Rio Salado College Named a 2021 Great College to Work— Recognition Based on Employee Survey Results

Rio Salado College Named a 2021 Great College to Work— Recognition Based on Employee Survey Results

Rio Salado College was recognized as “one of the best colleges in the nation to work,” according to employee survey results released by the Great Colleges to Work For® program on Sept. 13, as part of an annual report published by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Employees from 196 colleges and universities were surveyed. Rio Salado was among the 70 institutions to achieve top recognition for specific best practices and policies. 

Rio Salado was recognized by employees as a leader in these four categories:

• Shared Governance 
• Faculty Experience
• Faculty and Staff Well-being
• Confidence in Senior Leadership

Rio Salado was also named to the Great Colleges Honor Roll, a status granted to only 42 colleges, which are highlighted the most across all survey recognition categories.

“Rio Salado is proud to be recognized by the Great Colleges to Work For® program and to earn an Honor Roll distinction,” said Rio Salado President Kate Smith. “I am grateful to my colleagues who make Rio Salado a great place to work.”

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institution questionnaire that captured 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.

Rio Salado Associate Vice President of Employee Services Maria Bellino led the way to manage the college’s participation in the 2021 program. “Critical self-analysis is also part of our culture, and this program provided an opportunity for Rio Salado employees to share their perspectives in a confidential manner and provide us with invaluable insights about what they think we are doing right and what may need improvement. We are grateful for the outstanding participation rates and thoughtful responses from employees, which we see as a testament to their dedication to the college and belief that their contributions create positive change.” 

The employee survey underwent a number of changes this year, including the addition of 11 new survey statements, some of which are related to new survey themes around diversity, inclusion and belonging, as well as faculty and staff well-being. New survey demographics related to gender identity and remote work were also included this year.

The Great Colleges to Work For program is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country, co-founded in 2008 by ModernThink, LLC in partnership with The Chronicle of Higher Education. For more information, visit GreatCollegesProgram.com.

Join our Rio Salado family.
We encourage you to explore the latest employment opportunities at Rio Salado College and join us in our efforts to make higher learning equitable and accessible for all.