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Columbia University

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good opportunity, significant structural challenges - Officer of Administration Columbia University Employee Review

3.0
22 Jan 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Generous education benefits, which are invaluable for professional and personal growth. - Ivy League reputation enhances the experience and credibility on your resume. - Proximity to leaders in research and innovation fosters a stimulating intellectual environment. - Relatively easy transfer between departments after one year of service, offering flexibility in career pathways.

Cons

-Health insurance premiums aren’t fully covered by the employer, whereas other NYC nonprofits typically provide full coverage. - Highly decentralized accounts receivable responsibilities result in financial reports being unfit for distribution to managing directors or faculty chairs, hindering informed decision-making. - Sponsored projects administration is similarly fragmented, causing inefficiencies in grant management. - Fraternity and sorority-based nepotism in student-facing undermines equitable opportunities. - Student affairs offices often serve as a catch-all for duties that tenure-track faculty’s PhD training does not prepare them for: advising, disciplinary actions, and handling mental health crises, leading to staff burnout. - Rapid promotions for middle managers often result in managing directors who lack the necessary supervisory, fiscal, and budget development skills. - No structured professional development for newly promoted leaders, leaving them unprepared for the demands of their roles. - The HR and Ombuds don’t have impactful conflict resolution training; its employees are low-quality for an Ivy League institution: procedural but lack creative problem-solving abilities, which limits their ability to effectively resolve complex workplace issues.

Explore other reviews about Columbia University

5.0
12 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Supportive staff and clear role requirements

Cons

I dont really have any cons related to the role

1.0
12 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The people in the trenches The students The passionate faculty

Cons

Leadership, their inefficiencies and poor decisions Very dysfunctional environment HR does whatever leadership tells them to do, including covering issues by "friends of the boss", This favoritism approach also includes approvals for who gets to work from out of state even when the position can be easily filled by local workers and the creation of new jobs for those that are chosen. Very poor financial decisions. Big big pay on top, Low pay on bottom. Very little room for growth unless someone likes you and you are the right color.

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