The Modern Workplace Initiative at Baker College

Building a Student Community

In creating a student inclusive experience, the President’s Council has established a Modern Workplace@BC initiative. Modern Workplace@BC is a systematic way of working to provide student services that enhance our students’ academic experiences while creating a collaborative work environment.

The Modern Workplace@BC committee was established to ensure that all viewpoints of faculty, staff, and students are addressed to create the best environment for student success. Baker College ensures students receive a quality education that will improve their future both personally and professionally by providing student services that enhance our students’ academic experiences.

Modern Workplace Defined

Modern Workplace@BC encompasses a variety of differentiated work options compatible with certain job functions to help all employees meet day-to-day business needs, as well as provide flexible work arrangements where possible.

Core determining factors for Modern Workplace@BC revolve around the following:

Build a robust, flexible, interactive, and collaborative student-first environment where employees maintain student-facing and virtual experiences that support our mission, vision, and values.

The business rationale for flexible work supports BC’s values (enhancing the student experience, expanding services, increasing student on-campus enrollment, creating greater community involvement, improving colleague engagement, and supporting employee recruitment and retention).

While long-term remote work suits only certain jobs, BC’s workplace culture will embrace intermittent flexibility that helps employees meet day-to-day student and community needs while also embracing flexibility for all.

BC may designate on-campus priority days (common work days) where most employees are expected to work from their home campus location.

Community Involvement

Baker College recognizes and encourages employees to actively engage in the community and believes that this engagement can strengthen BC’s presence within our local community. Additionally, fostering and encouraging community engagement shines a positive light on the generosity of BC faculty, staff, and their departments, and also contributes to overall workplace satisfaction while additionally enhancing the BC brand. Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in College sponsored community engagement activities or volunteer activities. The College will offer work schedule flexibility and paid leave opportunities for specific community engagement activities.

Volunteer Opportunities

As volunteer opportunities arise, employees are expected to communicate with their supervisor regarding their interest in participating when the volunteer activity conflicts with their normally scheduled work hours. Supervisors are encouraged to utilize reasonable discretion in balancing operational needs against employee participation in these engagement activities. Baker College strives to uphold the mission, core values, and culture of the institution.

Modern Workplace Conclusion

Creating a positive work experience is always part of the differentiated work arrangement conversation. Flexible work is a give-and-take scenario where employers and employees must collaborate to determine the best possible outcome for business needs coupled with a work/life balance. BC believes in differentiated work arrangements for colleagues and explicitly supports a work/life balance for everyone at the College. This statement and the BC differentiated work policy are meant to support open dialogue between supervisors and employees that lead to the best work arrangement for BC and its employees.

Colleagues wishing to see more information regarding the Modern Workplace@BC, visit MyBaker.