The University of Notre Dame has been identified as one of the top 10 higher education workplaces in the country in a survey by the Chronicle of Higher Education, a leading resource for higher education news and information.
The “Great Colleges to Work For” survey places Notre Dame among 10 large universities that have achieved multiple high marks in such categories as overall job satisfaction, employee benefits, quality facilities, safety, and employee commitment to the institution’s mission. Other leaders in the category, comprised of four-year institutions with more than 10,000 students, include Cornell, Duke and Emory Universities.
“We are pleased to be recognized for the quality of our workplace, and pleased that the diligence and commitment of our faculty and staff have resulted in this honor. We all share in this achievement,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., University president.
“For several years, the administration, faculty and staff have worked together to improve Notre Dame’s work life experience,” added Robert McQuade, associate vice president for human resources. “It’s great to be recognized for those efforts by our peers and other higher education professionals.”
Results reflect information provided by participating institutions, as well as surveys with hundreds of employees selected at random. The Chronicle survey cites, in particular, Notre Dame’s decision to commit $1 million in recent years to improve professional and personal development. Partnerships with Ivy Tech, Indiana University South Bend and the South Bend Community School Corp. have increased on-campus education options that range from high school equivalency preparation to a master’s degree in educational administration.
Survey results were drawn from information voluntarily submitted by colleges and universities, as well as surveys of hundreds of faculty and staff members selected at random. Of 26 categories measured by the survey, Notre Dame achieved top scores in 11 categories. A high-quality teaching environment was cited in addition to favorable compensation and benefits.
“These areas of recognition are of crucial importance in our efforts to bring the brightest minds to work and live in this community,” Father Jenkins said.
More than 245 institutions and nearly 41,000 faculty and staff participated in the survey. It is the second annual survey for the Chronicle, whose editors describe its purpose as recognizing colleges and institutions for specific best practices and policies. ModernThink, a human resources consulting company in Wilmington, Del., administered the survey and analyzed the results.