Pros
The university's professed mission and commitment to affordable public education is admirable. Most students are engaged and willing to work hard. Most faculty genuinely care about student performance. The potential at this public university is enormous. Teaching here can be very rewarding.
Cons
Despite its professed mission of public education, enormous discrepancies exist between schools in terms of budgets and salaries. The level of ineptitude of the high-level administration is staggering. Benefits are terrible compared to other local universities. Transportation (either parking or the T) is a nightmare in winter, especially. The lack of parking adds 30 minutes to one's commute. Lecturers to not have adequate union protection and procedures to promote lecturers are not always followed. This is a place of morale-crushing bureaucracy and complacency in leadership.