Widener University named a 2023 "Great College to Work For”

The Chronicle of Higher Education has named Widener University a 2023 “Great College to Work For” after the university took honors in four categories based on feedback submitted through a survey of 194 colleges and universities. The higher education trade publication released the survey results today in its 16th annual report, which stands as one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country.

Widener was one of only seven Pennsylvania institutions to make the list and one of just nine in the country recognized in four categories. The university has been honored through the program six times, including in four of the last six years.

The categories included:

• Confidence in Senior Leadership, honoring institutions where senior leadership is recognized by faculty and staff as capable and credible. 
• Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, honoring institutions that are demonstrating commitment to diversity, as reported by faculty and staff based on their individual experiences and the impact of institutional policies and procedures. 
• Faculty Experience, honoring institutions where faculty report positive employment experiences including support for service and research, balance of teaching, and advancement and promotion opportunities.  
• Shared Governance, honoring workplaces where faculty members are appropriately involved in decisions related to academic programs.  

“This is such an incredible honor and I’m so proud to be a part of this community,” said President Stacey Robertson. “Widener University staff and faculty show up every day, fully invested in our students and dedicated to providing them with an outstanding experience. They care deeply about their work.”

“Widener is an exceptional place – there’s no institution quite like us,” she added. “Our culture of belonging ensures everyone at the university can thrive as they aspire to be their best selves. Widener employees’ compassion and commitment inspire me every day. They are our greatest asset.”

Board of Trustees President Paul Beideman said the vote of confidence in senior leadership was especially outstanding, given the ongoing challenges of managing the institution in a post-pandemic world marked by economic uncertainties and dramatic workplace changes.  

“The Widener board is wholeheartedly committed to supporting this institution and keeping it on course for continued success,” Beideman said. “We are united in our dedication and very grateful to the Chronicle for recognizing Widener’s culture of diversity and belonging, where faculty are supported and encouraged and where leadership is recognized for its contributions to advancing the institution.”

Pam Millio, chair of the university’s Staff Council, said the honor is terrific news for Widener students, too. 

“The survey results that led to this recognition show that Widener is a workplace with engaged employees who recognize it as a positive place to work,” Millio said. “Happy employees contribute to a collaborative atmosphere with student success at the heart of our operations. We see and feel it, and the students do, too.”

The Chronicle’s survey results were based on a two-part assessment process: an institutional questionnaire that captured employment data and workplace policies, and an anonymous survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff. Employee feedback was the primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition. Widener had a strong employee response rate to the survey, and it exceeded the national response rate by almost 10 percent. 

Great Colleges to Work For is one of the most comprehensive workplace studies in higher education. The Chronicle worked with ModernThink LLC, a strategic human capital consulting firm to administer the survey and analyze the results.