If you know what your job description is, but enjoy having other employees yell at you in public meetings “But this is YOUR job,” then this is the job for you.
This school of Monmouth University is operated like the dysfunctional school districts it serves -- if you cozy up to the leadership, they might hear you. The school is certainly in need of some leadership. Not the kind of spineless-and-preferring- of- selected-friends-to-avoid-conflict-at-all-costs leadership, but sincere leadership, without worry of retaliation. The current Deans of the school are afraid of any type of pushback and instead punish the Office Coordinators that work for them. It’s like the quote from an Orwellian novel, some are more equal than others. I swear the School has turned from an institution of learning, to an all out catering and events venue where professors and lecturers pursue these types of activities rather than the hard work of publishing articles on their own. These Academies are nothing more than a way for the directors to hang with their friends. There is no educational merit to these events. There were at least 8 events that I managed alone in a single semester. There are programs within the SOE that even the most seasoned administrator cannot explain - yet they exist. This needs to be looked into as there are completely shady programs that money is being funneled into. There are also those who hold multiple job appointments outside of the University as professors and superintendents, but, are collecting benefits from both. This is a conflict of interest and no one seems to care. Any true scholarship conducted by members or staff members (there are some that held advanced degrees and were punished by that leadership) are not rewarded or appreciated by current leadership. The administration allows some of the faculty to add their names to other's publications as way to earn tenure. Some current chairs are more interested in "cleaning house" to establish their own name. I think that I was hired here because I was the only one who would take this type of behavior. It is very difficult to determine what you'll be doing each week and try to get into a routine for the semester. I almost feel that leadership doesn't want to you know what's going on. I'll never forget cleaning out a dirty office and finding checks that were almost at the cancellation stage. (What was the previous person doing?) I also remember leaving the empty water cooler out until I could see who help me to change it -- the interim Associate Dean would purposely walk past it. This Dean has also essentially checked out and merely comes in to attend a few select meetings - to make it look like they are performing the functions of their job. A certain self-proclaimed introverted Dean should not be allowed to continue - as they only have Associate Professor status. When you ask this Dean for help and support she flaps her hands and says in an impassive way "I can't help you." This disconnect extends to the way that she treats other women in her very school, with condescension and derision. I never felt comfortable in my position in the School. Yet, you are still expected to help out in every little thing. I feel as these Deans have destroyed good programming and initiatives. When it comes to recruitment and admissions, do not count on the school faculty to do very much. I predict in the future that they will be down to 25 students in the next two years. If you do not fit the mold at Monmouth, you will not have a long career here.
As the point person for the Academic Welcome, I was required to produce thank you cards to all involved. I was the only one to not receive a formal thank you letter from my supervisor. This is a dead-end job for most.
