Wayne Community College has been included on this year’s “Most Promising Place to Work in Community Colleges” list.
The college is one of 16 colleges on the national list that celebrates student affairs workplaces that are vibrant, diverse, supportive, and committed to staff work-life balance, professional development, and inclusive excellence.
“Diverse: Issues in Higher Education” and NISOD partner in the project which began in 2014. The findings were published in the June 2021 edition of the magazine.
“This year’s list of the Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges includes an impressive cast of two-year institutions that specialize in equipping students for securing the promises of a bright future. Each of them has signature programs and marquee initiatives that make them uniquely who they are,” the article said.
Promising places were selected based on a comprehensive analysis of results from an annual survey that was administered to all institutional members of NISOD. Scores were computed using an algorithm that considers weighted data for all points highlighted in the survey such as diversity benefits, staff demographics and diversity policies.
The article includes a list of promising practices “that have held up across each year of the study:” recognition of good work, commitment to meeting the needs of community, and investment in the development of faculty and staff.
WCC’s president, Dr. Thomas A. Walker Jr., said the college was honored to be included on the list. “It is indeed a feather in this college’s cap to be one of just 16 community colleges in the country to be saluted for our dedication to diversity in all of its forms,” he said.
“We are grateful to Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and NISOD for recognizing Wayne Community College and we are proud to stand as a model of inclusiveness for all institutions of higher education,” Walker said.
Walker noted that WCC was presented the Employer of the Year Award in October 2020 by the Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities of the City of Goldsboro. In that same ceremony, a WCC employee received the Employee of the Year award for overcoming handicaps to achieve success in the workplace.
“Those awards are testimonies to this college’s commitment to one segment of the population, one way in which WCC is rich in diversity,” Walker said.
“This college’s Human Resources Department, and the associate vice president over it, ensure that this is an attractive place to work with practices such as the myriad of professional development opportunities, support of supervisors that results in support for all employees, and the practice of putting people in positions that foster their success,” he said.
“In my career, I have witnessed that a campus that is desirable to employees is desirable to students. Attitude and atmosphere affect everyone and a good place to work becomes a good place to learn,” said Walker.
“It seems to be a natural progression from that local award to the Most Promising Places to Work designation that applauds Wayne Community College’s resolve to be a mirror of our community and a safe, comfortable place for all.,” he concluded.
About “Diverse”
Celebrating 37 years, “Diverse: Issues In Higher Education” is the nation’s only biweekly newsmagazine dedicated exclusively to diversity issues in higher education. Visit “Diverse” online.
About NISOD
NISOD is a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges. NISOD provides budget-friendly, high-quality, and faculty-focused programs and resources for community and technical colleges that want to make the most of their professional development dollars. More can be found online.
About WCC
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves more than 10,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 140 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.
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