Siena Heights 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 today in The Chronicle’s fifth annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on a survey of more than 46,000 employees at 294 colleges and universities. In all, only 103 of the 294 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies.

“We are honored to be recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education,” said SHU President Sister Peg Albert, OP, PhD. “Siena Heights tries to build a sense of not only community – but family – for our employees. This honor reinforces our belief that Siena Heights is a great place to be, not only for our students, but our faculty, staff and administration as well. We will continue to live our mission of being more competent, purposeful and ethical.”

In addition, Siena Heights was only one of two institutions in Michigan to be placed on the Honor Roll, with the University of Michigan being the other. Only 42 institutions nationwide earned this special recognition for being “the best of the best.” Those that make the Honor Roll are cited most often across all recognition categories. Results are reported for small, medium and large institutions.

Siena Heights won honors in five categories this year:

• Collaborative governance
• Confidence in senior leadership
• Respect and appreciation
• Supervisor or department chair relationship
• Work/life balance

 “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.

“It’s easier to be a great workplace during good times, but it’s when times are tough that the commitment to workplace quality really gets tested,” said Richard Boyer, principal and managing partner of ModernThink. “And those institutions that measure up during times of economic hardship reinforce their already strong cultures and put even more distance between them and their peer institutions for whom they compete for talent.”

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, click here.