assistant professor

administrative assistant

custodian

business operations manager

records specialist

Boise State University

The benefits were great, the pay was low/mediocre, the work culture was often busy and intense, and the management culture was highly self-serving and untenable. The management in my department was extremely hostile to suggestions to change, even (and almost especially) when those changes are needed in order to accommodate a disability. There was no understanding of disability-based discrimination (individual or structural), despite being an institution that boasts its DEI initiatives -- it was treated like a box check in the department. Management seemed well-assured of its understanding of DEI issues. They were not actively working on training or improvement in this area and were hostile to suggestions about accessibility. I was also repeatedly misgendered by management, which was not taken seriously when I brought it up for discussion. Management was unaware of the strengths of different members of the team and often made disparaging comments about their employees apropos of nothing. Overall, it was a highly punitive and unprofessional environment where advancement is unlikely other than through leveraging personal relationships.

Management lacked depth of understanding of the work of counseling and academic advising. They did not see their role as providing employee support, but rather to hand down orders and policies without explanations. Management spent hours on things like new policies, mission statements, and restrictive employee scheduling to minimize people's ability to work from home while advisers were fully booked and had too much on our plates. Very little time or thought was given to the logistics of how to implement their schedules, task tracking, or other aspects of day-to-day work. 

The department promoted talk of "work-life balance" in the interview. However, when multiple employees raised concerns about workload and effectiveness and the need for relief from unpaid overtime hours, management ignored those employees, gaslit them, increased workloads, and permanently removed the 3/2 hybrid schedule in favor or a very restrictive 4/1. Other advising departments at the university mostly maintain 2/3 or 3/2 WFH schedules. Managers would make comments about having nothing to do while their advisors were booked solid and would give themselves the freedom to work from home at will while expecting advisors to be on campus as much as possible (even when taking only Zoom meetings). 

It was often evident that the management is not knowledgeable enough to perform the work of those they supervise. I frequently had to correct or redo things done by my managers when they tried to intervene in things. My direct manager had no advising *or* supervisory experience and was not trained to do either in my time there. Their lack of understanding of the workplace environment along with their unwillingness to accept change or critique was an ongoing contributing factor to the high turnover and employee dissatisfaction. The lack of oversight or opportunity for employees to seek institutional help for poor management is a major drawback of this institution. The HR department had nearly collapsed before I left. I felt beaten down and powerless to fight the discrimination I was facing and chose to leave my advisees and a great team of student support workers. 

Boise State University offers a diverse and growing academic environment, making it an attractive choice for many students. Here are some general aspects about being a student there:

    Academics: BSU is known for its business, engineering, and computer science programs, among others. It offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, providing students with various opportunities for research and internships. Some students have reported that class sizes are generally manageable, giving them better access to professors and a more personalized learning experience.

    Community and Networking: Boise State has a strong sense of community, with student organizations, clubs, and events fostering engagement. The university's growing reputation has also helped in creating networking opportunities for students, though some students feel that it might not yet match the same level of national recognition as larger schools.

  Location: Boise is often regarded as a clean, safe, and friendly city with a growing tech scene. The university’s location offers easy access to both urban and outdoor recreational activities. Being in Idaho’s capital also provides opportunities for internships and jobs, though some students may feel the city is smaller compared to other metropolitan areas.

    Support Services: Boise State offers various support services like career counseling, tutoring, mental health services, and student advising. These resources are highly valued by students who use them to navigate both academic and personal challenges.

    Cost: Boise State is considered relatively affordable compared to other universities, especially for in-state students. However, out-of-state tuition can be higher, so prospective students should weigh their financial options, including scholarships and grants.

In summary, Boise State University offers a balanced college experience with strong academic programs, a supportive community, and a great location, making it a solid choice for many students, especially those looking to study in the Pacific Northwest.

Job Review - Customer Service Representative

During my tenure as a Customer Service Representative at ABC Solutions, I have had a fulfilling and rewarding experience. The company's commitment to providing excellent customer support has made my role enjoyable and meaningful.

As a representative, I've been able to interact with customers from diverse backgrounds, honing my communication and problem-solving skills. The supportive and collaborative team environment has allowed us to tackle challenging situations efficiently.

ABC Solutions' extensive training programs ensured that I was well-equipped to handle various customer inquiries and issues effectively. The management team has been receptive to feedback, creating an atmosphere of open communication and continuous improvement.

However, there were occasional high-pressure situations that required better strategies for managing stress. Additionally, implementing advanced customer service technologies could further streamline processes and enhance the overall customer experience.

Overall, I have gained valuable skills and growth opportunities at ABC Solutions, making it a positive and enriching journey.

There are great advantages and disadvantages to working at Boise State.  Being on campus is energizing. There's something for everyone including many learning opportunities for staff members. Benefits are very good (paid vacation, health insurance, tuition remission).  It's a community and the work is stimulating. The disadvantages are lack of resources and support commensurate with job expectations, which sets up competition for resources and distribution that is not in alignment with a department's performance or what are stated university priorities. Faculty have the protections of tenure and hourly staff have protection from the State of Idaho. Professional staff have no protections and therefore employment is insecure in a highly political environment. There is little relationship between performance and pay or promotion. This is frustrating as a manager who wants to retain good employees. There is inconsistency between departments in the application of policies and procedures.  The flip side is that in many departments one has great latitude regarding how to do one's job.  The higher-level purpose -- education -- is noble.

A typical day at work and what I have learned are; Metadata curation and entry into a database and placing documents into a digital library for the US-Department of Energy’s Geothermal Data Repository. Established workflows and integrated them into standard of procedures documentation and glossaries for users of varied skill backgrounds. Researching, acquiring and digitizing legacy publications related to the geology of SW Idaho following the policies and procedures for critical data curation and management. Web (and desktop) applications development, testing, and feature reporting Assistance was also provided to application development in the form of testing and the structured report of bugs. Tested database for bugs/defects. Worked alongside an integrated data and IT team to address defects for application release.
Management and co-workers were awesome to work with.
Every day at this job was an adventure and I enjoyed every aspect of it.

I thoroughly loved my year in Financial Aid.  The people and staff were all outstanding and now that the Graduate Assistantship is over I still miss them.  The people--the team--were the best part.  

The were was sometimes difficult and stressful, especially at the beginning and end of a semester, when pressure was high and lines were long.  The many federal regulations and Boise State policies made work interesting but complicated.

A typical day was 4 hours for me, as I was a Graduate student at the time.  I would spend a portion of my day at the front desk, and others on phones, email or special projects, or training.

I brought many customer service skills and experience to this position but learned a lot about how a large organization (such as Boise State University) interacts with federal regulations concerning financial aid and scholarships.

I never thought that I would land a job in this field. For me it was a bit of a challenge to understand some of the terminology as well as apply it to everyday usage. Once I had a foundation I began to perform well beyond the my own expectations and I had an appreciation for having learned this skill. This job is still on the rise and I'm sure it wont be long before businesses create a demand for people with this skill set. But it wasn't for me. I'm sure if I was pursuing a degree in Computer Science or in a related field, it wouldn't be as bad and I may have even enjoy it. I liked the people that I worked with, they provided me with an opportunity to learn something that I would have never guessed existed. Having gone to meetings with customers, is where I understood the importance of writing the correct code. After all, we dealt with a lot of personal data and confidentiality of it, is of vital importance in any industry.

Start of my job would be opening the satellite campus and unlocking all rooms being used by students and instructors. If either on asks for a spare room, I do my best to create an area for their interests. I check all fax, copy, computer, and printers to ensure that all devices are working correctly before student use. If there is a problem, I make a note of it and contact the personnel that can remedy any malfunctions. Once the classes have started, I manage the computer lab for student use and make myself available to assist anyone in need. After the classes are over, I keep the campus open for additional time for the students and instructors that need some extra time for the technology and rooms to be used for studying and time outside their busy lives.

If you are considering a job here intending to pursue your education, look very carefully at what the tuition assistance they offer will cover, because middle management is not asked to be aware of the details of this program. 

I worked for Boise State for to years, was asked to revive two programs that had been ignored since well before the pandemic, and was immediately blamed for the condition of the programs by one supervisor that failed to manage or provide leadership of any kind, and another passing the buck from their own supervisor who caught wind of what had happened prior to my coming on and was rightfully upset. Toxic culture. Too many cooks in the kitchen. Slow moving. Bureaucratic nightmare. Ego-heavy.

The most enjoyable portion of the work is to work with the students.  

However, the compensation is below average and hinges on a retirement pension that only pays for itself if you remain with the State for 30 years.  A fee waiver is available to take classes but there is no way to finish a degree in the allowed parameters so it seems like a hook to get you to work there. Insurance coverage is reasonable. Raises for lower end employees barely cover the insurance premium and parking increases (employees must pay to park on campus)  Many Classified employees work two jobs and watch Professional staff and faculty get additional raises.

Budget cuts usually shift work from the administration to the department offices

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Assistant professor 27 salaries reported	$86,917 per year
Administrative assistant 4 salaries reported	$20.64 per hour
Custodian 25 salaries reported	$18.47 per hour
Business operations manager 14 salaries reported	$62,738 per year
Records specialist 5 salaries reported	$19.95 per hour

Working at Boise State University: Company Overview and Reviews

Boise State University

Boise State University Ratings

Popular jobs at Boise State University

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected