Differences by Race

Because comparisons by rank include only those who have “somewhat seriously” or “very seriously” considered leaving Purdue, results must be examined with caution. Only 15 underrepresented minorities and 20 Asian Americans answered these questions.

Underrepresented minorities who answered these questions are more likely to be assistant professors than are respondents from the other two groups (50% vs. 38% of Asian Americans and 24% of Caucasians). They are also more likely to be women (46% vs. 19% of Asian Americans and 26% of Caucasians). And, in fact, they answered similarly to these two groups because they are more likely to be motivated to move for personal reasons. Again, they are more likely than Asian Americans and Caucasians to say that leaving Purdue would be attractive if they could live in a different part of the country (80% vs. 60% and 69% respectively), move to a more cosmopolitan or urban setting (67% vs. 35% and 40%), live closer to family or friends (71% vs. 50% and 45%), have wider social contacts (47% vs. 16% and 34%) and achieve a better balance between their work and personal life (67% vs. 47% and 52%).

Asian Americans would be more likely to move for professional reasons than would underrepresented minorities and Caucasians. Specifically, they are more likely to consider leaving because of a desire to join a more prestigious unit or institution (75% vs. 60% and 59% respectively), to earn a higher salary (90% vs. 80% for the other two groups), and to enhance their spouse or partner’s career opportunities (88% vs. 82% of underrepresented minorities and 65% of Caucasians). They, along with underrepresented minorities, are also more likely than Caucasians to be motivated to move to obtain a position of higher rank, responsibility, or visibility (75% and 73% vs. 63%).

Caucasians, compared to the other two groups, indicated a stronger desire to move only for the opportunity to work in a less-pressured environment (34% vs. 21% for underrepresented minorities and 10% for Asian Americans).

Differences by Marital Status

Compared to their married colleagues, single respondents and those living with partners are more likely to be assistant professors (35% of single respondents and 46% of those with partners vs. 20% of married respondents). Singles and those living with partners are also more likely to be female than their married peers (57% of singles and 41% of those with partners are female vs. 22% of married respondents).

Nevertheless, only singles responded to these questions similarly to assistant professors and females. They are more likely than married respondents and those with partners to be motivated to leave Purdue by a desire to live closer to family or friends (57% vs. 25% of those with partners and 44% of those who are married), to have wider social contacts (65% vs. 33% of those with partners and 29% of those who are married), and to achieve a better balance between their work and personal life (65% vs. 45% of those with partners and 50% of married respondents). Both those who are single and those with a partner are also more likely than married respondents to be motivated to move by a desire to live in a more cosmopolitan or urban setting (63% of singles, 57% of those with partners, and 36% of those who are married).

Those with a partner are the most likely to move in response to a desire to join a more prestigious unit or institution (71% vs. 50% of singles and 61% of married respondents). Married respondents are the most likely to be motivated to move in order to obtain a position of higher rank, responsibility, or visibility (65% vs. 54% of singles and 60% of those with a partner).