"Tissues are for Students Only:" The Ethics of Faculty and Staff Burnout in the State University of New York
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Issue Date
2026-01
Authors
Ethics and Institutional Integrity Committee
Publisher
Keywords
Burnout; Faculty Survey; Ethics
Abstract
This white paper presents a comprehensive examination of faculty and staff burnout across the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Drawing on a multi-year study conducted by the University Faculty Senate’s Ethics and Institutional Integrity Committee, the report identifies how post-pandemic conditions, institutional decisions, rising workloads, and limited structural support have led to a system-wide decline in employee well-being. The study integrates quantitative survey data, qualitative responses, and preliminary interviews to assess the experiences of more than 1,000 SUNY faculty and staff.
Description
Faculty and staff serve as the primary emotional and instructional support system for SUNY students, performing extensive emotional labor that is essential but often invisible and undervalued. While higher education has increasingly prioritized student well-being, employee well-being has not received equal structural attention. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified this imbalance. Faculty and staff were required to rapidly shift modalities, support distressed students, manage safety protocols, and sustain academic operations under unprecedented strain.
Respondents acknowledged that campuses acted reasonably during the height of the pandemic. However, the long-term aftermath—marked by staffing shortages, increased administrative expectations, and persistent institutional pressures—has resulted in escalating burnout, reduced autonomy, and declining morale.
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