Full-Time Faculty Increases Approximately 2%

The number of full-time faculty at the 23 optometry schools and colleges in the 50 states and Puerto Rico grew by 1.7% this year to 790, according to the 2018-19 Annual Faculty Data Report published in February by ASCO. This follows a 2.9% increase from 2016-17 to 2017-18.

The report also detailed some additional changes to faculty composition:

• The number of female full-time faculty members increased 4.6% (now at 57.3% of total) and male faculty members decreased 2.0%.
• 33.1% of full-time faculty have tenure and 16.2% are on a tenure track at the 19 institutions offering tenure.
• The average age of didactic full professors is 59.4 years of age; 56.1 years for clinical full professors.
• For those becoming faculty within the last year, 24.3% came from a residency program; 21.4% from an optometry practice; and 15.7% from another academic institution.

The full report was made available to the Deans and Presidents of ASCO’s member schools and colleges in February. The public report can be reached here.