An Analysis of the Dental Hygiene Educator Workforce in Wisconsin Technical College System: Faculty Composition and Implications for Development, Planning, and Recruitment

Abstract

Dental hygiene education relies on qualified and experienced educators to prepare students for licensure and entry into clinical practice. Many dental hygiene educators within the Wisconsin Technical College System are nearing retirement, and few educator development pathways exist to recruit and prepare future educators. This growing shortage threatens program sustainability, enrollment capacity, and the ability to deliver required core dental hygiene coursework. A continued decline in educator availability may further exacerbate workforce shortages within the dental hygiene profession. This study examined the current landscape of dental hygiene education in Wisconsin by surveying and interviewing educators from the eight accredited technical colleges within the state: Blackhawk, Chippewa Valley, Fox Valley, Madison, Milwaukee Area, Northcentral, Northeast, and Waukesha County. The purpose of this research was to identify challenges related to educator recruitment and retention and to explore strategies for developing a sustainable educator development pathway for future dental hygiene educators. Findings indicate that faculty in the Wisconsin Technical College System dental hygiene educators are approaching retirement, further compounding dental hygienist shortages. Succession planning is informal or absent in most dental hygiene institutions. Compensation disparities are a challenge in the recruitment process to employ qualified candidates. These results illustrate the need for educator development pathways to sustain program capacity while not compromising accreditation or teaching standards for future generations of dental hygiene educators in Wisconsin.