The University was ranked one of the best places for junior faculty members to work in a survey released by the Chronicle of Higher Education this week. The University ranked especially high for its collegiality, work and family environment and for the "global satisfaction" of its junior faculty members.
The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education interviewed 5,000 faculty members at 42 institutions on issues such as compensation and tenure clarity, asking them to rank their satisfaction on a five-point scale. Other high-ranking universities include Brown, Dartmouth and Stanford.
Gertrude Fraser, vice provost for academic advancement, attributed the University's high ranking to its academic departments.
"I think it has to do with the environment that is created at the department level," she said. "The senior faculty are doing something right in terms of what they create for their new colleagues."
Tyler Jo Smith, an assistant professor in the McIntire Department of Art, said that the University's collegial environment was especially notable.
"I've always had this feeling of being very much a part of what is going on here and very supported in my endeavors," she said.
Smith, who initially came to the University in 1998 as a visiting professor before returning as an assistant professor in 2002, said although her career track has been irregular, her experience at the University has always been positive.
"I never really felt treated as a visitor," she said. "I've taught at three universities, and I've had good experiences at all of them, but I would say that U.Va. is particularly collegial. I often forget that I teach at a large university."
Fraser noted that this survey will serve as a benchmark and they plan to improve upon the transparency of tenure and promotion policies over the next three years.
"The institution is very much aware of the need to create an environment where faculty can thrive and want to spend productive careers," she said. "After this honeymoon period, there's something enduring about the institution."
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