Percentage of Female Faculty Decreases for First Time Since 2007-2008

Percentage of Female Faculty Decreases for First Time Since 2007-2008

For the first time in 16 years, the percentage of full-time female faculty decreased at the U.S. schools and colleges of optometry. Full-time (FT) female faculty comprise 59.9% of total FT faculty, according to ASCO’s 2023-2024 Annual Faculty Data Report, falling from 60.8% last year. The percentage had risen steadily since 2007-2008, when it was 40.8%.

The percentage of FT Black or African American faculty also decreased, from 3.9% to 3.2%; it has fluctuated between 2.0% and 3.9% since 2007-2008. The percentage of FT Hispanic or Latino faculty decreased as well, from 5.8% to 5.0%. It has fluctuated between 4.6% and 5.8% since 2007-2008.

In addition, over the past year:

• The number of U.S. schools and colleges of optometry enrolling students increased from 23 to 24.
• The total number of FT faculty increased 0.6%, from 800 to 805. Ten years ago there were 693 FT faculty (21 schools).
• Residency programs continue to be a primary source of faculty, providing approximately 29% of new FT faculty in the past year. This year an equal percentage of faculty came from optometry practices and 22% came from another academic institution.
• The percentage of FT faculty with PhD and other non-OD doctoral degrees increased from 22.9% to 24.9% in the past year. Ten years ago it was 28.4%.

The report also shows:

• 29.0% of FT faculty have tenure and 16.7% are on a tenure track at the 19 institutions offering tenure.
• The average age of didactic FT professors is 58.3 years and for clinical FT professors 55.4 years.
• The average FT didactic professor has been with the school for 20.8 years and the average FT clinical professor for 21.2 years.

For more information, contact Joanne Zuckerman, ASCO’s Manager, Data Services and Special Projects, at jzuckerman@opted.org.