Three Kentucky schools named to ‘Great Colleges to Work For 2016’

EKU, Murray State, OCTC honored

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 19, 2016) — Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University and Owensboro Community and Technical College were named to the Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of “Great Colleges to Work For 2016.”

The list was created through a survey of 46,000 people at 281 institutions—189 four-year colleges and universities (109 private and 80 public), and 92 two-year colleges. All accredited institutions in the U.S. with an enrollment of at least 500 were invited to participate, at no cost.

Each institution was asked to submit a list of full-time employees randomly selected across four job categories: administration, faculty, exempt professional staff and nonexempt staff.

The assessment had two components: a questionnaire about institutional characteristics and a faculty/staff questionnaire about individuals’ evaluations of their institutions. The assessment also included an analysis of demographic data and workplace policies, including benefits, at each participating college. The questionnaires were administered online.

In the faculty/staff questionnaire, people responded to 60 statements using a five-point scale, ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” The statements were categorized into various dimensions and from those the Great Colleges recognition categories, such as collaborative governance, were determined.

The 12 categories people responded to were: Collaborative Governance; Compensation & Benefits; Confidence in Senior Leadership; Diversity; Facilities, Workspace, & Security; Job Satisfaction; Professional/Career- Development Programs; Respect & Appreciation; Supervisor or Department-Chair Relationship; Teaching Environment; Tenure Clarity & Process; and Work/Life Balance.