Integrating Professionally Oriented Faculty: Views of Professionally Oriented Faculty, Tenure-Track Faculty, and Administrators

Abstract

ABSTRACT Based on a survey of professionally oriented (PO) accounting faculty, tenure-track faculty, and administrators, we examine the integration of PO faculty members into accounting departments. We find fairly positive views regarding PO faculty members' integration into accounting departments, the leveraging of PO faculty members' skills, and PO faculty members' contribution to achieving departmental missions. However, PO faculty are less positive than others about their integration and the leveraging of their skills, and they are more positive than tenure-track faculty about their contribution to achieving departmental missions. PO faculty primarily contribute in teaching and service, with limited research focus. We find evidence of needed improvements in PO faculty benefits, with broad support for certain improvements, but PO faculty are significantly more likely than others to offer specific suggestions for change. We offer four action steps primarily to bolster the strategic and decision-making roles of PO faculty.