Pros
I believe the team members I have worked with are supportive and genuinely enjoy working together, creating a positive atmosphere despite leadership challenges. I have the chance to work with smart, capable colleagues who are passionate about what they do. Front-line staff are typically knowledgeable and resourceful, often driving the success of day-to-day operations. I think they might hang on just to earn degrees at little cost, which helps to explain why they stay when they could work with more competent leadership. If you are lucky enough to be offered benefits here, they are solid and comparable to industry standards, providing a sense of security. The compensation is fair, and for many, it's one of the reasons they choose to stay. The hands-off management style can be a plus if you prefer autonomy in how you manage your work and projects, but if you need help or resources this is not the place for you.
Cons
It seems like many faculty take no responsibility for the quality of the courses they teach (and there is little reason to, based on poor communication back from management and how difficult it is to get problem fixed), leading to outdated content, inconsistent delivery, and overall poor learning experiences for students who have typically been marginalized in the past. After all, the "good" students don't need the resources we don't have. Chairs and full-time faculty seem overwhelmed and ineffective at managing problems as they arise. Issues are either ignored or dealt with far too late to make any real difference. The high turnover in recent years speaks volumes about how poorly managed this place is. People leave because they see no hope for improvement under the current leadership and the daily struggle with anxiety, hostile work environments, and issues not getting solved... Communication from management is a disaster—completely non-transparent and often contradictory. You’re left in the dark about important decisions until it’s too late. The institution now lacks basic course development skills and technology. I feel like there used to be at least program directors who cared about this and took ownership for it. Now there’s no real investment in innovation or even keeping up with current educational tools and methods. It’s painfully obvious that the focus is on profits, not education. Students and staff are just numbers, and decisions are made with money in mind, not quality or long-term success. Toxic Morale in Middle Management – "Middle management is riddled with negativity, and morale is at an all-time low. It’s impossible to thrive in such an unhealthy work culture, especially when leadership doesn’t seem to care."
