The "other" academic staff: Selected findings from
a research project on university tutors'
status, support and satisfaction

Tutors (including demonstrators, sessional assistants, and teaching assistants) play a central role in the academic experience of university students, with many undergraduates having as much or more contact time with tutors than with their lecturers. Despite this, tutors exist in a shadowy realm; they are often relegated to the catchall category of "Other Academic Staff," and the demographics, responsibilities, and experiences of many tutors are all unknowns. Furthermore, there are often wide discrepancies, across universities and disciplines, in appointment and selection processes, as well as gaps in the provision of and encouragement to attend training.

This research project looks at the experiences, circumstances, and needs of the tutoring population at a mid-sized New Zealand university. Data were gathered over three years - from 398 survey questionnaires, 13 in-depth interviews, and two focus groups - and five final recommendations were made regarding roles and responsibilities, HR processes, support and coordination, and working conditions. This presentation will identify the key findings from the report, expand on why the five recommendations were made, and provide space for discussion about future directions for this type of research.