McPherson College named on 2024 Great Colleges to Work For with honor roll distinction.
McPherson College is a great place to work, according to a new survey by the Great Colleges to Work For® program. The results, appearing in a special edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education, recognize McPherson College for the tenth year in a row. McPherson College is also on the survey’s Honor Roll for the ninth year.
The results are based on a survey completed by 216 colleges nationwide. In all, just 75 institutions achieved recognition on the list for specific practices and policies. Only 42 colleges were included on the Honor Roll, an elite group of institutions that stand out within their enrollment size. McPherson College was recognized in 6 categories and among just five schools in the Midwest earning recognition on the list.
“McPherson College continues to move forward boldly and with confidence, supported by its dedicated community of employees,” President Michael Schneider said. “As we embark on a future supported by historic endowment estate commitments, our employees are vital to our success. They continue to provide meaningful input on our strategic plan, which sets a focus on the next 10 years with initiatives aimed at campus growth, academic innovation, and wellness.”
President Schneider points to some basic practices, such as the college’s compensation plan and benefits, including retirement contributions made after one year of employment, as reasons why people like working for McPherson College. Monthly all-campus meetings, called “huddles, where information is shared from across campus, foster community involvement. Programs like training from the Kansas Leadership Center, which develops adaptive problem-solving skills, and ESSDACK, an educational service agency that partners with schools to build a culture of resilience and care, set McPherson College apart from other college campuses.
In a comment featured on the survey’s website, one McPherson College employee says, “With the input and support of the campus community, the college’s progressive leadership has guided it into the beginning of an era of academic growth, student success, and institutional stability. The sense of pride and excitement for the future is very strong around campus.”
McPherson College was recognized in six categories: compensation & benefits, professional development, confidence in senior leadership, shared governance, faculty experience, and supervisor/department chair effectiveness.
“This national recognition is a reflection of the hardworking employees at McPherson College, who go out of their way not only to make McPherson College a great place to work but a world-class learning institution,” said Brenda Stocklin-Smith, director of human resources. “I am thankful every day to work at a college whose workplace culture exemplifies ultimate respect and caring — for our students, each other, and the surrounding community. A big round of applause to the employees at McPherson College.”
Community is central to McPherson College’s identity, according to President Schneider. “As our college community looks toward the future, faculty and staff are actively planning our current innovative strategic plan. The plan drove decision-making and much of the work we did over the last several years, and much of the work will continue as we focus on the future. In addition, we did all of it while balancing our operating budget and maintaining our overall enrollment and student retention. By working together, these plans will nurture the creative processes to sustain innovative academic ventures like the new Health Science program, continue supporting students to graduate with zero debt through the Student Debt Project, and transition MC from a traditional residential campus to a vibrant community.”
The Great Colleges to Work For® survey is one of the country’s largest and most respected workplace recognition programs. It is conducted by ModernThink, an organization committed to improving workplace quality. The survey recognizes the colleges that get top ratings from their employees regarding workplace practices and policies.