Now in its 10th year, this national recognition celebrates vibrant student affairs workplaces like ours – one in which we are committed to work-life balance, inclusive excellence and fostering a sense of belonging. The selection process focuses on workplace diversity, staffing practices and work environment. The research determining selection uses a web-based survey approach to examine categories such as family friendliness, salary and benefits and professional development opportunities.
Penn selected by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education as one of “The 2023 Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs"
University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research institution with over 22,000 students, and more than half of them are graduate or professional students. The pandemic propelled the university life division to engage in innovative strategic long-term planning. “This planning intentionally involved every staff member in the entire division, allowing for everyone to have a voice during the planning process,” says Tamara Greenfield King, interim vice provost for university life and senior associate vice provost for student affairs. “It is our divisional goal and ethos that when people have a voice in the process, they are much more engaged and committed to the outcome.”