Plymouth State University

PLYMOUTH, N.H.-
Plymouth State University received national honors by being named one of the 2009 Great Colleges to Work For released by The Chronicle of Higher Education, today.

PSU is recognized in eight categories and is one of two New Hampshire colleges or universities to earn a place on the Great Colleges to Work For list.

PSU President Sara Jayne Steen said the ranking is particularly meaningful because employee response was the primary factor in deciding whether an institution was honored.

“Plymouth State University is a place that is focused on our mission to educate students and encourages collaboration and mutual respect,” Steen said. “To have that sense of teamwork reflected in national honors is rewarding and something of which all members of the Plymouth State community should be proud.”

PSU earned top-10 national rankings for medium-sized schools on the following lists:

• 403(b) or 401(k) plans
  
• Collaborative Governance
  
• Disability Insurance
  
• Health Insurance
  
• Life Insurance
  
• Overall Satisfaction With Benefits
  
• Respect and Appreciation
  
• Work/Life Balance
  

The Chronicle of Higher Education 2009 Great Colleges to Work For survey results were compiled from nearly 41,000 employee responses from over 300 colleges and universities nationwide. Sixty-five percent of PSU faculty and staff surveyed responded.

PSU Director of Human Resources Laura Alexander said the survey results confirm that the University offers a rewarding work environment.

“Plymouth has a unique participative culture and close-knit community feel, combined with an excellent array of core benefits that are important to people and becoming less common in the modern workplace,” said Alexander.

PSU’s recognition in The Chronicle’s Great Colleges to Work For program marks the second consecutive year that PSU has been recognized for its efforts to create an excellent work environment. In 2008 PSU was recognized by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for the University’s policies that support family and work/life balance. The award was sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and conducted by the American Council on Education (ACE) with support from the Families and Work Institute and is based on policies and practices that support career flexibility for tenured and tenure-track faculty.

The Chronicle’s Great Colleges to Work For® program recognizes small groups of colleges (based on enrollment size) for specific best practices and policies in work environment, pay and benefits, and institutional policies. There are 26 recognition categories for four-year institutions, and 15 categories for community colleges. Among four-year colleges, 122 institutions were recognized in at least one category. Among two-year institutions, 28 were recognized in at least one category.

For more information about this release, contact Bruce Lyndes, PSU Media Relations Mgr., (603) 535-2775 or blyndes@plymouth.edu