George Washington University reviews

This is not an organization I would recommend to my colleagues or others looking for a bright spot in their careers. First, the institution lacks direction. This flows down to every corner of the university creating chaos and frequent changes of planning. Second, there is little true regard for the people who work here. There is the general approach of “just fire them” as opposed to “let’s develop our valuable people.” Third, I have seen very good additions to the university just vanish. You are never quite sure whether they quit or if they were quietly shown the door. It will leave you asking “why” and wondering about your own job. Finally, it is an understaffed university with no understanding of our need to change to cope with the reduction in staff. Everything must still get done, but with fewer people to do it. I could continue with other reasons not to continue your career here, but a sufficient number of people will try anyway that those in leadership will convince themselves that they run a top-notch organization. It just isn’t so. You will be disappointed.

The biggest problem GWU faces is top level executives and most colleges' management don't know what they want to be, thus creating a silo'd atmosphere with little to no collaboration and heavy doses of institutional insecurity. The real world, every day effects of this are that mid and lower level employees are constantly under scrutiny and being asked to do overtime work (without pay) that is far outside of their duties. Turnover is extremely high for a university. Blackmail, rampant insults and lawsuits were the norm during my time with GWU. Never before had I worked for an organization that was this dysfunctional. Truly a disappointment that such a historical place can't get even the basics right.