WNC Celebrates National Recognition for Being a Great College to Work

Western Nevada College has been recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For® program.

WNC was acknowledged in three categories: Mission and Pride, Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness and Confidence in Senior Leadership.

“This recognition acknowledges the hard work each WNC employee does every day to support students through a positive workplace culture,” said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe.

WNC celebrated this honor with its faculty, staff and students on Tuesday, Sept 26. 

Western is the only college or university that achieved this honor in the Nevada System of Higher Education. NSHE Regents Carol Del Carlo and Jeffrey Downs attended the celebration kicked off by President Dalpe.

The results were released at GreatCollegesList.com and were published in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education, which was sent digitally and in print to subscribers. Results were based on a survey of 194 colleges and universities, including 73 two-year institutions. In all, 72 of the surveyed institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for small, medium and large institutions, with WNC included among the medium universities class.

“Once again, leaders at the institutions recognized in this year’s Great Colleges to Work for program have demonstrated their collective commitment to the stewardship of their institutions’ cultures. Their commitment to the well-being of their faculty and staff is second to none,” said Richard K. Boyer, principal and managing partner of ModernThink, whose company administered the survey and analyzed the results. “This year’s Great Colleges to Work for honorees have found ways to manage change better than most. Arguably, one of the keys to successful change management is effective communication, and that is evidenced in the survey item, ‘Senior leadership communicates openly about important matters.’”

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institution questionnaire that captures employment data and workplace policies from each institution, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was the employee feedback.

The honor WNC received in the Confidence in Senior Leadership category is based on the college’s faculty and staff’s confidence in the capabilities and credibility of senior leadership.

WNC was also recognized in the Mission and Pride category for employees understanding its institution’s mission and how they impact that mission. Along with understanding the college’s mission, the survey revealed a level of pride associated with the institution and the willingness to recommend it as an employer.

Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness rounded out the category recognition for WNC. This means that WNC supervisors played an important role in keeping employees engaged. Surveys provided insight into critical managerial competencies such as providing clear direction and constructive feedback and ensuring effective communication and equitable treatment.

The Great Colleges to Work For® program is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all current and previously recognized institutions, visit the Great Colleges program website at GreatCollegesProgram.com and GreatCollegesList.com. WNC is hiring! Visit wnc.edu/jobs.