The Chronicle of Higher Education Places Orange College on Its Honor Roll

(Orange, CA) - A report released on July 20 by the Chronicle of Higher Education lists Santiago Canyon College (SCC) among the 86 “Great Colleges to Work For®” nationwide. SCC is the one of two community colleges in California that was selected for the prestigious “Great Colleges to Work For Honor Roll®.” The other community college recognized with this ranking is Santa Rosa Junior College.

This designation honors the 42 institutions that the Chronicle considers the “best of the best.” These are the colleges that received consistently high marks across all survey categories. The top 10 four-year colleges and top four two-year colleges are featured for each size group. SCC was recognized in the large college category for those institutions serving 10,000 students or more. SCC is the top-rated large two-year institution to work for, recognized in more categories than any other institution of its size. In addition, SCC is in a three-way tie for first place, with two small-size colleges, in category recognition.

“We have worked deliberately to create an environment where employees feel valued, and the results of this survey tell us that we’re on the right track,” said John Weispfenning,Ph.D., SCC president. “This award is based on employee feedback, which makes it a valuable tool as we continue to grow and evolve as a college.”

Now in its eighth year, Great Colleges to Work For® is the largest workplace survey that exists for higher education, measuring the most significant factors that impact faculty working conditions and professional growth. The 2015 annual report is based on a survey of 43,500 employees at 278 institutions: 196 four-year colleges and universities (118 private and 78 public) and 82 two-year colleges. The goal of the program is to provide senior-level administrators and academic leaders with insights on the quality of the workplace experience and the competitiveness of their policies and benefits.

Based on survey results, SCC was recognized in the following categories:

• Collaborative governance
• Compensation and benefits
• Confidence in senior leadership
• Facilities, workspace and security
• Job satisfaction
• Professional/career development programs
• Respect and appreciation
• Supervisor/department chair relationship
• Teaching environment
• Work/life balance

In the Great Colleges program, each institution was asked to verify the total number of employees in each of the following employment categories: faculty, adjunct faculty, administration, exempt professional staff, and non-exempt staff based on figures reported to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Once verified, the Great Colleges program determined the appropriate sample size specific to each participating college/university for each employment category. Once the sample sizes for employment categories were determined, each participating college/university generated random samples from each employment category and supplied the contact information of those employees who were randomly selected to the Great Colleges program so that they may be invited to participate in the survey.

The assessment process included a questionnaire about institutional characteristics such as the institution’s mission, values, and ethics; human resource metrics; compensation; retention; communication practices; and institutional leadership to name a few.

About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College (SCC) serves more than 14,000 credit and non-credit students each semester. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and careers, and provides courses for personal and professional development, as well as customized training for business and industry. The college is recognized for its adult education program which keeps the working adult - and senior - in mind by offering flexible schedules, and community locations. Serving the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Tustin, and Villa Park, SCC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Visit www.sccollege.edu to learn more.

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