Pros
Please note: I can only speak to Development & External Affairs pros and cons. Other departments may be managed differently. -As a mid-level employee, I have never felt obligated to work after 5:00 or on weekends. -For younger or less seasoned development professionals, SMU is a great place to learn the ropes. -SMU looks better on a resume for recruiters than working for a small local nonprofit. -A lot of the people I work with are truly great individuals with a lot to learn from. -Holiday leave time is good - you get Christmas Eve through New Year's Day off. -If you want a graduate degree, there are tuition benefits - you do pay taxes on those so beware on how much of a pro that is against the salary being offered -401k match and dedicated retirement consultant -Benefits are decent
Cons
-Extremely rare for them to consider anyone internally for promotion. -Limited vacation, with no increase until you begin your 6th year of employment -Must pay for parking and, due to constantly shrinking parking availability from the construction of new buildings, it's a toss-up if you will even have a parking spot available that you pay for. -No true concern for employee wellness. It is mandated you cannot work from home, and they will not work with you even if you have a child at home and need to occasionally work remote. -Professional Development is micromanaged and not relevant to all positions. You have to justify through 3 levels above you to be considered to be approved for your own professional development opportunity that is a nominal cost. -This department is run by fear and an old-school mindset. You better be in your chair from 8:30 to 5:00. Meetings are regularly scheduled at 4 pm on a Friday to ensure you are here all day. -Communication amongst the department is terrible. You get your hand slapped a lot because middle management didn't pass a message down, and there is a sense of upper management being delighted in the opportunity for gotcha moments for minor "offenses" that you weren't aware were even a problem -1 to 2% raises are terrible when coupled with the fact that you pay for parking, and your gas - seeing as most people who work here don't make enough to live anywhere near the campus -Limited opportunities to negotiate better pay and a confusing review process that does not coincide with the same time of year that supervisors submit compensation requests -Salaries - at least for mid to lower-level employees - are low. I make $15,000 less than the average compensation for my role in Dallas. They get away with this by offering tuition benefits.