Baylor University Earns Honor Roll Designation as a 2020 Great College to Work For

University receives elite designation for the ninth time

WACO, Texas (Sept. 14, 2020) – For the ninth time, Baylor University has attained elite Honor Roll status as a 2020 Great College to Work For, according to a new survey by The Great Colleges to Work For program.

The results, released today in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education, are based on a survey of 221 colleges and universities. In all, 79 of the 221 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Only 42 were 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.

The Great Colleges to Work For® program is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. Now in its 13th year, the program recognizes the colleges that get top ratings from their employees regarding workplace practices and policies.

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

• Collaborative Governance: Faculty members are appropriately involved 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, 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: This theme 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: Supervisor makes expectations clear and solicits ideas.
• Work/Life Balance: Policies give employees the flexibility to manage their work and personal lives.

“We are extremely proud to again not only be recognized as a Great College to Work For, but also be included as part of the prestigious Honor Roll in nine wide-ranging categories,” said President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. “Our faculty and staff love Baylor and our students and share a deep commitment in helping prepare the next generation of Christian leaders. I extend my appreciation to Cheryl Gochis, vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer, her team and colleagues across the University in creating an environment in which all employees are supported and have an opportunity to thrive.”

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institution 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.

“The institutions participating in the 2020 Great Colleges to Work For® program deserve special kudos for their commitment to being good stewards of institutional culture and workplace quality," said Richard K. Boyer, senior consultant at ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm that administered the survey and analyzed the results. "In the face of unprecedented uncertainty, their commitment to faculty/staff engagement never wavered. In particular, institutions recognized in this year’s program as Great Colleges to Work For prove that it is possible to be a great workplace even in the face of disruption, uncertainty and limited resources."

Baylor employs more than 3,000 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.

In 2018, Baylor extended the University’s generous leave program to include paid bereavement leave and paid military/emergency responder leave, along with paid parental leave and an adoption assistance program implemented in 2017 to reflect the University’s continued commitment to the cultivation of a caring community.

In January 2020, Baylor implemented revised leave policies to better support the needs of eligible employees and to help attract and retain the best talent. The changes include providing more immediate access to paid leave time, increasing paid parental leave from four weeks to six weeks and adding up to four weeks of paid caregiver leave to be used for serious health conditions, maternity/prenatal and military-related demands.

Additional benefits include free admission to certain athletic events and 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 well-being of faculty and staff, their families and retirees.

For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit the Great College Program website at www.greatcollegesprogram.com.

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 18,000 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 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

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 about the Great Colleges to Work For® program, including all current and previous recognized institutions, at http://www.greatcollegesprogram.com and about ModernThink at www.modernthink.com.