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Harvard University

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Lots of great colleagues, but a system bogged down in balkanized bureaucracy - Teaching Fellow Harvard University Employee Review

3.0
Aug 24, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good health benefits through Harvard University health system, many gyms and lots of incidental perks. Lots of brilliant and driven colleagues. Access to one of the world's great library systems.

Cons

Lots of entrenched bureaucracy. Tenured faculty have much power, but graduate student fellows and teaching staff have little ability to circumvent.

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5.0
Jul 13, 2026
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CEO approval
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Pros

Light work if you have the right team

Cons

Low pay for amount of work

2.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great Union and benefits for non-profits/higher ed. Wonderful colleagues outside of leadership!

Cons

GSD Development and Alumni Relations (under current leadership) is an incredibly toxic work environment. I didn't realize the intensity of the toll it took on my until after leaving, and I am not one to leave a negative review, but as they are hiring for several positions currently, I wish to share words of caution with applicants. Cons: - Absolutely not a safe space for anyone who is Black, brown, trans, queer, working-class, or disabled - 100% top-down direction. No room for personal exploration, initiative, or creativity. - Minimal guidance from leadership - Frequent pivots, even in the late stages of projects - Petty, immature talking behind your back by leadership - No upward mobility unless the Associate Dean or Dean like you - Deeply disingenuous comments, reflections, and feedback from leadership - Complete lack of transparency on direction, goals, etc. - Small mistakes are made cornerstones of performance evaluations, while leadership routinely missteps. Leadership never takes accountability. - Top-down policy decisions, completely lacking detail, thought, and care outside of legal ramifications - Ever-changing in-office requirements

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