The Key with Inside Higher Ed Ep 77: Turnover, Burnout and Demoralization in Higher Ed
Apr 14, 2022
Kevin McClure, an associate professor of higher education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, dives into the alarming rise in faculty and staff turnover in academia. He discusses how the pandemic exposed longstanding issues like burnout and demoralization that have unique implications for higher education. McClure highlights the differences in job expectations and bureaucratic hurdles that contribute to challenges in retaining talent. He also suggests practical steps for leaders to improve workplace conditions and support employees effectively.
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Personal Burnout During Early Pandemic
- Kevin McClure described burning himself out in spring 2020 while juggling research and childcare during lockdown.
- He realized the experience matched burnout checklists and used the summer to reflect and learn about workplace strain.
Pandemic Revealed Preexisting Problems
- Many root causes of workplace problems predate the pandemic but were revealed and accelerated by it.
- A dynamic labor market now magnifies consequences for institutions that ignore workplace conditions.
Structural Features That Hurt Retention
- Higher ed faces unique pressures: low pay, high education expectations, and slow state-style HR systems.
- Those features make it harder to recruit and retain talent compared with more nimble organizations.