Faculty are treated like Royalty, Staff treated like dirt! TOXIC work environment for Staff - Administrative Support Coordinator Penn State Employee Review

1.0
Sep 16, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent University! Programs and opportunities for students are top notch. University Park Campus is beautiful! Low crime, low traffic small town, easy to get around, lots of things to do during school year. Football!

Cons

Highly toxic environment for staff. Management is corrupt, and will do anything to protect bureaucracy. Staff are treated like dirt. Management doesn't care about fairness, or keeping employees happy and healthy. No Work-Life balance for staff, only for faculty. Management abuses their power because they know that staff have no choice but to stay at Penn State (largest employer in town). Nepotism everywhere! Managers usually hire their friends, whether or not they're qualified for the position. Staff are penalized for expressing their opinions, even if it's in a respectful manner. If you don't agree with management, they threaten to fire you, or make your life unbearable so you'll quit. Diversity at Penn State is a scam, all a dog & pony show. Management is racist, and does not care at all about diversity students or staff. Most positions at the top are white males, white females. Staff pay is miserable, no raises either!

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5.0
Apr 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits- 401K, great Health, Dental ,PTO is great

Cons

none- not a lot that is wrong here. Maybe bigger yearly raises just because of the economy.

1.0
Feb 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- If you stick it out, you'll earn a degree - The teaching within my dept was solid - Typical student benefits (gym, buses, library, etc.) - Occasional travel for conferences

Cons

- Your experience largely depends on your advisor, cohort, and your relationship with them. Some will thrive with hands-on mentorship, some will struggle with absentee advisors. - There is barely any recourse in cases of advisor neglect or abuse. The department will almost never reprimand a professor as long as their group is productive. - Overwork and under pay is the norm, not the exception. Whether explicitly or implicitly, the system is designed to get as much value as possible from the grad students and kick them to the curb when it's done. The career center was largely useless for PhD's and you are far from guaranteed from landing a job even with the degree. Proceed with caution.

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