Illinois State University has been named a “Great College to Work For,” according to a new survey by one of the leading higher education publications in the country.
The Great College to Work For report, released on July 30 by The Chronicle of Higher Education, recognizes institutions that have created exceptional work environments. Illinois State is the only public university in Illinois to be named to the list.
Illinois State earned the honor in the category of teaching environment, which looks at innovative and high-quality teaching.
“At the heart of Illinois State’s continued excellence is our love of teaching,” said University President Larry Dietz. “Since our inception, we have acknowledged that each faculty and staff member is integral to student success, and we strive to provide a supportive environment that values their contributions.”
The Great College to Work For report is based on a survey of 281 colleges and universities. In all, only 86 of the 281 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition in at least one of the categories for their specific best practices and policies. Illinois State was also recognized for its clarity in the tenure process.
The results will appear in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual report called The Academic Workplace. This is the first year Illinois State has taken part in the survey process.
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 employee feedback.
To administer the survey and analyze the results, the Chronicle worked with ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm that has conducted numerous “Best Places to Work” programs, surveying hundreds of thousands of employees nationwide.
For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit the Chronicle’s website at http://chronicle.com/AW15.
