Three Rivers Community College is one of the 2017 Great Colleges to Work For according to a survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education, a top trade publication for colleges and universities. This is the first time that Three Rivers has been honored, achieving this recognition on its first participation in the survey which is the largest and most comprehensive workplace study in higher education.

Three Rivers is the only college from New England recognized by this national survey in the two-year college category. Four-year colleges were also announced and included another Connecticut State College and University — Eastern Connecticut State University. Other institutions that were recognized for their workplace include powerhouses such as Duke, Hofstra and University of Michigan.

“We’re honored to be included as a 2017 Great College to Work For,” says Three Rivers President Mary Ellen Jukoski. “Our dedicated team of faculty, staff, and administrators are committed to provide an accessible, affordable, and quality learning experience to our diverse student population. This is not possible without a workplace that respects each employee’s efforts and nurtures their work and ideas. The fact that the survey reflects this is a wonderful validation of the College.”

The results, released today in The Chronicle’s tenth annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on a survey of 232 colleges and universities. Results are reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with Three Rivers included among two-year colleges with 3,000 to 9,999 students.

“Ten years in, 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.”

The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional audit that captured demographics and workplace policies, 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.

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 with whom they compete for talent.”