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ASU a ‘Great College to Work For’

July 23, 2013

Angelo State University has been named one of the “Great Colleges to Work For” for 2013 by the Chronicle of Higher Education, the major national news source for college and university faculty and administrators.

The announcement was made Monday, July 22, with the release of the Chronicle’s latest edition, dated July 26.  ASU was one of 97 institutions of higher education so recognized nationally by the Chronicle, which surveyed employee job satisfaction in 12 categories.  ASU received recognition in two of those categories:  supervisor/department chair relationship and facilities, workspace and security.

Angelo State President Brian J. May said, “This honor reaffirms what we have long known, that ASU is not only a great place to get a college education but also a great place to work.  This recognition reflects the team effort of both our faculty and our staff to deliver a quality education to our students.  It is appropriate that our employees’ good work is receiving national recognition because they create such a positive and supportive work environment.”

Kent Hance, chancellor of the Texas Tech University System, the governing body for Angelo State, offered his congratulations to ASU faculty and staff for their accomplishment.

“Our faculty and staff members are the backbone of all that we do,” Hance said.  “Angelo State not only offers an outstanding education, but a great environment to work in day after day. We are proud of Angelo State for receiving this recognition and grateful to have such outstanding faculty and staff members on our team.”

The “Great Colleges to Work For” designation is based upon surveys conducted earlier this year of more than 44,000 employees at 300 colleges and universities nationally.  Angelo State was one of 11 Texas four-year institutions of higher education to make the list and one of only three state-supported universities to be honored.  ASU was joined on the list of Texas state-supported institutions by Sam Houston State University in Huntsville and the University of Houston main campus.  ASU was previously identified as one of the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” in 2009.

ASU Human Resources Director Kurtis Neal said, “This recognition represents the pride and integrity that we all have in our work here at ASU.  When we all put in our best efforts, we all benefit from those efforts.  Organizations are only great if the people are great.  This is not just a level of recognition for us as a place to work, but an acknowledgment of how great our folks are that work here.”

Additionally, Neal said the recognition’s broader national exposure among potential faculty and administrators will enhance the university’s ability to recruit faculty, staff and administrators.

Neal reported that Angelo State has 819 employees.  Of those, 340 are faculty and the remaining 479 are staff.

The Chronicle survey evaluates employee satisfaction in four general areas:  leadership, the workplace, careers and compensation.  Each area has three categories.  For leadership, the categories are collaborative governance, confidence in senior leadership and supervisor/department chair relationship.  In the workplace area, the categories are diversity, work/life balance and facilities, workspace and security.

In the career area, the categories are professional/career-development programs, teaching environment and tenure clarity/process.  For compensation, the categories are compensation/benefits, job satisfaction and respect/appreciation.