Mental health stressors affecting academic programme coordinators in one South African university

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The psychological and emotional well-being of academic staff in the South African higher education system is affected by multiple challenges that obscure the delivery of distinct academic projects. These challenges have an impact on the academic staff’s mental health. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the mental health stressors affecting academic program coordinators at a South African university. By identifying and analyzing specific challenges, the research aims to provide actionable insights to inform institutional policies and interventions designed to improve the mental well-being of academic staff. This study will broaden the understanding of the mental health stressors among South African universities. The study is premised within an interpretivist paradigm and uses a case study qualitative design. Individual interviews were conducted with 4 purposively selected academic programme coordinators. Data were analysed using thematic and narrative analyses. The findings identified five mental health stressors that affect academic programme coordinators. These stressors are (1) increased and heavy workload with many modules and extra administration; (2) understaffing- increased students-no creation of new posts; (3) duplication of duties and work transfer; (4) lack of support, and lack of implementation of resolutions; and (5) over-use of part-time lectures at most 50 part-time lectures. As part of the conclusions, the study recommends that the university conduct a job analysis to revisit and reimagine job descriptions and organizational structure to alleviate job duplication and job transfer. Furthermore, the study proposes adequate staffing and equitable workloads across the university’s academic and support staff

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