WALKING THE TEMPORAL TIGHTROPE: AN EXPLORATION OF THE ACADEMIC WORKLOAD AND DISCREPANCIES WITHIN FACULTY TIME ALLOCATION

Abstract

This study investigates faculty workload within a research-intensive (R1) university, with a focus on gender differences and workload discrepancies within teaching, research, and service. Drawing on gendered organizations theory and social role theory, the study explores how faculty members experience workload misalignment and its implications for organizational outcomes. Findings indicate that while both men and women faculty reported spending more time on teaching and service than preferred, and less on research, men spent significantly more time on research while women spent more time on service. Associate professors reported the highest service and lowest research engagement, suggesting workload imbalances that may be related to career stage. However, discrepancies between actual and preferred workload were not significantly different across gender or rank. Importantly, research and service workload discrepancies were meaningfully associated with organizational outcomes. These results highlight the need for institutions to address workload equity, particularly how faculty time within workload is valued and distributed.