ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the academic work environment by accelerating the adoption of more online classes and programs. Such changes contributed to increased faculty workloads which affected parents of young children more than the rest of the faculty members. This chapter explores the challenges and opportunities that full-time faculty members experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of the pandemic on faculty performance and career development. Special attention is paid to discussing how the pandemic influenced the academic work environment and the teaching, research, and service responsibilities of faculty members. Further, the chapter explains how existing gender disparities were exacerbated by the pandemic and provides recommendations for institutions and individuals to address the pandemic-induced challenges and inequities.
