employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Boston University

Is this your company?

Too big for its own good - Program Manager Boston University Employee Review

1.0
May 2, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

*Please keep in mind many of the reviews on here were written by students working part-time jobs on campus. Their experience is very different than that of a full-time employee. - Good benefits - Relaxed culture - don't expect pressure to work outside office hours

Cons

- BU is massive and de-centralized. Offices and departments feel siloed and do not have equivalent access to the university's resources. Consider whether the office you would be joining is well or poorly supported. - At least half of the folks I relied on for critical functions didn't care whether they did their own jobs well, let alone got me what I needed so I could do mine. - Given its size, BU has to rely on a patchwork of technology solutions rather than one all-purpose tool. The result is a disjointed network of systems of varying degrees of sophistication, few of which play well together. - Lots of the technology currently in place is antiquated. I'm talking DOS-level antiquated. I came from a small, entrepreneurial consulting form and felt like I was time-traveling back at least 20 years in terms of the technology I had access to at BU. - As a nonprofit, I assumed BU would be mission-driven. It is not. It is as numbers- and revenue-driven as a typical for-profit, with none of the managerial acumen or operational know-how of a successful commercial venture.

Explore other reviews about Boston University

5.0
Jul 17, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Supportive environment, room to grow, motivated colleagues

Cons

Initiatives are often limited by resource constraints

2.0
Jul 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits! Lots of sick time holidays off. and summers are very laid back. Wish I could have stayed longer as I saw my time there as a great career opportunity. But toxicity, harassment and layoffs made me rethink staying

Cons

Management is incredibly toxic. Even after union grievances, sexual harassment claims and even a warning from the dean, managers continue to abuse staff. Incredibly sad seeing as Boston University rather lay off good employees than hold anyone from management accountable for their actions.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All