Learning Outcome: Describe how COVID-19-related restrictions have impacted the stress levels and wellness behaviors of college-level faculty and staff.COVID-19 has altered the higher education landscape to the point of an almost complete absence of physical interactions. The uncertainties of a global outbreak, along with new modes of teaching and working, have significantly challenged faculty and staff members both personally and professionally. This study aims to explore how the transitions associated with COVID-19 have affected the stress levels and wellness behaviors of collegelevel faculty and staff. A validated 21-item online survey was distributed using Qualtrics to faculty and staff via email lists. Closed-ended responses were analyzed using SPSS 27. Qualitative responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using thematic analysis. A total of 169 individuals completed the survey for an 8% response rate. Survey respondents were primarily (82.9%) white, (52.9%) female, (36.5%) around 30 years old, and (52.9%) with a doctorate degree. Over 58% of the respondents considered it stressful to be faculty or staff during the pandemic. The major stressor in our sample was professional dissatisfaction and career development concerns resulting from COVID-19 restrictions. Virtual teaching challenges, worries about own and family's physical and mental health, and finding work-life balance were also recurrent sources of stress. Results indicate that 78% of survey participants engage in activities such as running and meditating. Yet, 45.83% of respondents recognized that their wellbeing deteriorated during the pandemic. These findings serve as a manifesto to the challenges our professional community is currently facing and could be used to develop multifaceted interventions supporting the overall health of faculty and staff.
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