact
- For general questions, please email the Office of Faculty Affairs at facultyaffairs@osu.edu.
- For technical questions, such as not receiving the survey, please contact coachefaculty@abtglobal.com.
FAQ
Why is Ohio State participating in the COACHE Faculty Satisfaction Survey?
The Office of Faculty Affairs is committed to ensuring that Ohio State is a top destination for the most talented faculty; therefore, it is important to understand what faculty are experiencing in the classroom, studio or lab.
If faculty members have concerns that can be addressed, we are committed to mitigating those concerns to ensure that you, your colleagues and future members of our faculty have the best possible experience at our university.
It’s the right thing to do for our excellent faculty, and it’s the right thing to do for our students, patients and members of the communities we serve.
How will I receive the survey?
Ohio State is utilizing a third party to conduct and analyze our survey results to protect and maintain the confidentiality of your responses. The feedback and opinions you share on the survey are confidential. You will receive a unique link to the survey from COACHE (Collaborative on Academic Careers), from the email address, coachefaculty@abtsurvey.com, on Feb. 19. Please check your email for that sender.
Who is invited to participate in the survey?
Full-time faculty members (75% and above) who have been employed by Ohio State for at least one year should have received the survey on Feb. 19. In addition, full-time College of Medicine faculty and faculty who are employed by Nationwide Children’s Hospital should also receive the survey.
How long will the survey take to complete?
The survey should take approximately 25 minutes to complete. You can pause the survey and return later, as long as you complete the survey prior to the April 2 completion deadline.
My colleague did not receive the survey. Can I share my survey email with them?
No. Each faculty member’s survey is unique. Please do not share your survey email with anyone.
Will my dean, chair or director know if I have completed the survey?
No. Deans will be able to view their college’s response rates in real time, but neither the Office of Faculty Affairs nor your college or department leadership will know if you completed the survey.
I still have questions. Who should I contact?
- For general questions, please email the Office of Faculty Affairs at facultyaffairs@osu.edu.
- For technical questions, such as not receiving the survey, please contact coachefaculty@abtglobal.com.
Where can I learn more about the COACHE Faculty Satisfaction Survey?
Please visit coache.gse.harvard.edu for more information.
I joined the faculty less than a year ago. Can I complete the survey next year?
No. The Faculty Satisfaction Survey is only administered every three years.
Will the survey be administered again after 2026?
Yes. Faculty will have an opportunity to complete the survey again in 2029.
Will the Office of Faculty Affairs receive aggregate data regarding survey response rates?
Yes. Faculty Affairs will receive weekly aggregate data about survey response rates. In addition, Harvard will also share aggregate response rates by college.
What will be done with the results?
COACHE will share results with the university this summer, and the Office of Academic Affairs will analyze them and share action plans in the fall.
Why am I being asked to complete the Faculty Satisfaction Survey, followed by the Ohio State Listening Survey or the Buckeye Experience Survey at the Wexner Medical Center?
The Ohio State Listening Survey and the Buckeye Experience Survey (medical center) are administered to all Ohio State employees. The surveys are intended for a broad population and do not ask faculty-specific questions, nor do they measure the faculty experience.
By contrast, the Faculty Satisfaction Survey is specifically designed to gauge the faculty experience at Ohio State. Once Faculty Affairs receives the results from Harvard this summer, the results will be made available in the fall.
Learn more
Faculty Affairs Leadership Podcast
Insights from COACHE Faculty Satisfaction Survey Implementation
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Corrie Davis, senior associate provost for faculty affairs and professor at Georgia State University, to explore their institution’s experience with the COACHE Faculty Satisfaction Survey. We discuss their goals for administering the survey, strategies for encouraging faculty participation, and how they approached analyzing and sharing the results with stakeholders. Listeners will also hear about the concrete actions their institution implemented to improve faculty satisfaction and engagement, and offers actionable insights for enhancing faculty experience and engagement.