Contact:
Elyse Ashburn
410-455-2065
eashburn@umbc.edu

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is again one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to an annual survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The results, released Monday, August 6, are based on a survey of nearly 47,000 employees at colleges and universities nationwide. UMBC was named to the survey’s “Honor Roll” because its faculty and staff ranked it highly in seven of the 12 areas canvassed by the newspaper. That marks the university’s second straight year on the honor roll and third year in a row on the overall list.

“We are a ‘Great College’ because of the people here,” says President Freeman Hrabowski. “This honor yet again affirms what we all know: UMBC is a place that supports people, values collaboration, and fosters trust, respect, and a collective enthusiasm for the work of educating our students.”

The seven categories in which UMBC received high ratings are:
 Collaborative governance
 Professional and career development
 Work/life balance
 Confidence in senior leadership
 Supervisor/department chair relationship
 Respect and appreciation
 Tenure clarity and process

The trust and support at UMBC creates an environment where faculty and staff are willing to try new approaches to teaching, research, and supporting students. Shared governance – far from slowing the pace of change – enables UMBC to innovate and to adapt, because it provides a foundation of trust and shared mission.

"University leaders, starting with President Hrabowski, have the philosophy that success breeds success, and that success requires support,” says Tim Topoleski, a professor of mechanical engineering and immediate past president of the Faculty Senate. “So, if the faculty are successful, then the students will be successful, and vice-versa."

The “Great Colleges to Work For” survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captures demographics 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 receives recognition is the employee feedback.

For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit The Chronicle.