The next COACHE faculty survey is in 2026

Assistant provost for faculty success Tera Jordan shared the impact of COACHE survey data on the faculty experience at Iowa State and announced the next survey will be conducted in 2026 at the Nov. 18 Faculty Senate meeting.

The COACHE (Harvard-based Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education) faculty survey -- administered about every four years since 2005-06 -- is a satisfaction survey designed to collect information about their experience at their university.

"COACHE is an effort and commitment to make the academic workplace more attractive to all faculty," Jordan said.

The 2021 survey results showed the most positive aspects of working at ISU are the quality of colleagues, cost of living and academic freedom. Opportunities for improvement are in compensation, geographic location and high demands for service/assignments.

Jordan said improvements for Iowa State's nearly 1,700 faculty have been made in several areas because of the survey. For example, guidelines and criteria for faculty advancement and review have been clarified, and faculty mentoring and leadership programs have been strengthened. A concerted effort also has been made to enhance faculty honors, awards and recognition.

Jordan said the 2026 COACHE survey will be sent to faculty from February through April. Communication to prepare faculty and encourage them to take part will begin in January, and the results will be shared in late fall 2026.

Homeschooled student admission

The senate will vote in December on a proposed change to how homeschooled students (PDF) are evaluated for admission to Iowa State. Currently, Iowa State requires homeschooled applicants to establish an admissions GPA, which considers only grades assigned by an independent entity -- such as a high school, college or accredited online program. Instead, Iowa State would use the cumulative GPA listed on a student’s homeschool transcript as part of the student’s evaluation for admission. It would help ensure fairness and consistency with all students and match standards used by peer institutions.

Presidential review

Faculty Senate president Meghan Gillette updated senators on the senate's administrative review of the university president and president's office. The review is complete and two-thirds of the faculty approved of the efforts of President Wendy Wintersteen and her office. Gillette said she will share the findings with president-designate David Cook when he takes office in March.

"Overall, the review found that the office of the president has demonstrated effective external engagement and strong, decisive, strategic and compassionate leadership during unprecedented external challenges," Gillette said.

The senate began a review of the office of the president in January 2024, following the Faculty Handbook which calls for periodic reviews by the senate of those in senior vice president and above positions.

Other business

Senators also will vote at the December meeting on:

• A proposed online master of science in nursing (PDF) in the College of Health and Human Sciences. The 16-month, 36-credit coursework-only master's degree is the standard credential for leadership roles in health care and is the prerequisite into doctoral nursing programs. It will focus on population health and nursing education. Population health focuses on health planning, program development and community assessment while nursing educators will help address faculty shortages at nursing schools nationwide. The program would cover fall, spring and summer sessions.
• A proposed accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (PDF) through a partnership with  College of Health and Human Science and Mary Greeley Medical Center that would help address a shortage of nurses in the state and nation. To be eligible, students must have a previous bachelor's degree, 63-credit hours of prerequisite coursework and a certified nursing assistant certification. Students' preparation and clinical competencies are equivalent to those of graduates from traditional four-year bachelor of science programs. After completion, students will be qualified for the exam to become a registered nurse.
• A proposed online bachelor of arts in psychology (PDF) in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences aimed at distance learners. The degree is intended for working adults, rural residents and those with existing college credits who have yet to finish their degree. All requirements mirror the in-person degree requirements. Graduates will be prepared for careers in mental health counseling, education, human resources and more.
• A proposed addition to the Faculty Handbook to add professional students (PDF) – those in the School of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine and others -- to the groups that can be used to show evidence of scholarship for faculty members during promotion or tenure evaluation.
• A proposed addition to the Faculty Handbook to broaden the pool of faculty members with administrative responsibilities who are exempt from post-tenure review (PDF). The change would include administrators such as assistant and associate deans and assistant and associate provosts. It would not affect the requirement for all employees to undergo regular annual performance evaluations.
• A proposal to terminate the secondary major in international business (PDF) in the Ivy College of Business because of low interest. The degree is only available to students with a primary major in the college. The number of credits required for a secondary major increased and could not easily be met. The international business minor will be retained and revamped.

Senators approved:

• A bachelor of science in animal enterprise and innovation (PDF) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Students improve and protect the well-being and productivity of animals from livestock to companion animals and use analytic tools to make decisions. The 128-credit major blends animal science with entrepreneurship, business acumen and data-driven decision-making.
• A graduate certificate in semiconductor engineering (PDF) in the electrical and computer engineering, and material sciences and engineering departments. It addresses the significant need for semiconductor engineers with hands-on experience in materials, device research and fabrication. The 14-credit certificate requires four graduate-level courses and is geared toward electrical and materials science engineering students.
• A 16-credit undergraduate minor in planetary science (PDF) from the departments of earth, atmosphere and climate, and physics and astronomy. It explores the formation, evolution and current state of planets, moons and other celestial bodies. The minor is intended for students in STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).
• A minor in professional communication (PDF) from the English department and communication studies program. The 15-credit minor is designed to improve the written and oral communication skills of students needed in today's workforce. Students will complete an internship as part of the curriculum.
• A name change (PDF) for the animal ecology minor to wildlife and fisheries conservation and ecology. It aligns with the major of the same name that was approved in January.