Eastern Connecticut State University has been named a “Great College to Work For” for the 10th time by the Great Colleges Program, administered by ModernThink. The results were released on Sept. 16 and based on a survey sent to 236 colleges and universities.

Of these 236 institutions, only 85 achieved “A Great College to Work For” recognition; Eastern was one them for earning outstanding marks in the category of collaborative governance as well as facilities, workspace and security.

As a university that shined in the collaborative governance category, Eastern is viewed as an institution that actively involves its faculty members in decisions related to academic programs. Eastern also placed in the facilities, workspace and security category for having facilities that adequately meet the needs of faculty, are aesthetically pleasing and provide a secure environment.

The survey results were based on a two-part assessment: an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies, and a survey administered to faculty and staff. ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was employee feedback.

Rich Boyer, a senior consultant at ModernThink, commented on how faculty satisfaction is not only important for faculty themselves, but also for students. “In the private sector, it’s well documented that employee engagement influences customer satisfaction. There can be little doubt that the day-to-day experience of our faculty and staff influences the experiences of our students. The institutions recognized in this year’s ‘Great Colleges to Work For’ program have each found their own key ingredients to engage their faculty and staff to the ultimate benefit of their students.”

The Great Colleges Program is the largest and most comprehensive workplace study in higher education. Now in its 12th year, the program recognizes colleges that get top ratings from their employees on workforce practices and policies. For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit the Great Colleges Program website at www.greatcollegesprogram.com.