The university is going through drastic change. Various departments are realigning, and there are new divisions popping up. Several schools are merging, programs are being moved across schools -- this in itself isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's causing a lot of confusion and leadership isn't terribly transparent about why things are happening.
A change in leadership strategy includes a host of new C-suite positions. The people in these roles (nearly all white men) haven't taken the time to learn the culture of Rowan and how its people work. Instead, they are demanding a return-to-office with extremely little to no remote work; the previous schedule was hybrid, with 2 or 3 days in the office depending on the division or team.
Everything is a major urgent high #1 priority, and it makes it hard to know what ACTUAL priorities are. C-suite seems hellbent on looking good to other C-suite or the university president, and not actually investing in their employees. Moral is at all all-time low.
Rowan pre-emptively scrubbed all DEIB from the university, including all its websites, departments, and divisions. Some offices were changed to BS names like "community belonging" which may offer the same services, but really makes it clear where the university's values are. The state of NJ advised higher ed institutions to NOT remove or change their DEIB policies, but oops too late! Rowan had already done it.
Other random cons:
- This vision plan is awful. Like dreadfully awful.
- No break between Christmas and New Year like other higher ed institutions. I spent the whole week basically twiddling my thumbs.
