TOWSON, MD—For the first time, Towson University has been named one of America’s “Great Colleges to Work For”, a national designation that recognizes the university’s positive workplace culture for its faculty and staff.
The recognition was announced by Great Colleges and ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm. TU is one of only 76 colleges nationwide, and just 54 four-year institutions, to receive the honor. The award is based on confidential feedback from employees in the 2025 Employee Engagement Survey conducted earlier this year.
“The heart of any great institution is its people,” said TU President Mark Ginsberg. “At TU, we put our people first. It is our goal to ensure faculty and staff feel valued, respected and connected to the important work we do every day in support of our students and the public good.”
SURVEY RESULTS HIGHLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS
More than 1,000 faculty and staff participated in the survey, representing 43% of eligible employees. The results showed a six-point increase in the overall positive response rate since the last survey in 2023, rising from 64% to 70%.
Towson University received recognition for excellence in four specific areas:
- Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness
- Shared Governance
- Faculty Experience
- Inclusion, Belonging & Community
The results underscore the university’s focus on creating a workplace culture of pride and well-being, which is one of the ten presidential priorities set by Ginsberg last October.
EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK DRIVES RECOGNITION
According to Steve Jones, TU’s senior vice president for campus operations and chief operating officer, the recognition is particularly meaningful because it comes directly from the voices of the university’s employees.
“The shared sense of pride among our faculty and staff to support a positive and successful experience for our students is what makes TU a truly special place to work,” Jones said.
The Great Colleges to Work For® program is considered one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in higher education. The full list of recognized institutions was published in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education on Sept. 19.
