(Posted July 18, 2017)

HUNTINGDON, PA—Juniata College has received its 10th consecutive honor as one of 79 colleges or universities nationwide named as a "Great College to Work For" in the 2017 edition of the annual Chronicle of Higher Education survey. Juniata has received the award every year since The Chronicle of Higher Education began the survey in 2008. The results, released today in The Chronicle’s tenth annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on a survey of 232 colleges and universities, of which 79 are recognized as distinctive.  

“Receiving annual recognition as a great workplace for a decade reflects our priorities at Juniata,” says Juniata College President James A. Troha. “We provide an educational environment where our faculty and staff partner with students in shaping their academic and personal growth. To create that environment, we invest every day in the people who help students learn.”

The 2017 survey includes Juniata in its "Small College" category. The "Small College" division (499 employees or fewer) highlighted Juniata in four out of 12 categories: “Collaborative Governance,” “Compensation & Benefits,” “Teaching Environment,” and “Tenure Clarity & Process.”

Each of the categories has specific meaning. Scoring well in “Collaborative Governance” shows that faculty members are appropriately involved in decisions related to academic programs. A high score in “Compensation & Benefits” indicates employees’ feelings that pay is fair and that benefits meet employee needs. For “Teaching Environment,” a strong score shows that faculty members say the College recognizes innovative and high-quality teaching. Finally, a superior score in “Tenure Clarity and Process” indicates that requirements for tenure are clear and the process is fair.

The Chronicle’s “Great Colleges to Work For” survey is the largest and most comprehensive workplace study in higher education. Now in its 10th year, it recognizes the colleges that get top ratings from their employees on workforce practices and policies.

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.

“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 of Higher Education. “Any college or university that’s on the list is showing that they emphasize one of their most valuable assets: their faculty and staff.” 

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