A great place for your career to die - Systems Administrator Penn State Employee Review

2.0
Aug 13, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You do not have to perform, so if you want to coast for the rest of your career look no further.

Cons

Lots of legacy management appointments with little to no expertise in dealing with people. Not diverse, but the University is great at hiring mediocre people for middle management. The motto is We Are Penn State but that does not translate to workers. Many people are looking for their big opportunity because they have realized that getting your name in front of a lot of people is the only way to be compensated appropriately and/or move ahead. This creates a culture of people taking credit from colleagues or limiting their potential for recognition or advancement. It also causes some employees to finger point at others instead of taking accountability for their own flaws. The organization is a master class in how to make yourself look big while keeping others down. It has all the negative hallmarks of an extremely conservative organization. Many projects go over budget or under-perform because middle management isn't thinking about the impact on students. There are vendors that are literally double charging the University or doing horrible work and they still have contracts with PSU because they've been there for a long time. The University does not view students as their #1 stakeholder but as a bank account. Look at schools like Rice University that use their endowment to create scholarships, I have no idea how PSU utilizes it's endowment.

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4.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Meaningful mission supporting community education and outreach programs. Gained valuable administrative and clerical experience, including scheduling, data entry, records management, and event coordination. Developed strong customer service and communication skills by assisting educators and community members. Worked for a well-respected public institution, which looks good on a resume. Opportunity to support nutrition education and public health initiatives, contributing to positive community outcomes.

Cons

Pay was very low compared to the responsibilities and cost of living. Limited opportunities for career advancement without changing positions or departments. Administrative work could become repetitive at times. Salary growth and raises were relatively modest.

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