Centre News

Centre was among 39 colleges that made the honor roll for
being cited in most categories.

In July, Centre College was featured by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for and was among 39 colleges who made the list’s honor roll. The results, released in The Chronicle’s third-annual report, are based on a survey of more than 42,000 employees at 275 colleges and universities.

Honor Roll Status

In all, only 97 of the 275 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. In addition, Centre was among 39 colleges who made the honor roll for being cited in most categories. Results are reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with Centre included among the small institutions (those with 2,999 or fewer students).

“When I talk to candidates for positions at Centre, I’m always able to talk about what a wonderful community we have and how Centre is a fabulous place to work,” says Stephanie Fabritius, dean of the College and vice president for academic affairs. “Centre is definitely an extraordinarily collegial place. Now it's even better to have this feeling about this community substantiated by the respondents of the survey.”

Honors in Six Categories

Centre won honors in the following categories: job satisfaction; tenure clarity and process; collaborative governance; teaching environment; facilities, workspaces, and security; and respect and appreciation.

Says Kay Drake, Centre director of human resources: “It was great to learn that Centre had been named on The Best Colleges to Work list, particularly in light of the economic downturn everyone is experiencing. Centre continues to excel in many of the key indicator surveys used by parents and students, and I believe those ratings can be attributed directly to the dedicated staff and faculty we have at Centre.”

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.

“What it’s like to work at Centre” was illustrated vividly in a recent feature in the Danville Advocate Messenger on Centre employee Kerry Sultzbach. Click here to read that story.