Bullying rates reach 68% at some colleges, on par with emergency services — and students angling for better grades are the biggest source
Thirty percent of our survey respondents reported that students pressured them for a better grade.
An international study reveals that up to 68% of college faculty and staff face bullying, surpassing rates in emergency services. The bullying occurs in two ways: from colleagues and supervisors, and surprisingly often from students seeking higher grades. Junior faculty and those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color are targeted more frequently.
Senior faculty are more likely to be bullied by students over grades. Researchers call this "contrapower harassment," a reversal of the usual power dynamic where a higher-ranking employee bullies a subordinate. The study, published in the October 2026 Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Practice, found that academic bullying has severe consequences, creating toxic environments that harm both the well-being of faculty and students, and the quality of education.
The bullying tactics include threats, malicious complaints, negative online reviews, and intimidation, with women and minority faculty being particularly affected. The research, based on surveys of 189 faculty and staff across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., highlights the need for further investigation into the root causes of faculty bullying and effective interventions to mitigate its impact.
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