Pros
Beautiful campus, hardworking students and an institution with the 'potential' to do amazing things. Ideally located for service to nearby communities. There are a few genuine, kind hearted colleagues who prioritize students' needs.
Cons
There is potential for this institution to be great, but students pay high tuition for 'potential'. Lewis is an institution for 'big fish in a small pond.' As an adjunct you immediately understand why the faculty promote second rate programs and why there is a lack of innovative thinking and current best practices ..Many of the faculty are given an easy path to tenure at an institution where only a small percentage would actually meet the criteria by external reviewers at more rigorous, reputable institutions. EVERYTHING is political and driven by personal relationships, not merit. There is little original research being produced, but tenured professors pass themselves off as experts and thought leaders in their respective disciplines. I taught 5 classes every year as an adjunct and was never made to feel a part of the department. After being invited for peer classroom observation of one of the "all star" professors, I was convinced that this institution was largely comprised of colleagues who were more committed to perception than delivering the goods. Students are paying a lot of money for a second rate academic experience that is severely lacking in innovative practices. This is not to say that there not a few really good teachers. However, the students have nothing to compare their experience to, so they do not even realize what their peers at other institutions are being introduced to in (and out) the classroom. The leadership at all levels is severely lacking, from the presidents office down to the departmental level. As someone who has taught in marginalized communities for years, the "committment" to diversity is laughable on this campus. I could not in good faith recommend this institution to any of my students from those communities. There is not enough space here to cover the many issues related to diversity. Again, perception is EVERYTHING at this place. I speak from experience as a white woman when I say that I have had conversations with colleagues who revealed themselves to be indifferent and in many cases, not concerned about their colleagues and students of color. Very disappointing experience for an institution that is so anal about mission.
