Des Moines University (DMU) is one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to a recent survey commissioned by The Chronicle of Higher Education, “The Great Colleges to Work For” program.
The results, released today in a special insert of the Chronicle, are based on a survey of 236 colleges and universities. In all, 85 of the 236 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for small, medium and large institutions, with DMU included among the small universities with 500 to 2,999 students.
The survey is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. Now in its twelfth year, it recognizes the colleges that earn top ratings from their employees regarding workplace practices and policies.
By the numbers:
- 236 institutions participated in 2019.
- 85 institutions are recognized as a 2019 Great College to Work For, including 60 four-year institutions and 25 two-year institutions.
- 42 institutions are on the Honor Roll, recognized as stand-outs in their size categories.
In particular, DMU won honors in two categories this year:
- Professional/career development programs
- Compensation and benefits
“We are pleased by this affirmation of DMU, but our real goal is not recognition – it’s being a community that values the needs and contributions of every individual on campus. In that sense, every one of us at DMU helps to make this a great place to serve our students and institutional mission,” said Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., DMU president and CEO.
“The institutions recognized in this year’s Great Colleges to Work For program don’t wait for problems to occur to pay attention to their people,” said Rich Boyer, senior consultant at ModernThink. “Conversely, they’re intentional about being good stewards of their institutions’ cultures and shaping the day-to-day experience of their faculty and staff to the ultimate benefit of their students.”
He added, “An institution’s ‘human capital’ is its most important asset and often its biggest expense. It only makes sense to protect that investment. More than simply protecting that asset, the colleges and universities recognized in this year’s Great Colleges to Work For program demonstrate their commitment to the day-to-day experience of their faculty and staff and the overall health of their institution’s culture.”
For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit the Great Colleges Program website at www.greatcollegesprogram.com.
Methodology
The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional questionnaire that captured employment data 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, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.
