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For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit The Chronicle’s website |
The Chronicle of Higher Education today honored SUNY Fredonia as one of the best colleges to work for in the nation.
The Chronicle’s "2010 Great Colleges to Work For" program recognizes colleges, based on enrollment size, for specific best practices and policies. Now in its third year, it has become one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the nation.
The Chronicle’s annual report is based on a survey of more than 42,000 employees at 277 colleges and universities. Only 97 of the 277 institutions – roughly one third – attained this recognition.
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.
SUNY Fredonia earned honors in three major categories, including Confidence in Senior Leadership, reflecting that Fredonia’s leaders have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for institutional success. The university also excelled in the Supervisor or Department Chair Relationship category, which is based upon employees’ beliefs that their supervisors make expectations clear and regularly solicit ideas from those whom they manage. The campus also earned high marks in Professional/Career Development Programs, which signals that employees are given the opportunity to develop skills and understand requirements to advance in their careers.
“I am thrilled that our campus has been recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education,” said SUNY Fredonia President Dennis Hefner. “It is very rewarding to see Fredonia honored for the positive and constructive workplace culture we have collectively instilled over the years, which is the result of many people consistently performing at an exceptional level. It is a pleasure to be a part of such an environment.”
“This is a wonderful honor for our university,” added Michael Daley, Director of Human Resources. “It in effect says that SUNY Fredonia is a place where the employees have confidence in their senior leadership and strong relationships with their supervisors. A big part of that stems from the great respect we have for one another and the singular goal we all share, which is providing an exemplary, rewarding and fun environment for our students to develop into tomorrow’s leaders and successes.”
Mr. Daley also pointed to some new employee initiatives that he believes helped Fredonia stand out in the judges’ minds, including the campus’ Leadership Academy. This program which began in 2009 provides employees who wish to grow and develop in their positions with specialized training from on- and off-campus experts to enhance their managerial, strategic and leadership skills. This also better positions employees for possible advancement opportunities when they occur.
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.
“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,” said Richard Boyer, principal and managing partner of ModernThink. “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.”
SUNY Fredonia has more than 900 total employees, including approximately 250 full-time faculty members, supported by roughly 180 part-time instructors.
