Eastern Kentucky University is among 122 four-year colleges and universities nationally recognized in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2009 Great Colleges to Work For program, according to the results of the second annual survey announced in a special supplement of The Chronicle.
The program recognizes small groups of colleges — based on enrollment size — for specific best practices in areas such as compensation and benefits, work environment and institutional policies.
Among four-year colleges and universities with enrollment of at least 10,000, EKU ranked in the top 10 nationally for Tuition Reimbursement (tuition waivers for eligible employees, their spouses and dependents) in the Pay/Benefits category and for Professional/Career Development Programs (employees are given opportunities to develop skills, and understand requirements to advance in their careers) in the Institutional Policies category.
“Obviously, I am very pleased that the responses to the Chronicle’s survey by our faculty and staff have resulted in this distinction for Eastern,” said EKU President Doug Whitlock. “It reflects a sense of pride and appreciation of place among our community members that is gratifying and will be very helpful as we seek to attract other individuals to join us.
“But the most significant thing, in my mind, is that this recognition is truly a reflection of the excellence and dedication of the Eastern faculty and staff. I believe your colleagues are the single most important factor in the quality of the workplace experience,” he said.
The Chronicle program is modeled after Fortune Magazine’s popular “Best Companies to Work For” issue, but does not rank institutions in one comprehensive list. Instead, schools are recognized in the special Chronicle supplement.
“Despite the down economy, colleges are still hiring,” said Jeffrey J. Selingo, editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education. “Through this program, The Chronicle is able to provide more information to job seekers about the colleges that are the leading innovators when it comes to providing a rewarding work environment.”
To administer the survey and analyze the results, The Chronicle turned to ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm that has conducted numerous “Best Places to Work” programs, surveying hundreds of thousands of college and university employees nationwide. The Great Colleges survey included a two-part assessment process: a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff (the ModernThink Higher Education Insight Survey) and an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies and practices from each institution. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was feedback collected from faculty and staff.
“Leaders within higher education are facing tough challenges on many fronts,” said Richard K. Boyer, principal and managing partner of ModernThink. “The opportunity for national recognition draws institutions that are looking for a competitive edge in recruiting, retention and even research dollars. In addition, leaders are thirsty for reliable data that can help them make better decisions, prioritize scarce resources, and improve morale. As expected with a more established recognition program, the number of participants wasn’t the only thing that went up. We also saw a commensurate jump in the caliber of the field.”
View the entire Chronicle report at chronicle.com/indepth/academicworkplace.
EKU News
EKU recognized as one of best colleges to work
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EKU professor authors ‘Great Civil War Stories of Kentucky’
A century and a half after the first shots of the Civil War were fired, Dr. Marshall Myers, professor of English at Eastern Kentucky University, reminds readers of the harsh realities of war, and how it affected soldiers and civilians alike in his new book, “Great Civil War Stories of Kentucky.”
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Presidential debate delegation visits EKU
A three-member delegation of the Commission on Presidential Debates visited Eastern Kentucky University on Thursday.
EKU, which submitted a bid earlier this year to host a debate, is one of 12 colleges and universities nationwide competing to host four debates in 2012 — three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. It is expected that the site selections will be announced this fall. -
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Eastern Kentucky University’s Cooperative Education Program has become the first co-op program in the Commonwealth and only the 12th nationally to receive accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Cooperative Education.
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A chance for grads and bands to reunite
Eastern Kentucky University alumni and friends are invited to visit the campus April 29 through May 1 when EKU hosts its annual Alumni Weekend, highlighted this year by performances from former members of bands that played at Speck’s, the legendary nightspot previously in downtown Richmond.
Friday, April 29 will offer an evening of live music from the Speck’s bands, including former members of “The Maroons” and “The Exiles,” from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Perkins Building.The cost of $22 includes beverages, appetizers, the live music and dancing. -
EKU tuition, meals on the rise, again
Eastern Kentucky Univer-sity expects the state’s Council on Post-secondary Education to allow regional universities to raise in-state tuition by 5 percent for the coming academic year, according to EKU President Doug Whitlock.
On Monday, the EKU regents voted to take the maximum the council will allow and delegated its academic affairs committee to impose the increase after the council’s Thursday meeting. -
Spring fling
Morgan Jolly, Miss Kentucky Teen 2011, and an Eastern Kentucky University freshman education major from Versailles, prepares to pop bubbles Monday with Sanjay Blevins, a special education student at Model Laboratory School. Jolly and about 19 others who reside in EKU’s education majors’ Living and Learning Community and 14 Model special-ed students enjoyed an hour of fun at the college students’ invitation. Such events outside of their school setting helps special-needs children developmentally, said Jolly, who planned the event with roommate Amanda Hubler.
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California Schemin’
Amanda West, from left, Micah Daniel Bennett, Alyssa Will, Marshall Manley and Whitlie Rose rehearse a scene from Eastern Kentucky University Theatre’s production of “California Schemin’” Performances continue tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Gifford Theatre of the Jane F. Campbell Building. To reserve or purchase tickets, students and senior citizens are $5 and adults are $6, call the box office at 622-1323.
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EKU to host Science, engineering fair
Eastern Kentucky University will host the 9th annual Kentucky Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday at Alumni Coliseum. This is the state fair in which middle school and high school students from throughout the Commonwealth will be participating.
The event will feature the research of more than 215 students who have advanced through local and regional competitions across the state. They will be competing for ribbons, trophies, scholarships and special awards from corporations and various organizations.
The high school students who are selected as the Best of Fair will be a member of Team Kentucky that will represent the state at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May.
The public can view the student’s work from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday inside Alumni Coliseum on EKU’s campus. The awards ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in Brock Auditorium in the Coates Building. -
‘Brain Rules’ author to speak at EKU
John Medina, author of the New York Times bestseller “Brain Rules,” will present a public lecture Tuesday, March 29 at Eastern Kentucky University.
His talk, “Brain Rules for Teaching,” will begin at 6 p.m. in Walnut Hall of the Keen Johnson Building. There will be a question-and-answer period following the session. -
Environmental ‘Hero’ to speak at EKU
Graciela Chichilnisky, recognized by Time Magazine in 2009 as one of the “Heroes of the Environment,” will speak at Eastern Kentucky University Thursday, March 31.
Her presentation titled “Avoiding Extinction” will begin at 7:30 p.m. in O’Donnell Hall of the Student Success Building. It is part of the University’s year-long Chautauqua lecture series and serves as the sixth-annual Distinguished Lecture in International Studies and keynote address for Women’s History Month. The event is free and open to the public. - More EKU News Headlines
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