By STEPHEN BARTLETT
Staff Writer
July 09, 2009 03:38 pm
—
PLATTSBURGH — Plattsburgh State cares about the trailing partner.
Some faculty members met their spouse in graduate school, yet when one moves to campus for a job, there often isn’t a second teaching position, say in chemistry, open.
But maybe there’s something available at CVPH Medical Center or Wyeth.
“We try to create opportunities to look at the credentials of that trailing partner,” said Lawrence Mills, executive director for human resource services at Plattsburgh State.
That service and more are behind Plattsburgh State being singled out as a leader in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2009 Great Colleges to Work For program.
It recognizes small groups of colleges, ranked on enrollment size, for best practices and policies in matters such as compensation and benefits, faculty-administration relations and confidence in senior leadership.
“It is an honor to receive special recognition through this survey,” Mills said.
HUNDREDS COMPETED
More than 300 four- and two-year colleges signed up for this year’s program. Nearly 250 went through the survey process last spring.
Results are based on responses from almost 41,000 administrators, faculty and staff.
“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,” Chronicle Editor Jeffrey Selingo said in a news release.
The rankings listed 26 recognition categories for four-year institutions and 15 for community colleges.
“The survey validates what many on our campus already know,” Plattsburgh State President Dr. John Ettling said.
“We are proud of the work we have done to receive this recognition, but we also continue to look for ways to make our college even more attractive to prospective employees and to retain the great employees we already have.”
HONOR ROLL
Plattsburgh State was one of 30 four-year colleges named to an Honor Roll, a new feature in the program. It highlights the top 10 colleges in each size category, based on the number of times they were recognized in individual recognition categories.
“I am pleased we weren’t just selected but we made their Honor Roll,” Mills said.
Plattsburgh State was cited as a top institution with a student population of 3,000 to 9,999.
RECRUITMENT TOOL
“The competition is steep for high-quality faculty, and something like this can only help in our efforts to attract the best and the brightest,” Mills said.
He completed a 17-page survey, and 400 randomly selected faculty and other employees did independent ones.
“I have thought this was a great place to work for the entire seven years I have been here,” Mills said.
“This is a nice way to spread the message, and it should help out with recruitment and with retention.”
E-mail Stephen Bartlett at:
sbartlett@pressrepublican.com
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