American University ranks No. 44 among large organizations in IDG’s Computerworld Best Places to Work in IT, an annual ranking of the top 100 organizations that challenge their information technology staffs, while providing the most competitive benefits and compensation. AU ranked No. 4 out of the top 100 for Career Development, based on staff satisfaction rankings and a mature mentorship program.

The list is compiled based on a comprehensive questionnaire regarding company offerings in categories such as benefits, career development, training and retention. In addition, Computerworld conducts extensive surveys of IT workers, and their responses factor heavily in determining the rankings. 

“I am so proud that American University was once again recognized as a Best Places to Work in IT, standing out as one of the few higher education institutions included among the corporate giants,” remarked Dave Swartz, chief information officer. “Our excellent benefits package and commitment to professional development allow us to attract and retain top quality employees seeking a diverse and supportive environment.” 

Swartz continued, “AU employees have been encouraged to take advantage of the tuition remission benefits offered not only to them, but also their spouse or domestic partner and children, to advance their education. On top of that, over 40% of the staff within the Office of Information Technology have elected to participate in our Mentorship Program, where they are paired with a colleague to receive or provide help in achieving their goals.” 

This recognition by Computerworld reaffirms the assessments of recent accreditation teams, which remarked, “This is a season of unparalleled strength and advancement at American University. AU is more focused on its mission, more diverse in its student body, more strategic in all decision making, more robust in its financial health, and more clear about its future than perhaps at any time in the past.”

AU has made a firm commitment to employ technology to empower excellence. Under the leadership of Swartz, the team continues to build and strengthen a robust, reliable, and secure framework of information and communication technology to support our activities as a world-class university.

"The 100 organizations on Computerworld’s 2015 Best Places to Work in IT list realize that attracting and retaining a highly-skilled technology workforce leads to competitive advantage,” says Scot Finnie, editor in chief of Computerworld. “In a tight market for tech talent, these outstanding employers attract the best and brightest IT pros with generous salaries and top-drawer benefits, then deepen their teams’ engagement with challenging, business-critical projects built around cutting-edge technologies. As a result, these winning organizations are best positioned to take advantage of the digital transformation sweeping through every industry.”