The relationship between eudemonic wellbeing and job status of social work educators

In 2003, over half of the new faculty hires in higher education in the United States were off the tenure track. The growth of full time non tenure track faculty brings with it both challenges and opportunities. More often full time faculty perform other duties beyond or in lieu of the traditional triumvirate of teaching, research, and service. This exploratory survey of faculty in 30 Council on Social Work Education accredited social work programs produced 130 responses to the adapted Inventory on Social Work Climate and Wellbeing (Hendrix, 2005) and identified several trends in social work education that reflect national changes in the structure of faculty tasks. Based on this sample, there are clear differences between full time faculty on and off the tenure track, the most provocative of which is the move toward a new triumvirate within full time non tenure track positions. Full time non tenure track faculty in social work are more likely to participate in teaching, research, and administration rather than service. This dissertation explores the ramifications of these changes within schools of social work.