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Arizona State University

Engaged Employer

Below Basic Masquerading as the Big Time - Senior Coordinator Arizona State University Employee Review

1.0
Aug 14, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good benefits (except salary) An excellent physical facility at Biodesign Institute with respect to the building layout. Support departments like Purchasing, Facilities, IT and EH&S are very good. Access to significant infrastructure like library resources and journals is great relative to the private sector. Based on the structural assets, the potential to complete significant research is there except...

Cons

it rarely seems to come to fruition. Making 'forward-looking statements' is being raised to a competitive art form by the Principle Investigators. N.B. Execution is more important than advertisement. It's probably better to complete the work and THEN talk about it if credibility has any value. As with most academic labs, each PI acts as their own mini-company and the segregation between groups is pretty high. Not very much collaboration or even interaction between groups in the same building/floor. Low pay: this manifests as a tendency to hire grad students and postdocs from Chindia as a majority of the force. Or perhaps it is the other way around. However, the quite truth about hiring 3 (or 4) for the price of 2 is pernicious and pervasive. No merit pay raises or even COL. Even in the face of successful grant funding.

Explore other reviews about Arizona State University

5.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good research environment and great teachers

Cons

Long hours working on research

2.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Competitive pay for some positions, some great colleagues.

Cons

The "culture" in some non academic departments is incredibly toxic. Employees often see others as competitors and some will try to throw others under the bus to avoid being in trouble from senior leaders. It is slow to get any work done if you need upper admin approval and often time work that you have created and completed is thrown away and never looked at again. Personalities of some administrators is very fake and friendly, when they will cut you with no regard or thoughts. The senior administrators of ASU act in a cult like manner and tightly control many goals, works, etc. You will most often have little to no freedom to accomplish the goals that you know would be best for your department because you spend an inordinate amount of time on projects deemed important to senior leaders, that have little to no impact but padding a report for someone in Fulton. Culture is extremely toxic in many areas, and senior leaders refuse to listen to those serving and trying to provide feedback. There is heavy turnover in many areas, while adminstrators turn a blind eye to it and chalk it up to "normal" turnover. Many mid level managers end up sick, stressed, seeking new employment, or taking FMLA to try to deal with the stress and trauma. You will have little opportunity for advancement unless you move departments regularly, or by hunkering down to be a lackey. Routinely expect last minute requirements and expectations, budget cuts without notice, and little to no professional development or support. Depending on the area you may also deal with difficult students/parents who are not held accountable for their actions.

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