Baylor University Named a 2018 ‘Great College to Work For’ by The Chronicle of Higher Education

July 16, 2018
Great Colleges 2018

University receives elite Honor Roll designation for the seventh time

Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-710-6275
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WACO, Texas (July 16, 2018) – For the seventh time, Baylor University has attained elite Honor Roll status as a “2018 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 today in The Chronicle’s 11th annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on a survey of 253 colleges and universities. The Great Colleges to Work For survey is one of the largest and most comprehensive workplace studies in higher education and recognizes the colleges that get top ratings from their employees on workforce practices and policies.

Only 84 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition, with 42 named to the Honor Roll as the standouts in their size categories. Baylor is included in the large university category with 10,000 or more students.

Baylor was cited on the Honor Roll in 11 categories this year:

  • Collaborative Governance: Faculty members are involved appropriately in decisions related to academic programs.
  • Compensation and Benefits: Pay is fair, and benefits meet the needs of employees.
  • Confidence in Senior Leadership: Leaders have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience for institutional success.
  • Facilities, Workspaces 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: 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.
  • Respect and Appreciation: Employees are regularly recognized for their contributions.
  • Supervisor/Department-Chair Relationship: Supervisors make expectations clear and solicit ideas.
  • Teaching Environment (Faculty only) : Faculty members say the institution recognizes innovative and high-quality teaching.
  • Tenure Clarity and Process (Faculty only/four-year colleges only): Requirements for tenure are clear, faculty members say.
  • Work/Life Balance: Policies give employees the flexibility to manage their personal lives.

“Baylor University’s mission challenges us with a call to excellence,” said Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. “The Baylor family of faculty and staff commit their time and talents creating a caring community dedicated to leadership, service, academic excellence and Christian commitment. Beyond the privilege of educating men and women to be leaders and servants throughout the world, employees enjoy an active community, stability, investments in employee success and outstanding benefits — all of which make Baylor a Great College to Work For.”

“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.”

In 2017-2018, Baylor employed more than 2,800 faculty and staff, who are offered a wide range of benefits that complement pay, including medical insurance and other core insurance benefits, retirement plan, tuition remission, flexible spending accounts and paid time off for staff (holidays, vacation, sick and personal time). Additional benefits include free admission to certain athletic events, discounts to football games, free use of Baylor’s Student Life Center and access to other wellness programs, an employee assistance program (EAP), dining discounts and other benefits that add value to the total compensation and wellbeing of faculty/staff, their families and retirees.

New Baylor Leave Benefits

In May, Baylor extended Baylor’s generous leave program to include paid bereavement leave and paid military/emergency responder leave that reflect the University’s continued commitment to the cultivation of a caring community.

In April 2017, the university implemented expansive new policies that provide paid parental leave for staff and an adoption assistance program that benefits both staff and faculty. Those 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.

As a result of the adoption assistance benefit, Baylor was recognized on the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s 2017 Top 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List, placing No. 89 overall in the United States and No. 2 in the education industry. The University also was featured on the foundation’s foster care benefits list.

The Great Colleges 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.

For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit The Chronicle’s website at www.chronicle.com/interactives/greatcolleges18.

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 17,000 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 .