UM Again ‘Great Colleges to Work For’ Finalist

The University of Mississippi has again been recognized as one of the nation’s ‘Great Colleges to Work For’ by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Continuing to establish its reputation for employee satisfaction, the University of Mississippi has again been recognized as one of the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

UM was cited for excellence in three categories: collaborative governance, employee confidence in the university’s senior leadership and supervisor/department chair relationship. The Chronicle has recognized “Great Colleges to Work For” for the last eight years. UM has been recognized in seven of those years.

“The University is Mississippi is once again honored to be recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education as a ‘Great Place to Work For,’” said Clay Jones, UM assistant vice chancellor and director of human resources. “This repeated recognition validates our commitment to treat our employees in the fairest manner possible and also strengthens our resolve to continue to make improvements to our work environment. Our entire campus community is committed to continual advancements in all areas, which certainly include a better work place for all of our employees.”

UM’s repeated success is directly caused by its committed faculty and staff, who work hard to make the university a great place to work, said Noel Wilkin, interim provost.

“Every day, I interact with people who live our creed, who genuinely care about our success, and who use their talents to make our university one of the best in the world,” Wilkin said. “These efforts are reflected in this ranking.”

The full results of the survey of employees at universities and colleges across America will be featured in the Chronicle’s Academic Workplace Special Issue, which debuted today on the Chronicle of Higher Education webpage. The print edition of the award recognition program will be published and mailed soon thereafter.

Earlier this year, the university participated in the survey, which is designed to recognize institutions that have built great workplaces. The surveys designed specifically for higher education were sent to a sample of each institution’s full-time faculty, administrators, and exempt and non-exempt staff.

Survey answers were submitted anonymously. Questionnaires were processed by ModernThink LLC, an independent third-party company.

The recognition comes at a time when many universities across the nation are dealing with budget struggles, while at the same time trying to keep tuition costs as low as possible for students. The head of the company that handled the Chronicle survey said those institutions that were able to keep employees happy during tough times deserve extra credit.

“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 K. 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.”

Courtesy of Edwin Smith, Ole Miss News Desk