(Posted August 15, 2012)

Every year, Juniata holds a picnic for employees called Campusfest.
Every year, Juniata holds a picnic for employees called Campusfest.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College, one of Huntingdon County's largest employers, was named as one of 42 four-year and two-year colleges and universities nationwide to merit placement on the Honor Roll in the Chronicle of Higher Education 2012 "Great Colleges to Work For" survey.

The 2012 Honor Roll is the third time Juniata has been singled out as an Honor Roll recipient since the poll began in 2008.

Juniata was recognized as a leader in the "Small College" division (499 employees or fewer) in six out of 12 categories. The survey is based on responses to the Chronicle from more than 47,000 administrators, faculty members and staff members at 294 colleges and universities, as well as community colleges, across the country. There were 221 four-year institutions polled and 73 two-year institutions polled.

"The endorsement that comes from the Great Places to Work poll underlines what those of here have always known -- that Juniata is one of the best colleges to be associated with," says Thomas R. Kepple, president of Juniata. "I am pleased that our employees, facilities and employment policies are recognized as top-drawer by national experts."

Gettysburg College is the only other college or university from Pennsylvania to make the Chronicle's Honor Roll.

The 2012 Honor Roll is the third time Juniata has been singled out as an Honor Roll recipient since the poll began in 2008.

The Chronicle of Higher Education survey, which was administered by ModernThink LLC, a human resources consulting firm based in Wilmington, Del. that has conducted numerous "Best Places to Work" programs, surveying hundreds of thousands of employees nationwide, found that Juniata rated highly in the following categories: Facilities; Job Satisfaction; Work-Life Balance, where policies allow employees to manage their personal lives; Professional/Career Development Programs; Teaching Environment; Tenure Clarity and Process; and Confidence in Senior Leadership, where the colleges leaders possess the skills and experience necessary for success.

Of the 294 colleges and universities polled, 103 were recognized as a Great Place to Work. To gain recognition as a Great Place to Work, an institution must be recognized in at least one of 12 categories

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captured demographics 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 employee feedback.

The Chronicle's published survey results named only those institutions that scored high enough to be recognized in a particular category. Of the employees polled nationwide, approximately 20,000 were faculty, 18,000 were considered professional staff, and 8,500 were administrators.

The colleges and universities participating in the survey were representative of one of five classifications set by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching: research universities with "very high" research activity; doctoral/research universities; master's colleges and universities; and baccalaureate colleges for arts and sciences.

Each institution participating in the survey was asked to submit a list of employees randomly selected from administration, faculty and professional support staff. The sample size for the survey was either 400 or 600, depending on the size of the institution.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.