Perspectives

For more about work-life balance in an academic setting, please see the following resources:

Quality of Academic Life Study

Academics experience pressures that could lead to work-related stress and burnout, which has been linked to poor student outcomes, early retirement, lower research productivity and diminished teaching quality. These outcomes, in turn, place additional financial stress on the education system.

With that in mind, the John D. Bower School of Population Health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center recently developed and distributed the Quality of Academic Life survey to assess the prevalence of burnout on eight Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning campuses.

The result is the Quality of Academic Life site, funded by a grant from the Bower Foundation. The site is designed as a clearinghouse of resources to prevent and/or help to reduce burnout for faculty members. The Resources page includes links to scientific articles, self-tests, videos and more to help fight the stress, anxiety and health concerns that are symptoms of burnout.

Creating a Family-Friendly Department: Toolkit for Academic Leaders

Many faculty and staff at some point in their careers will need flexibility in balancing work and personal life, including policies and programs that support employees. Department chairs and directors are pivotal to establishing family-friendly cultures and flexibility within their units. It is important to realize that family-friendly cultures help in recruiting and retaining excellent faculty and staff members. A toolkit has been designed to help department chairs and directors create a family-friendly department culture.

Perspectives

Quality of Academic Life Study

Creating a Family-Friendly Department: Toolkit for Academic Leaders

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