WSU Honored as ‘Great College to Work For’
OGDEN, Utah – According to a survey commissioned by the Chronicle of Higher Education, Weber State University is a “2016 Great College to Work For.”
The results, released in The Chronicle’s ninth annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on an employee survey conducted at 281 colleges and universities nationwide.
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In all, only 93 of the 281 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for small, medium and large institutions with Weber State included among the large universities of 10,000 or more students.
This is WSU’s second year of participation. Based on responses from faculty and staff, the university was recognized in five of 12 possible categories — up from three last year. In addition to last year’s categories, Weber State was commended for Collaborative Governance and Confidence in Senior Leadership. The five areas are:
Collaborative Governance — Faculty members are appropriately involved in decisions related to academic programs.
- Confidence in Senior Leadership — Leaders have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience for institutional success.
- Job Satisfaction and Support — There is an overall sense that the job is meaningful to the employee and the institution.
- Work/Life Balance — University policies give employees the flexibility to manage their lives on the job and at home.
- Facilities, Workspaces and Security — Facilities meet employees’ needs; the campus appearance is pleasing, and the institution takes steps to provide a secure environment.
“Weber State is delighted to be recognized for two years in a row as an excellent work environment," said WSU President Charles A. Wight. “The credit for this recognition belongs to our faculty and staff, who create a great environment for teaching and learning.”
The survey is one of the largest workplace recognition programs in the country and recognizes the colleges that get top ratings from their employees on workforce practices and policies.
“Nine years in, The Chronicle’s Great Colleges to Work For program is well known as a mark of a college or university that puts thought and effort into serving the needs of its faculty and staff,” said Liz McMillen, editor of The Chronicle. “The colleges and universities that make the list are highly rated by their employees for creating great working environments, an important achievement that helps them recruit top academic and administrative talent.”
To administer the survey and analyze the results, The Chronicle used ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm that has conducted numerous “Best Places to Work” programs, surveying hundreds of thousands of employees nationwide. The Great Colleges survey included a two-part assessment process: a survey administered to faculty, administrators and salaried staff (the ModernThink Higher Education Insight Survey) and an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies and practices. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received a Great College to Work For recognition was the employee feedback.
“Once again, I’m pleased faculty and staff members recognize that WSU is a great place to work,” said Cherrie Nelson, WSU Human Resources assistant vice president. “Here they find job satisfaction and support, great work/life balance, excellent facilities and workspaces, collaborative governance and confidence in senior leadership.”
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Allison Barlow Hess, Director of Public Relations
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu- Contact:
Allison Barlow Hess, Director of Public Relations
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu