Date of Award

Fall 2019

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School

Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development

Committee Chair

Cyndi H. Gaudet

Committee Chair School

Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development

Committee Member 2

Heather M. Annulis

Committee Member 2 School

Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development

Committee Member 3

Quincy Brown

Committee Member 3 School

Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development

Committee Member 4

Dale L. Lunsford

Committee Member 4 School

Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development

Abstract

Research universities provide new knowledge that advance technology and links the United States’ science and knowledge system with the world (Altbach, 2011). Public research universities play a significant role in regional and national economic development. Universities rely on funding from multiple sources to operate effectively. However, in recent years, public research universities in the United States have experienced declines in state funding (Hyman & Jacobs, 2010; Webber, 2017).

To offset declines in funding, public research universities may seek to increase research productivity through the hiring of faculty to address strategic institutional research goals. Strategic hiring is one approach used by institutions to increase research productivity. However, little is known about the effectiveness of strategic faculty hiring endeavors to increase research productivity.

In order to better understand the effectiveness of strategic faculty hiring endeavors on research productivity at U.S. public research universities, this study surveyed Chief Research Officers to determine the characteristics of the institutions (Carnegie class, number of faculty and research staff, number of proposals submitted, and strategic faculty hiring status), the characteristics of strategic faculty hiring endeavors (alignment with strategic plan, distinct measure of research productivity, and institutional area responsible) and the perceived effectiveness of strategic faculty hiring endeavors on research productivity. A researcher designed study, based on the relevant literature, was used to survey respondents. All respondents expressed the perception of strategic faculty hiring as an effective way to increase research productivity. More specifically, the Chief Research Officers at each of the responding institutions indicated that the strategic faculty hiring endeavor at their university was, on average, moderate to very effective in increasing research productivity. The study found no statistically significant relationship between the characteristics of strategic faculty hiring endeavors and the perceived effectiveness on research productivity

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