Baylor University Named a ‘2017 Great College to Work For’ by The Chronicle of Higher Education

Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-710-6275
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WACO, Texas (July 19, 2017) – For the seventh consecutive year, Baylor University has been named a “Great College to Work For,” according to a new survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education, a top trade publication for colleges and universities.

The results, released July 17 in The Chronicle’s 10th annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on a survey of 232 colleges and universities.

Of those, only 79 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition. Results are reported for small, medium and large institutions, with Baylor included among the large universities with 10,000 or more students.

Baylor was cited in six categories this year:

• Compensation and Benefits: Pay is fair, and benefits meet the needs of employees.
• Facilities, Workspace and Security: Facilities adequately meet needs, the appearance of the campus is pleasing, and the institution takes steps to provide a secure environment.
• Job Satisfaction and Support: Provides insight into the satisfaction with job fit, autonomy, and resources.
• Professional/Career Development Programs: Employees are given the opportunity to develop skills and understand requirements to advance in their careers.
• Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship: Supervisor makes expectations clear and solicits ideas.
• Work/Life Balance: Policies give employees the flexibility to manage their personal lives.

“As a research university with a Christian commitment, Baylor University offers its faculty and staff a distinctive professional environment – one in which they have the privilege of providing students with a transformational education that prepares them for lives of leadership and service,” said President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. “Our faculty and staff, in turn, are given the opportunity to grow professionally and personally through investments in employee success, a caring community and outstanding benefits.”

For example, Baylor recently announced expansive new policies that provide paid parental leave for staff and an adoption assistance program that benefit both staff and faculty at the University. The policies went into effect April 1. Both benefits placed Baylor at the forefront of universities nationally and in Texas in offering parental leave and adoption assistance and further enhanced an already robust benefits plan for Baylor staff and faculty.

“Ten years in, the ‘Great Colleges to Work For’ distinction is well known by academic jobseekers as a sign that an institution’s employees are valued and given opportunities for growth even when they face financial constraints,” said Liz McMillen, editor of The Chronicle. “Any college or university that’s on the list is showing that they emphasize one of their most valuable assets: their faculty and staff.”

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies, 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.

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 K. Boyer, principal and managing partner, ModernThink LLC. “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.”

“Great Colleges to Work For” is one of the largest and most comprehensive workplace study in higher education. For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit The Chronicle’s website at www.chronicle.com/interactives/greatcolleges17.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

ABOUT THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

The Chronicle of Higher Education is dedicated to serving the higher-education community with insights, understanding, and intellectual engagement. Academic leaders and professionals from around the world trust The Chronicle’s analysis and in-depth exploration to make informed decisions.

ABOUT MODERNTHINK LLC

As a research and consulting leader in workplace issues, ModernThink has supported a wide variety of “Best Place to Work” initiatives. Through these programs, the firm has gained substantial survey and industry expertise, including specific insight into higher education. ModernThink knows what it takes to build a great place to work and shares that know-how with its clients. The ModernThink team of organizational development experts is dedicated to helping colleges follow through and capitalize on feedback from employees and benchmark data from peers to drive meaningful change at their institutions. Learn more at www.modernthink.com/.