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The operational definition of faculty commitment in this study is faculty loyalty, degree of congruence of value and goal, desire to be associated with, and willingness to exert maximum effort on behalf of the university (Bateman & Strasser, 1984). Generally, commitment is associated with the intention to continuously remain within an organization or a profession and it provides information about retention (Womack, Lenty, & Bullock-Yowell, 2018). Commitment to a university is determined by the extent to which an individual appreciates and associates with the mission and values of the university and makes an effort to remain and move along with the strategic direction of that institution (Porter et al., Sholihin & Pike, 2010; Womack, Lenty, & Bullock-Yowell, 2018).
Retention factors within an institution include certain behavioral practices that determine the extent of the commitment of staff to their organizations. Time availability for research and continuous improvement in research seminars and workshops increase the satisfaction that the faculty members derive from their institutions (Lawrence, 2014). Managerial support with incentives that support teaching and learning, and avenues created for the faculty to make inputs on issues regarding their work-life at their universities provide job satisfaction. The incentives boost their morale to become committed to their institutions (Kelly, Gayle, & William, 2017).
Studies have shown that conflict with supervisors, incompatible work schedules, certain behavioral factors from the management of higher education institutions that lead to inadequate developmental opportunities of the faculty decrease their organizational commitment (Jo, 2008). The challenges associated with balancing teaching, research, and rendering community service to enhance the development of university faculty that affect the intentions of the faculty to remain or leave have become problematic to many institutions of higher learning.
The outcome of some studies also indicates that working conditions and environmental factors affect faculty retention, commitment, and quality of education provided (Ashraf, 2019; Cheryl & Jay, 2006; Dick, 2011; Parsons, Kantt, & Coupe, 2011; Rusu, 2013; Sholihin & Pike, 2010). Investigations into faculty retention indicate some policies governing outside offers usually have a negative influence on organizational commitment (O’Meara, 2015). A study outcome has proved that the turnover rate of untenured faculty in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), based on research demand, is very high due to developmental challenges (Lawrence, 2014).
The intent of this study is to bridge the gap in the literature that exists between the study of the relationship between retention factors and organizational commitment in the business environment and that of higher education institutions. The specific objective is to examine how retention factors relate to commitment factors at higher education institutions. Retention factors that this study considered were the availability of training and development opportunities, compensation, gender, support from faculty supervisors, and balance of work-life.