Chapter 6: Program Coordination at Ucea-Affiliated Universities in the Wake of COVID-19

We surveyed program coordinators at UCEA-member institutions in the spring of 2022 to understand how COVID-19 has shaped their work and their responsibilities. Among our findings, 79.1% of respondents reported that their research responsibilities received less attention due to program coordination responsibilities. Interestingly, the average number of responsibilities decreased from approximately 18 in 2017 to 17 in 2022 and the percentage of respondents reporting at least 11-15 hours weekly on program coordination decreased from 60.8% in 2017 to 47.7% in 2022. Our respondents reported decreases in the number of incentives and supports in comparison to 2017 prior to the pandemic. Furthermore, we found a significant difference between White and non-White program coordinators (p > .05), such that minority program coordinators reported receiving significantly fewer incentives than their White counterparts did. Analysis of open-ended responses revealed that respondents highlighted the challenges associated with transitioning to online instruction, challenges in recruitment, the increase in demands of scholar-practitioners in their professional lives, and the rise in mental health needs among students and faculty alike. The stresses wrought by the pandemic may contribute to program coordinator turnover and complicate efforts to ensure quality educational leadership preparation and sustainable cultures that foster transformative change around diversity, equity, and inclusion.