Shippensburg named a "2011 Great College
to Work For"
Shippensburg
University is one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to
a new survey by The Chronicle of Higher
Education. It’s the second consecutive year the university was named in the
survey.
The survey’s results, released today (July 25) by The Chronicle as part of its fourth annual report on The Academic
Workplace, are based on a survey of more than 44,000 employees at 310 colleges
and universities. Only 111 of the institutions achieved "Great College to
Work For" recognition for specific best practices and policies.Shippensburg was in the medium-size category of institutions with
between 3,000 and 9,999 students.
Shippensburg won honors in the leadership and careers areas, specifically for collaborative
governance, and tenure clarity and process. Collaborative governance is defined
as when faculty members are appropriately involved in decisions related to
academic programs. Tenure clarity and process
is defined as requirements for
tenure are clear.
“We’re very proud to receive this honor for a second consecutive year,” said
President Bill Ruud. “The award also shows that the university has been able to
maintain its culture of collaboration and support in spite of recent financial
challenges. Even with those challenges, our employees continue to do great work
on behalf of our students and understand that Shippensburg is a great
university.”
The
report said that what makes the university great is “Discussion about the
tenure process begins during a faculty member’s first year on the job, with the
university’s yearlong orientation program. New faculty are also assigned
mentors, who encourage them to serve on department committees.”
The
survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional
audit that captured demographics and workplace policies from each institution,
and a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support
staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition
was the employee feedback.
ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm that has conducted
numerous “Best Places to Work” programs, administered the survey and analyzed the results.
According
to Richard K. Boyer, principal and managing partner of ModernThink LLC, “It’s
easier to be a great workplace during good times, but it’s when times are tough
that the commitment to workplace quality really gets tested. And those
institutions that measure up during times of economic hardship reinforce their
already strong cultures and put even more distance between them and their peer
institutions for whom they compete for talent.”
According
to information from The Chronicle, it provides the academic
community with an independent, global hub for news, sophisticated analysis,
opinion, and engagement. It is also read weekly read by more college and
university faculty members and administrators than any other source in higher
education.
For
more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit The
Chronicle's website at http://chronicle.com/academicworkplace.
7.25.11