When selecting a college to attend, or an organization to work for, quality and satisfaction ratings can be key decision making factors. The results of two national college reports reveal Western Dakota Tech is excelling in both student success and faculty/staff satisfaction.
Western Dakota Tech has received the "Top Performer" ranking in the 2016 National Community College Benchmark Project. It also earned the highest category ranking ("Very Good to Excellent") in the 2016 Great Colleges to Work For® survey.
• Satisfaction with academic advising/counseling - 98th percentile
• Full-time, first-time students who completed in two years - 97th percentile
• Satisfaction with concern for the individual - 96th percentile
• Full-time, first-time students who completed or transferred in two years - 95th percentile
• Percentage of students who received a passing grade in math developmental courses (of those who completed the course) - 95th percentile
Additional Western Dakota Tech strong points highlighted in the National Community College Benchmark Project report are: admissions, service excellence, ratio of minority students taking credit classes, instructional effectiveness, registration effectiveness, student centeredness, and professional development expenditures per full-time employee.
Western Dakota Tech also had exceptional outcomes in the 2016 Great Colleges to Work For® voluntary survey. The survey was available to all faculty and staff and results were compared to other participating colleges.
In the survey, Western Dakota Tech received the highest category rating ("Very Good to Excellent") in the following categories:
• Job satisfaction/support (8 percent higher than peer group)
• Facilities (9 percent higher than peer group)
• Pride (2 percent higher than peer group)
Western Dakota Tech received "Good" ratings, and above the peer group, in:
• Shared Governance (11 percent higher than peer group)
• Senior Leadership ( 13 percent higher than peer group)
• Survey Average (3 percent higher than peer group)
In addition, Western Dakota Tech received "Good" ratings in: Professional Development; Compensation, Benefits and Work/Life Balance; and Supervisors/Department Chair categories.
"I am extremely pleased with the results of the National Community College Benchmark Project report and the Great Colleges to Work For® survey," said Western Dakota Tech President Ann Bolman, Ed.D. "Potential students and their parents, as well as those considering employment, can rest assured Western Dakota Tech is a quality college providing a great education with satisfied students and staff/faculty. We have 100 percent of the talent and resources to be the best technical college in the United States and we continue to strive for that designation as shown by these outstanding outcomes."
About National Community College Benchmark Project
Since 2004, more than 400 two-year institutions have participated in the data-collection and reporting process for the National Community College Benchmarking Institute's projects. These projects and the level of participation make the Benchmarking Institute the first and largest provider of community college benchmarking and peer comparison services in the nation. For more information, visit www.nccbp.org.
About Great Colleges to Work For®
In its ninth year, the Great Colleges to Work For® program provides vital data about employee engagement at colleges and universities across the United States. The partnership between The Chronicle of Higher Education and ModernThink LLC has been bringing higher educational leaders valuable insights into fundamental workplace qualities since 2008. This year, 281 institutions took part in the program which surveys faculty and staff to determine the key factors that distinguish great colleges. Of those participants, 93 achieved acknowledgment in one or more of 12 recognition categories. For more information, visit www.chroniclegreatcolleges.com.
About Western Dakota Tech
Western Dakota Tech was established in 1968 and is the only technical college that serves the western South Dakota region.
Western Dakota Tech offers programs in a variety of fields, including Business and Computers, Construction and Manufacturing, Energy and Environmental Technologies, Health Sciences, Legal and Public Services, and Transportation Technologies.
More than 86 percent of Western Dakota Tech's most recent graduates are working, continuing their education, or are enlisted in the military.
Western Dakota Tech faculty, staff, and administration focus their efforts on helping students gain the skills and experiences they need to succeed. Through hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships, Western Dakota Tech students graduate ready to make a real and immediate contribution to their employers and to their communities.
For information about Western Dakota Tech, call (800) 544-8765 or (605) 718-2565 or send an email to admissions@wdt.edu. Visit us on the web at www.wdt.edu.
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