Contact: Checky Herrington
STARKVILLE, Miss.—For the third year in a row, positive feedback from Mississippi State employees has helped designate the university as a “Great College to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Results were released July 15 in The Chronicle’s 11th annual report on “The Academic Workplace” and are based on a survey of 253 colleges and universities. Only 84 program applicants achieved “Great College to Work For” status. The Chronicle reports results for small, medium and large institutions, with Mississippi State included among large universities with 10,000 or more students.
MSU received top rankings in nine of 12 recognition categories that include job satisfaction; professional and career development; work/life balance; respect and appreciation; collaborative governance; confidence in senior leadership; facilities, workspace, and security; supervisor/department chair relationship; and teaching environment.
The university also was named to The Chronicle’s Honor Roll, a distinction for institutions that are cited most often across all recognition categories.
“It’s deeply gratifying to know that our employees feel a strong connection to MSU and believe their contributions are valued and appreciated,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “We’ll continue working to build a supportive work environment where faculty, administrators and staff can experience enriching careers and make a meaningful impact at MSU as teachers, leaders and mentors.”
Launched in 2007, The Chronicle’s “Great Colleges to Work For” survey is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. The program is the mark for colleges or universities that strive to provide a high quality workplace experience with supportive policies and competitive benefits for faculty and staff.
“‘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. “Any college or university that’s on the list is showing that they emphasize one of their most valuable assets: their faculty and staff.”
Survey results combine a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captures demographics and workplace policies and a survey administered to faculty, administrators and professional support staff. Employee feedback is the primary factor in determining whether an institution receives recognition.
Mississippi State places great value on being an employer of choice and aims to provide an empowering workplace environment that focuses year-round on growth, advancement and recognition. The university also offers programs designed to support employees with varied interests and training needs.
MSU recently launched the inaugural faculty cohort of Community-Engaged Learning Fellows comprising 15 employees from across the university. The program integrates the philosophy, pedagogy and process of community-engaged learning to develop faculty leaders who encourage and mentor their peers.
Also, MSU’s Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion recently announced the university’s membership in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, a nationally recognized, independent organization that provides online career development and mentoring resources for faculty, post-docs and graduate students.
Thanks to the contributions of its talented faculty, MSU has strengthened its standing as a premier research institution in a variety of disciplines. Mississippi State is among the National Science Foundation’s Top 100 research universities and has been ranked in the top 5 percent nationally for agricultural research expenditures for the last 10 years. MSU also has taken the lead in cutting-edge research areas such as unmanned aircraft systems and autonomous vehicles.
In addition to being a top-ranked employer, Mississippi State was named a “Military Friendly” and “Military Spouse Friendly” school by Victory Media in recognition of its veteran-oriented campus culture.
“By providing positive experiences for employees and students, there’s really no end to what MSU is capable of achieving,” Keenum said. “We’re seeing proof in record-setting enrollment, fundraising, research grants, athletics, and awards and honors, including being named a great place to work for the third consecutive year.”
The Chronicle of Higher Education is a leading source for news, jobs, and information for college and university administrators and faculty. To view all results of the “Great Colleges to Work For” survey, visit www.chronicle.com/interactives/greatcolleges18.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.