SMU (Southern Methodist University) reviews

Management here is odd at best. It's the only place I've ever been chewed out by HR for using my health benefits. They've been trying to downsize but they can't decide who to cut so there have been multiple rounds of layoffs. You also pretty much have to wait for someone to die to get a promotion. Benefits have been shrinking for a long time.

Like any campus, SMU is political. You used to be able to avoid the politics in my department, but now they are part of day-to-day work which is unfortunate and distracting. SMU is also more corporate than most universities, perhaps due to their big-money image. We used to pull together towards common goals, but with everyone looking out for themselves after recent layoffs, we now pull in our own directions. Appearance trumps most everything in my department, with many wanting to look good to their betters and their peer group in order to retain their jobs or advance their careers. If you make yourself appear highly-responsive and hyperbolically gracious, you will be valued. However, "responsive" is synonymous with "reactive," which is unfortunately how we conduct some of our business. As for being hyperbolically gracious? Well, that's just irritating to your colleagues.