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������ is one of only three universities in Ohio to be named a best college to work for, according to a new survey by The Great Colleges to Work For® program.

“Great college recognition is a terrific affirmation of ������ as a community that values the contributions of, and responds to the needs of, our faculty and staff,” said Melody Tankersley, interim senior vice president and provost at ������. “It is certainly our people who make Kent State a great place to work as we create an outstanding experience for our students.”

The results, released last week in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education, are based on a survey of 221 colleges and universities. In all, 79 of the 221 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for small, medium and large institutions, with Kent State included among the large universities with 10,000 or more students.

“This year’s list of recognized institutions in the Great Colleges to Work For® program was united in their commitment to organizational culture, even in the face of a global pandemic,” said Richard K. Boyer, senior consultant at ModernThink. “They stand apart in their recognition that workplace culture can actually be a roadmap for navigating uncertainty.”

������ won honors in three categories this year:

1. CONFIDENCE IN SENIOR LEADERSHIP

Senior leadership was defined as the most senior members of the institution (e.g. Chancellor or President and those who directly report to them). There are six statements on the survey that directly reference senior leadership, one example being Statement 27: Senior leadership provides a clear direction for this institution’s future.

2. FACILITIES, WORKSPACE, AND SECURITY

Three statements comprise this category, notably Statement 29: The institution takes reasonable steps to provide a safe and secure environment for the campus.

3. WORK/LIFE BALANCE

This recognition category is based on two factors: the combined results of three specific survey statements, notably “This institution's policies and practices give me the flexibility to manage my personal and family life” along with responses to the benefits like Work/Life Balance programs and Vacation/PTO.

The Great Colleges to Work For® program includes a two-part assessment process: a survey (ModernThink Higher Education Insight Survey©) administered to faculty, administrators, exempt professional and non-exempt staff; as well as adjuncts at 2-year colleges, and an institution questionnaire that captures employment data and workplace policies and practices from each institution. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution receives “Great College to Work For” recognition is employee feedback.

The Great Colleges to Work For® program is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. Now in its thirteenth year, it recognizes the colleges that get top ratings from their employees regarding workplace practices and policies.

By the numbers:
• 221 institutions participated in 2020, including 127 four-year institutions and 94 two-year institutions.

• 79 institutions are recognized as a 2020 Great College to Work For, including 54 four-year institutions and 25 two-year institutions.

• 42 institutions are on the Honor Roll, recognized as stand-outs in their size categories.

For more information and to , visit the Great Colleges program website at www.greatcollegesprogram.com. ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.