aerial view of Western's campus at night, with golden lights surrounded by dark trees

WWU named a ‘2013 Great College to Work for’

Western Washington University is one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to a new survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The results, released in The Chronicle’s sixth annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on a survey of more than 44,000 employees at 300 colleges and universities.

Western, which now has been honored three years in a row, is the only four-year university in the state recognized this year as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for; Highline Community College also was recognized.

Western won honors in three categories:

  • Collaborative governance (faculty members play significant roles in decisions related to academic programs)
  • Teaching Environment (faculty members say the institution recognizes innovative and high-quality teaching).
  • Tenure Clarity & Process (requirements for tenure are clear)

“The credit for Western’s continued recognition as a great place to work for goes to the faculty and staff, who make it so. It’s not just their talent and energy, but their commitment to making every student’s experience at Western the best it can be – inside and outside of the classroom – that really makes this a special place. That sense of common purpose and dedication is palpable, and it makes me excited to come to work every day, too,” said Western President Bruce Shepard.

In all, only 97 of the 300 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with Western Washington University included among the large universities with 10,000 or more students.

“The institutions that the Great Colleges program recognizes provide innovative educational experiences – while also offering their employees outstanding workplace experiences – and we are eager to help readers learn more about them,” said Liz McMillen, The Chronicle’s editor.

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 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.

Great Colleges to Work For is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit The Chronicle’s website.