MCPHERSON COLLEGE
McPherson College is a great place to work, according to a new survey by the Great Colleges to Work For® program. The results, featured in a special edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education, recognize McPherson College for the 11th consecutive year.
The results are based on a survey completed by 199 colleges nationwide. In total, only 76 institutions achieved recognition on the list for specific practices and policies. McPherson College was recognized in 4 categories, including compensation & benefits, confidence in leadership, shared governance, and faculty experience.
“Supported by a dedicated community of employees, McPherson College continues to achieve significant milestones,” said President Michael Schneider. “With valuable input shaping the college’s 10-year strategic plan, employees are strengthening the college’s effort to build new innovative academic programs, campus facilities, and wellness initiatives, while providing the highest quality education and student experience.”
President Schneider points to some basic practices, such as the college’s compensation plan and benefits, including retirement contributions made after one year of employment, as reasons why people like working for McPherson College. Monthly all-campus meetings, called “huddles, where information is shared from across campus, foster community involvement. Initiatives such as training from the Kansas Leadership Center, which develops adaptive problem-solving skills, and community participation in developing the college’s strategic plan set McPherson College apart from other college campuses.
In a comment featured on the survey’s website, one McPherson College employee says, “At McPherson College, faculty and staff have opportunities to engage in the strategic planning of the college. It’s reassuring to know the direction and goals of the college and to feel you are a part of its advancement.”
McPherson College began the academic year by opening the Campus Commons, a 55,000-square-foot campus hub for student services. The new building is part of the college’s larger expansion effort, which has seen campus size increase by 20%. Nearly half of all existing campus buildings have been renovated, including all student residence halls, as well as the Holman Fieldhouse, home of Bulldog athletics; Melhorn Hall science labs; Mohler Hall classrooms; and computer labs across campus.
In August, the Higher Learning Commission reaffirmed McPherson College’s accreditation and invited the college to pursue the Open Pathway for its next 10-year accreditation cycle, signaling confidence in the college’s ability to meet its mission and maintain high institutional standards.
“All of our accomplishments and successes are due in large part to the unique persistence of the dedicated people who work here,” said President Schneider. “This national recognition is a reflection of the hardworking employees at McPherson College, who go out of their way not only to make McPherson College a great place to work but a world-class learning institution.”