By Cam Adams
For many, ĢƵ is a beloved spot. It’s a special place to learn, a special place to grow — and a special place to work.
For yet another year, this college nestled in the Appalachian Mountains was nationally recognized as a top place to work, as ĢƵwas ranked No. 3 of 498 on Forbes’ America’s Best Midsize Employers.
ĢƵwas also the highest-ranked education employer and top North Carolina organization on the list.
“Once again, WCU’s recognition by Forbes Magazine as one of the Best Midsize Employers in the nation is a true testament to the remarkable talent and dedication of our faculty and staff. These hardworking professionals have a positive impact on our students and our region, throughout North Carolina and beyond,” ĢƵChancellor Kelli R. Brown said.
“To be ranked third nationally and first in the state is an incredible achievement! I could not be prouder of this recognition and of the faculty and staff who are essential to making Western Carolina the wonderful university it is.”
Partnering with market research firm Statista, Forbes said it surveyed more than 217,000 anonymous employees. Survey respondents were asked to rate their employer based on salary, work environment and more.
They were also asked if they would recommend their current employer, previous employers within the past two years and companies in which respondents were familiar with through friends, relatives or peers within their industry to others.
Those responses were counted along with additional survey data from the last three years with more recent data and current employees’ responses being weighed more heavily.
Organizations that employ between 1,000 and 5,000 were considered midsize by Forbes. Companies with more than 5,000 employees were deemed large.
For more information about employment at WCU, visit