RECTOR Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. has disputed a Varsitarian report about a recent study commissioned by the UST Faculty Union, which found that five academic units were likely to suffer a faculty exodus due to dissatisfaction with work and “low organizational commitment.”
De la Rosa said there had been no “faculty exodus” in the University, citing data from the Academic Affairs office that only 34 faculty members left UST last year.
The August 31 Varsitarian story “Thomasian pride can’t make profs stay” said faculty in five academic units had high turnover intentions, one of the six variables in the study.
But Academic Affairs figures showed that last year, only 34 faculty members left the University because of migration, early retirement, and the phasing out of the elementary department, De la Rosa said.
“I wonder if this number can be considered a mass exodus of teachers,” he said. “I just hope our student writers will be more accurate in publishing news articles about the University.”
The study looked into the working relationships between faculty members and administrators using six variables, namely “leader-member exchange” or the interpersonal relationship between the professor and college administrators, “distributive justice” or recognition and rewards for a good job done, “procedural justice” or the fair implementation of policies, “job satisfaction” or the pleasure in rendering service, “organizational commitment” or the proud feeling of being a Thomasian educator, and “turnover intentions” or the tendency of a professor to leave the University.
It showed that professors in 11 of 18 academic units in the University have harmonious working relationships with their deans, assistant deans, regents, and college secretaries.
After enumerating the benefits of faculty members in the collective bargaining agreement approved last year, De la Rosa asked professors present in the audience, “Are you not happy here?,” drawing laughter. It was followed by another question, “Are you happy?” which was answered with “yes” by the crowd of faculty and administrators at the Medicine Auditorium.
The survey had a total of 559 respondents, representing 30 percent of tenured faculty in the University. UST elementary and high school teachers, and employees of the Miguel de Benavides Library were also surveyed, while the Faculty of Civil Law and the UST Graduate School did not take part in the study. Darenn G. Rodriguez
