Only 84 of the institutions that applied for the program achieved "Great College to Work For" recognition this year. Eastern was also named to the national Great Colleges "Honor Roll," one of only 42 institutions named to this exclusive club. This is the fourth year in a row that Eastern has been named to the honor roll. Eastern was the only public four-year university or college in New England to gain "Great Colleges" distinction.

The Chronicle's Great Colleges to Work For survey is the largest and most comprehensive workplace study in higher education. Now in its 10th year, the program recognizes colleges that get top ratings from their employees on workforce practices and policies.

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was employee feedback.

Eastern won honors in seven survey categories this year: Collaborative Governance; Compensation and Benefits; Facilities, Workspaces, and Security; Confidence in Senior Leadership; Teaching Environment; Professional/Career Development Programs; and Tenure Clarity and Process.

"It is gratifying to know that our employees continue to value the positive working environment we have at Eastern," said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. "The 'Great Colleges to Work For' recognition not only symbolizes the common purpose shared by our faculty and staff, it also represents the welcoming and supportive environment that our students experience every day.

"To know that Eastern has consistently received this honor - winning 'Great Colleges' recognition in each of the nine years we have participated - is proof that our dedication to working together on this campus is a lasting value firmly rooted in our culture."

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 K. Boyer, principal and managing partner of ModernThink LLC. "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."