Rio Salado College is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for both our students and staff, an unwavering commitment that has once again earned the college the distinction of being selected as an Honor Roll institution in the Great Colleges to Work For® program. All awardees, including Rio Salado, were recognized in a special insert in the Sept. 18 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education.
This is the seventh time the college has received this Honor Roll distinction, a prestigious status awarded only to 42 colleges nationwide based on their exemplary performance in up to ten categories. This marks a continuation of the college's excellence, following its previous recognitions in 2025, 2024, 2021, and beyond.
“Creating a workplace where employees feel supported, valued and connected to our mission directly strengthens the experience we provide our students,” said Rio Salado College President Kate Smith. “This recognition belongs to our faculty and staff, whose dedication, expertise and service make Rio Salado a stronger college every day. I am humbled and grateful for the many ways they support our students, one another and the communities we serve.”
This year, Rio has been recognized in all 10 categories, which is a milestone achievement for the college. These categories are:
- Compensation & Benefits
- Confidence in Senior Leadership
- Faculty Experience
- Faculty & Staff Well-being
- Inclusion, Belonging & Community
- Job Satisfaction & Support
- Mission & Pride
- Professional Development
- Shared Governance
- Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness
Rio Salado received highest marks professional development; confidence in senior leadership; faculty and staff well-being; shared governance; and faculty experience. This marks the second year in a row that Rio Salado is being recognized for making an outstanding performance in these five categories.
In addition:
- Rio Salado is one of only five colleges to be recognized in all 10 categories this year and the only two-year college to do so.
- Rio Salado is the only college in AZ to be recognized this year.
- Rio Salado is one only four colleges in the Southwest (AZ,NM,OK,TX) to make the Honor Roll.
- Rio Salado is the only college in the entire Southwest to be recognized in Inclusion, Belonging & Community.
- Rio Salado is the only 2-year college to be recognized in Professional Development in the Southwest.
Great Colleges to Work For Program Summary
The Great Colleges to Work For® program includes a two-part assessment process: the ModernThink Higher Education Insight Survey© administered to faculty, administrators, exempt professional and non-exempt staff, as well as adjuncts at two-year colleges, and the ModernThink Higher Education Institution Questionnaire© (IQ), which captures employment data and workplace policies and practices from each institution.
- 171 institutions participated in 2026, including 105 four-year institutions and 66 two-year institutions
- 76 institutions are recognized as a 2026 Great College to Work For, including 54 four-year institutions and 22 two-year institutions.
- 42 institutions are on the Honor Roll, recognized as stand-outs in their size categories.
- Honor Roll distinction went to the top 10 four-year colleges and the top four two-year colleges recognized the greatest number of times in each size category.
“There is no one secret to being a great workplace but there are common attributes among the best: a clear vision, meaningful work, growth opportunities, a culture of respect, and a sense of community,” said Richard K. Boyer, Chief Culture Strategist at ModernThink. “This year’s recognized institutions survive and thrive in challenging times because of their commitment to the fundamentals.”
Work at Rio
Interested in teaching or providing support to students and fellow staff members at Rio Salado College? Rio is always on the lookout for talented individuals with a passion for education. If you want to work for an award-winning institution committed to making higher learning equitable and accessible for all, check out our latest job openings at www.maricopa.edu/careers.
About Great Colleges to Work For®
The Great Colleges to Work For® program is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all current and previously recognized institutions, visit the Great Colleges program website at GreatCollegesProgram.com and GreatCollegesList.com. ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.
About ModernThink LLC
As a research and consulting leader in workplace issues, ModernThink has supported a wide variety of “Best Place to Work” initiatives. Through these programs, the firm has gained substantial survey and industry expertise, including specific insight into higher education. ModernThink knows what it takes to build a great place to work and shares that know-how with its clients. The ModernThink team of organizational development experts is dedicated to helping colleges follow through and capitalize on feedback from employees and benchmark data from peers to drive meaningful change at their institutions. Learn more about the Great Colleges to Work For® program, including all current and previously recognized institutions, at GreatCollegesProgram.com and GreatCollegesList.com, and about ModernThink at ModernThink.com.
Article by Austin Brietta