Serious academics and deeply held convictions toward service and evangelism would seem to disqualify a college from consideration as a great place to work: No free Sugar Bowl tickets; no staff vs. faculty beer pong tourney.
At Nyack College, which just earned a “great place to work” award from the Washington, D.C.-based Chronicle of Higher Education, the attractions are both profound (full medical) and quotidian (gym time). The award coincides with a web-based academic push and news of a hoped-for new campus in Manhattan.
The college”™s employees cited 10 reasons for workplace satisfaction that included:
Ӣ half-day Fridays during summer for staff;
Ӣ administrative faculty can structure a four-day work week;
Ӣ a minimum of three days per week on campus for teaching faculty;
Ӣ an annual health fair with free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, vision and fat;
”¢ free “employees-only” hours at the fitness center on the main campus with training pros;
Ӣ 100 percent paid medical insurance for employees and their families;
Ӣ up to $5,000 per year for tuition in forgivable doctoral program loans for faculty;
Ӣ tuition discounts for full-time staff and their family members, including spouses, children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren;
Ӣ incentive awards for faculty scholarly publications and presentations; and
Ӣ campus-wide special events such as the off-site Christmas party for both Nyack and Manhattan campus employees from housekeeping to executive cabinet. And a year-end in-house awards luncheon.
In 2010, the college enrolled 2,147 undergraduates; 412 graduate students across four secular graduate programs in the sciences, education and business; and 800 at its four seminary campuses (Rockland, New York City, Puerto Rico and Kiev).
College President Michael Scales said in a statement, “I”™m humbled by your encouraging response and trust this honor brings you fresh enthusiasm and pride.”
From its 19th-century beginning in New York City as America”™s first Bible college, Nyack College has grown to embrace other education arenas while remaining true to its Bible roots.
The Nyack College Alliance Theological Seminary, the official seminary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, owes its genesis to two large evangelical and interdenominational Christian organizations ”“ the Christian Alliance and the Evangelical Missionary Alliance ”“ that merged in 1897. In 1995, the seminary spawned satellite campuses in lower Manhattan, Puerto Rico and the Ukraine. (The college”™s satellites include a separate Lower Manhattan campus and a Washington, D.C., facility.) The main campuses are the residential and theological centers in Rockland County.
Nyack features the College of Bible and Christian Ministry, College of Arts and Sciences and schools of education, nursing, music and business-leadership.
The college recently received authorization to offer a pair of online degrees: a B.S. in organizational leadership and an M.B.A.
School Vice President for Academic Affairs David Turk said two more online programs ”“ an M.S. in teaching English to speakers of other languages and an M.S. in organizational leadership ”“ are now before the state education department seeking approval.
“Our largest majors are what you”™d expect to see at any college,” Turk said, ticking off psychology, business administration, childhood education, nursing and communications. “But we teach within the context of Christian faith.” He noted Bible and pastoral ministry studies remain “big majors.”
The college has its own golden rule of treating workers well via internal awards. Recent kudos include:
Ӣ Enrollment Services Associate of the Year;
Ӣ Online Educator of the Year;
Ӣ Web Engagement Award;
Ӣ Student Financial Services Associate of the Year;
Ӣ Student Development Professional of the Year; and
Ӣ Commitment to Mission Award.
“The internal awards are about the commitment to our mission,” said Karen Davie, the college”™s director of human resources. “They serve as a reminder to celebrate our accomplishments.” Nominations come from staff and faculty. “The Commitment to Mission Award is one of my favorites; it”™s about people celebrating other people.”
