ASCO’s Annual Faculty Data Report Provides Snapshot of Faculty Demographics, Tenure Status, Education

ASCO’s Annual Faculty Data Report Provides Snapshot of Faculty Demographics, Tenure Status, Education

Female faculty comprise 59.7% of total faculty at the U.S. schools and colleges of optometry in 2024-25, approximately the same percentage as last year, according to ASCO’s 2024-2025 Annual Faculty Data Report.

Ten years ago, 52.5% of faculty were female. In the past year, the percentage of full-time Black or African American faculty increased from 3.2% to 3.3%; ten years ago it was 2.8%. The percentage of full-time Hispanic or Latino faculty increased from 5.1% to 5.2%. Ten years ago the percentage was 5.2%.

In addition, over the past year:

• The total number of full-time faculty increased 1.1%, from 805 to 814 (24 schools). Ten years ago, there were 712 full-time faculty (21 schools).
• Residency programs continue to be the primary source of new faculty, providing 35.1% of new full-time faculty in the past year. Fourteen percent came from another academic institution, 14% from an optometry practice, 7% from graduate school and 5.3% from industry.
• The percentage of full-time faculty with PhD and other non-OD doctoral degrees increased from 24.9% to 25.4% in the past year. Ten years ago, it was 28.9%.

The report also shows:

• 29.1% of full-time faculty have tenure and 16.3% are on a tenure track at the 19 institutions offering tenure.
• The average age of didactic full-time professors is 58.1 years and 56.0 years for clinical full-time professors.
• The average full-time didactic professor has been with the school for 21.3 years and 22 years for the average full-time clinical professor.

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