Current Status and Best Practices of Shared Governance in US Pharmacy Programs

Abstract

Objective. To characterize shared governance in US schools and colleges of pharmacy and recommend best practices to promote faculty engagement and satisfaction. Findings. The literature review revealed only one study on governance in a pharmacy school and some data from an AACP Faculty Survey. Of the 926 faculty members who responded to the survey, the majority were satisfied or very satisfied with faculty governance (64%) and the level of input into faculty governance (63%) at their school. Faculty members in administrative positions and those at public institutions were more satisfied with governance. The forum resulted in the development of five themes: establish a clear vision of governance in all areas; ensure that faculty members are aware of their roles and responsibilities within the governance structure; ensure faculty members are able to join committees of interest; recognize and reward faculty contributions to governance; and involve all fulltime faculty members in governance, regardless of their tenure status. Summary. Establishing shared governance within a school or college of pharmacy impacts overall faculty satisfaction and potentially faculty retention.

Pharmacy-faculty work-life balance and career satisfaction: Comparison of national survey results from 2012 and 2018

“…Notably, findings that the makeup of pharmacy faculty continues to evolve to include more females and associate professors working within a pharmacy practice department and the percentages of Whites and Asians, along other demographic variables, mirror recent previous findings. 21 , 22 , 23 …”

Assessment of Areas of Worklife Among Pharmacy Educators

“…26 Shared governance can also impact sense of control in the workplace, faculty satisfaction and potentially faculty retention; however, there is great variability in level of shared governance within schools of pharmacy according to an AACP report. [27][28][29] There should be increased effort within the institutions to ensure that all full-time faculty members have the opportunity to participate in governance. In the previously referenced study by Conklin et al, a top reason selected by pharmacy faculty to remain at their institution was autonomy, potentially indicating that Control is an important domain for pharmacy academicians even through factors such as Workload may result in leaving academia.…”