A Decade of Going Strong: The Chronicle of Higher Education Names Howard Community College as Great College to Work For 10 Years in Row

Columbia, MD – For 10 consecutive years, Howard Community College has been named a Great College to Work For, according to the results from a comprehensive workplace survey released today by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Howard Community College (HCC) is the only Maryland community college and one of 24 community colleges across the country to have achieved this year’s recognition. With a decade of winning this award, HCC is one of only two community colleges that have been recognized every year that community colleges have been eligible.

The Chronicle of Higher Education recognized HCC for success in the following categories: facilities, workspace and security; professional/career development programs; and respect and appreciation.

“Ten years of the Great Colleges to Work For award is an extraordinary tribute to the faculty and staff of Howard Community College,” said Dr. Kate Hetherington, president of HCC. “They work every day to transform the lives of students, while also showing respect and appreciation to one another. The positive and supportive culture makes HCC a great college for faculty, staff, and students.”

The Great Colleges to Work For survey is the largest and most comprehensive workplace survey in higher education. This national program recognizes colleges and universities that receive top ratings from employees on workplace practices and policies. Awards are based on a survey that is administered to a random sample of HCC faculty and staff, as well as a detailed institutional application process. The primary factor in determining whether an institution receives recognition is the employee feedback.

“The Great Colleges to Work For distinction is well-known by academic jobseekers as a sign that an institution’s employees are valued and given opportunities for growth even when they face financial constraints,” said Liz McMillen, editor of The Chronicle. “Any college or university that’s on the list is showing that they emphasize one of their most valuable assets: their faculty and staff.”

To administer the survey and analyze the results, The Chronicle worked with ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm that has conducted numerous “Best Places to Work” programs, surveying hundreds of thousands of employees nationwide.

“It’s easier to be a great workplace during good times, but it’s when times are tough that the commitment to workplace quality really gets tested,” said Richard K. Boyer, principal and managing partner, ModernThink LLC. “And those institutions that measure up during times of economic hardship reinforce their already strong cultures and put even more distance between them and their peer institutions for whom they compete for talent.”