COACHE at UMKC

We value our faculty and their experiences at UMKC. As part of our efforts to learn more about faculty life at UMKC, we are a participating institution in the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) consortium.

COACHE, a research-practice partnership administered out of Harvard University, delivers a faculty job satisfaction survey to participating institutions. This electronic survey is an opportunity for UMKC to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement related to faculty work-life and to compare results with peer consortium institutions. We share summarized data with faculty and administration and work together to determine potential actions to improve areas of concern.

Influence Profound Changes

Full-time ranked, non-tenure; tenured; and tenure-track faculty are encouraged to make their voices heard by completing the COACHE survey. We do not receive information from the Harvard COACHE team on who participates in the survey and are provided only aggregate, anonymous reports. Results from past surveys have been used to influence long-range planning and create improvements. For more information about the COACHE survey, visit Harvard’s COACHE Frequently Asked Questions page.

COACHE Benchmarks

The COACHE survey addresses a variety of benchmarks including:

  • Nature of work — service, teaching, research
  • Facilities and work resources
  • Personal and family policies
  • Health and retirement benefits
  • Interdisciplinary work
  • Mentoring
  • Tenure policies and reasonableness
  • Clarity
  • Promotion
  • Leadership — senior, divisional, departmental
  • Departmental — engagement, quality, collegiality
  • Appreciation and recognition

COACHE 2023

Results at-a-glance

survey results infographic 86% would recommend or strongly recommend their department as a place to work. 59% said if they had to do it again, they would select UMKC. Two of the best aspects of working at UMKC are quality and support of colleagues.

Results at-a-glance PDF version

Reports and action items

2023 COACHE survey summary reports

Progress and Timeline

The COACHE survey was administered in Spring 2023. A steering committee of volunteers and those convened by the Office of the Provost will analyze the anonymous survey data provided by the Harvard COACHE team and issue a report of the findings with policy recommendations.

Stage 1: November 2022–February 2023

  • The Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE) and COACHE steering committee prepare to launch survey.

Stage 2: February 2023–April 2023

  • Faculty complete COACHE survey.

Stage 3: April 2023–September 2023

  • Steering committee conducts data analysis and discussions.

Stage 4: September 2023–25

  • Working groups develop and execute action plan.

Steering Committee

Amanda Grimes, Faculty Senate, School of Nursing and Health Studies
Assistant Professor
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Amy Prettejohn, Institutional Research
Senior Principal Analyst
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Brandon McWilliams, Conservatory
Patricia Mcilrath Endowed Professor of Theatre Arts, Chair of Theater Division
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Bryan Boots, Faculty Senate, Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Associate Teaching Professor and Managing Director for Venture Creation, Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
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Carol Sholy, Institutional Research
Data and Visual Analytics Specialist
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Jenifer Allsworth, School of Medicine
Associate Professor, Vice Chair, Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Coordinator
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Kendall Guthrie, School of Pharmacy
Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Co-Curriculum
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Keerthana Satheesh, School of Dentistry
Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Periodontics
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Mikah Thompson, School of Law
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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Tanya Mitchell, School of Dentistry
Professor, Director of Division of Dental Hygiene
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Thiagarajan Ganesh, School of Science and Engineering
Professor, Civil Engineering
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Tiffani Riggers-Piehl, Faculty Senate, School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences
Associate Professor
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Todor Gounev, School of Science and Engineering
Teaching Professor
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Viviana Grieco, Faculty Senate, School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Professor of History and Latin American and Latinx Studies
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Alexis Petri, Research Development
Director of Research Development
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Brenda Linares, University Libraries
Associate Dean of Library Services
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Lorie Holt, COACHE Director, School of Dentistry
Associate Professor, Director RDH to BSDH degree program, interim director DHE graduate degree program, UMKC CAFE Pillar Lead - Faculty Life and Leadership
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Diane Filion, Faculty Affairs, School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences
Professor and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
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Previous COACHE Reports and Action Items

View the summary report (PDF) from the last two COACHE administrations.