For the third consecutive year, the Georgia Institute of Technology has been recognized on The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2011 “Great Colleges To Work For” Honor Roll. Tech was the only four-year public institution to receive the recognition.

“At Georgia Tech, we recognize that all accomplishments come through people,” said Scott Morris, associate vice president of Human Resources. “We are so pleased to be recognized for our efforts to support and develop an outstanding workforce.”

Georgia Tech was recognized in four out of twelve categories: confidence in senior leadership; job satisfaction; facilities, workspace and security; and work/life balance.

The results, released in The Chronicle’s fourth annual report on the academic workplace, are based on a survey of approximately 44,000 people at 310 institutions, including 245 four-year colleges. Honor Roll recognition for four-year colleges was given to the 10 institutions in each size division that were cited most often across all of the recognition categories.

For example, relating to the facilities, workspaces and security category, during the past 15 years, Georgia Tech has constructed and renovated many campus facilities that serve as a vital backdrop for providing an innovative live, learn and work environment, including a significant investment in the human and ecological landscape.

The campus has also increased its focus on sustainability, establishing building standards for environmental stewardship, sustainable design and energy management and requiring that all building and renovation projects be designed and built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standards.

“We are absolutely honored to have been selected for this recognition, but we are not content to rest on our laurels,” said Morris. “Our goal is to be recognized in each of the twelve dimensions outlined in the survey.”

Two other Georgia colleges were included on the 2011 Honor Roll. Brenau University, Gainesville, Ga., was recognized in the small, four-year category, while East Georgia College in Swainsboro, Ga., was recognized in the small, two-year category.

According to The Chronicle, the assessment process had two components: a questionnaire about institutional characteristics and a faculty/staff questionnaire about individuals' evaluations of their institutions. The assessment also included an analysis of demographic data and workplace policies at each participating college or university. The questionnaires were administered online in March and April of this year.

Survey respondents were asked to respond to 60 statements using a five-point scale, ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." They were also asked to rate their satisfaction with 18 benefits, respond to two open-ended questions, and answer 15 demographic questions.

“Great Colleges to Work For” is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. The Chronicle worked with ModernThink LLC, a human-resources-consulting firm that has conducted numerous “Best Places to Work” programs involving more than 4,000 organizations.