August 3, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 13 Ramapo College is one of the great colleges in the nation to work for, according to survey results released last week by The Chronicle of Higher Education. The results, which appear in The Chronicle’s fourth annual report on “The Academic Workplace,” are based on a survey of nearly 44,000 employees at 310 colleges and universities. In all, only 111 of the 310 institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition, with Ramapo College, the only institution recognized in New Jersey, earning this accolade in two categories. Ramapo was honored for its teaching environment and tenure clarity and process. Survey results indicate that Ramapo faculty members believe the college recognizes innovative and high quality teaching, and that the tenure process at the institution is clear, as it is guided entirely by the faculty union’s laws. Ramapo was also praised for its in-classroom audio and video technology and small class sizes. “It brings many of us tremendous satisfaction and joy when we are recognized for doing excellent work and for promoting an environment of collegiality, equity, and innovation,” said Ramapo College President Peter P. Mercer. “Ramapo is fortunate to be home to many talented and compassionate faculty and staff whose extra efforts and exemplary service continuously push the college forward and make it a great place to work and study.” “With the Great Colleges program, The Chronicle can provide even more vital information our readers rely on: unbiased reporting on which colleges are being innovative in their workplace practices,” said Jeffrey Selingo, The Chronicle’s editor. “Given how competitive the Great Colleges program was this year, this accolade is a remarkable accomplishment.” “Great Colleges to Work For” is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. For more information and to review the results of the survey, visit www.chronicle.com. Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as fourth in the Chronicle calls Ramapo ‘a great place to work’ Best Regional Universities North category, Ramapo College of New Jersey offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, and in professional studies, which include nursing and social work, and as courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels. The college also offers five graduate programs and articulated programs with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New York Chiropractic College, New York University College of Dentistry, SUNY State College of Optometry, and New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Undergraduate students choose to concentrate their studies in one of five schools with more than 700 course offerings and 40 academic programs. Ramapo College boasts an average student/faculty ratio of 18:1 and average class size of 23. Two individuals from the Valley Hospital are among the nearly 30 clinical and administrative leaders from across the country who have been selected to participate in the tenth class of the American Hospital Association-National Patient Safety Foundation Comprehensive Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship. Mitchell Rubinstein, M.D., vice president of medical affairs, and Daniel Brancato, radiation oncology supervisor at Valley, were selected as Comprehensive Patient Safety Leadership Fellows for 2011-12. The fellowship is an intensive, year-long professional development program for senior practitioners looking to increase their capacity to lead patient safety improvement initiatives and accelerate positive change in their organizations. The program is one of the nation’s foremost leadership development programs in patient safety. “The accelerating pace of delivery system transformation for greater quality and efficiency makes a focus on patient safety improvement absolutely paramount for providers,” said Maulik S. Joshi, DrPH, president of the Health Research & Educational Trust and senior vice president of research for the American Hospital Association. “This Valley reps are comprehensive patient safety leadership fellows redesigned fellowship gives health care leaders the tools, the experience, and the network they need to lead patient safety improvement initiatives in their organizations and be at the forefront in the rapidly changing environment.” “The Comprehensive Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship is a wonderful opportunity for health care leaders who are committed to the delivery of safe, high-quality care,” said Diane C. Pinakiewicz, president of the National Patient Safety Foundation. “The program provides the fellows with deep knowledge of the patient safety discipline and its associated science, competencies, and leadership imperatives. The experience is rich, as are the relationships and networks that fellows develop in the process.” In the course of one year, fellows participate in a series of learning retreats and webinars, and they design and implement an action learning project with the goal of improving processes and spreading evidence-based safety practices that lead to better outcomes and performance within their organizations. Fellowship activities for this new class have begun and will continue through May 2012.