McPherson College is a great place to work and it’s been confirmed again this year. The annual survey published in The Chronicle of Higher Education recognizes McPherson College as a “Great Colleges to Work For” for the sixth year in a row as well as on the survey’s Honor Roll for the fifth year in a row. McPherson College is the only Kansas school earning recognition on the lists.
The Honor Roll is an elite group of institutions that are standouts within their respective enrollment sizes. This year, 221 colleges were surveyed for the list and 79 were recognized while 42 were singled out for the Honor Roll.
“Everyone at McPherson College works hard to make this a great place to work, and it’s special to be recognized again this year. This recognition is remarkable given the survey was taken amid the pandemic,” McPherson College President Michael Schneider said. “The fact that we have earned this distinction now for six years running–and been named to the Honor Roll for five years in a row–speaks to the strong, collaborative relationships among our faculty, staff, and administration.”
President Schneider points to some of the basics like the college’s health insurance plan that has not had a premium increase for more than 10 years and monthly all campus meetings, “huddles,” as reasons why people like working for McPherson College. Additionally, involvement in programs like training from the Kansas Leadership Center, which develop adaptive problem solving skills, and other significant professional development investments in the operating budget, sets McPherson College apart from other college campuses.
“Practices that are part of our culture at McPherson College, like regular communications and campus-wide leadership training allowed us to be well prepared for our current situation,” Marty Sigwing, director of facilities, said. “Being a part of a community that gives you the tools you need and the freedom to use them is very rewarding.”
McPherson College was one of just eight institutions nationwide to earn top honors in 11 or more of the report’s 12 categories, which include areas like compensation and benefits along with work and life balance.
“The minute I stepped onto the McPherson College campus, I could instantly feel the community,” Jamie Pjesky, interim dean of students, said. “During my tour of campus we were stopped multiple times because people wanted to say hello. I love that now I help build that community for our students.”
Community is central to McPherson College’s identity, according to President Schneider. “As our college community continues to work through the current challenges, faculty and staff continue to implement the intense yet innovative strategic plan, Community by Design 2021. The strategic plan drove decision-making and much of the work we did over the last several years. In addition, we did all of it while balancing our operating budget, maintaining our overall student retention, and working through a pandemic. By working together, these plans will nurture the creative processes to sustain innovative academic ventures like the new Health Science Program, develop a new tuition revenue model based on 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 largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. The survey conducted by ModernThink — an organization committed to improving workplace quality — recognizes the colleges that get top ratings from their employees regarding workplace practices and policies.