Pictured: Dr. Thompson sharing his appreciation with the crowd. Photo courtesy of Ringling College of Art and Design.

Last month I wrote about the challenges and benefits of hiring the absolute best academic faculty at Ringling College of Art and Design. This month, I want to tell you similarly about how we pursue and hire outstanding staff members for the many roles they possess that facilitate the operations of this thriving institution.

When recruiting staff members we want only those who meet the same ambitious standards we demand of our faculty and our students. Although academic quality is incredibly important, great higher education institutions are made from more than just academic achievement. Indeed, the administrative, support, and maintenance professionals who manage our facilities and operations are all integral to forging our school’s excellence.

As with faculty hires and student enrollment, staff recruitment starts with our far-reaching reputation. We are fortunate to build on a 94-year foundation of eminence, and fortunately prospective staff are drawn to becoming a part of that history.

After all, most members of our staff could work in any number of industries. But as an historic art and design university, both small and lauded, we carry an added atmosphere of distinction and a unique appeal in terms of work environment. All of our employees, not to mention our students, are valued members of a tight-knit community with a strong sense of belonging and collaboration.

A career is about income, of course, but a great career is a framework around which a person can build a happy, fulfilling life. Our staff, like our faculty, enjoy myriad opportunities to interact with our remarkable students who come from around the world. The staff really enjoy being able to contribute to a creative environment. Plus, they appreciate the sense of both autonomy and purpose that Ringling College strives to afford everyone who sets foot on our campus. The advantage of a small college is that it allows for every individual employee to enjoy expansive roles and working environments. And as many of us know, that sense of purpose can often be much harder to achieve in larger institutions and businesses.

These intangible benefits, of course, do not preclude more tangible appeals to employment. As a private institution, we’re able to offer exceptional health benefits, time-off benefits, tuition remission, and tuition-exchange opportunities that are competitive with, and sometimes superior to, benefits packages available in other industries.

In terms of maintaining staff for the long-term, we start with a fundamental philosophy: “Loyalty goes both ways.” We make efforts to demonstrate our commitment to our staff—their jobs, their health, and their overall quality of life. Expectations are high here, but we also emphasize work-life balance wherein staff have time to enjoy their families and the many benefits of living in Sarasota.

At no time in our recent history was our dedication to our staff more evident, or more important, than during the Covid 19 pandemic. Despite the significant disruption in campus life, we did not reduce our staff: Not a single person at Ringling College lost their job due to the pandemic! Instead, we granted additional paid sick leave and even awarded a one-time bonus to help our Ringling College community through that unprecedented time.

I’m proud of the staff we have built here—of the phenomenal people who’ve chosen to build their careers at Ringling College. And like any employer who knows the true value of quality employees, we want to ensure that our staff know that they are appreciated. In short, we understand just how vital they are to our institution’s success.

Dr. Larry Thompson is president of Ringling College of Art & Design.

Pictured: Dr. Thompson sharing his appreciation with the crowd. Photo courtesy of Ringling College of Art and Design.