Southern Named ‘Great Place to Work’

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to a new survey by the “Great Colleges to Work for” program.

The results, released Monday (September 13^th, 2021) in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education, are based on a survey of 196 colleges and universities. In all, 70 of the 196 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies.

Southern won honors in the following categories this year:

* Faculty Experience

* Confidence in Senior Leadership

* Professional Development

* Mission & Pride

* Job Satisfaction & Support

Southern was also named to the Great Colleges Honor Roll, a status granted to only 42 colleges each year who are highlighted most across the recognition categories.

“This is a very satisfying affirmation of Southern, but our real goal is not recognition – it’s being a community that values the needs and contributions of every individual. In that sense everyone at Southern helps to make this a great place to work,” said Dr. Pam Alderman, Southern’s President.

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 employee survey underwent a number of changes this year, including the addition of 11 new survey statements, some of which are related to new survey themes around diversity, inclusion, and belonging, as well as faculty and staff well-being. New survey demographics related to gender identity and remote work were also included this year.

In accordance with the survey changes, the recognition categories for the program were also updated this year to better reflect current patterns and methodologies in employee engagement in higher education.

The Great Colleges to Work For® program is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all current and previous recognized institutions, visit the Great Colleges program website at GreatCollegesProgram.com and GreatCollegesList.com. ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.