instructor

research assistant

graduate assistant

graduate researcher

postdoctoral fellow

Indiana University

I worked in the Office of Student Financial Services for 2.5 years.  At first, I did enjoy the position, but my first week there at the department, I know there was going to be turmoil within the department, which made me stay to myself a lot because I did not trust my supervisor at all. 

I was placed on the compliance team in the office. In the first week, I was in training on one of the projects I was responsible for, which we're posting awards onto the students' accounts. When she was training me on this project, I could not grasp the concept and made a mistake. Instead of showing me the correct way, she went into our office with her mentor, who happened to be another Assistant Director and talked about me the whole time. They insulted my education credential because I earned my M.B.A. degree online; They were very unprofessional. Like any employee, I ignored it until it got to me. She kept stating she wanted to put me in Client Service, permanently. Some of Senior Assistant Directors and Assistant Directors treat this workplace like high school, and my supervisor, in particular, enjoyed gossiping and making herself look great to the Executive Director of Financial Services, Vice-Chancellor, and her peers.  There are four assistant directors who she hangs around and gossip within her office. I never forget when I was off on FMLA for a surgery. I had to stay off for a little bit longer because I had suffered from complications of the procedure (8 weeks to be exact). When I came back, it appeared that I had 123 accounts to look at, which upset me because all of the reports were generated in October when I was off on FMLA. This incident disappointed me because a supervisor is supposed to cover and work any accounts when their employee is out on long-term leave. That is when I lost all trust in my supervisor.

Also, there are other problems in the office. Like there are two Assistant Directors that are married, but the Assistant Director tries to keep it hidden by being referred by their maiden name, which raises the conflict of interest. Also, the workload can be a little overwhelming when one person is the only one that knows how to process a loan, CVO, or even 21st-century scholars grant or Adult Grant.  The staff members are only unified on is Federal Verification. But, that gets to be very stressful because you may have to balance your regular workload and your volume of your Federal Verification files. Also, you are not going to be in the processing. You will have to be on the frontlines (Client Services) because you will need to cover the frontline staff when they are off. Also, there is no room for mobility in the office. Also, if you are a staff member, you are not valued, and you are looked at by management as an incompetent individual with no brain. Also, some employees cannot be trusted (everything you say to them. They use it as a way to get in good with the managers).  Plus, there is a lack of diversity and more Assistant Directors instead of staff members (more chefs in the kitchen instead of cooks). Also, the pay raises are meager (based on favoritism). The last pay raise I received was $0.31 ($15.33 to $15.64), and may I mind you that have an M.B.A, finishing up my second Master's degree in Organization Leadership in Higher Education, and beginning to start a third Masters program (Master of Science in Accounting). However, health, dental, and vision benefits are the only excellent aspects of the position. The tuition benefit does not help individuals who are independent students, just dependent students. Overall, the first year, I was all right, but the negative energy within the office began to emerge, and people started showing their true and horrendous colors. The advice I would provide is if you are considering applying for a position in Enrollment Management at IUPUI, apply to a job in Admissions, Bursar, or Registrar because the atmosphere is different. Also, you have a positive attitude at the end of the day.

IUSM- LARC has a lot to offer in obtaining new skills, but only if you are trained by some of the more knowledgeable staff. Every department does things differently making it confusing and hard to succeed.  HR will not help you, is rarely available because they get to work from home, and will email you from home a thousand times before actually even thinking about trying to make a difference or see you 'in person', and aren't motivated to help people at all, like they are just there to collect a paycheck and tick off the boxes they have to.  You don't get paid more for doing more here. Here you only get rewarded with more work the more you know. They changed how they give raises, and so now everyone gets a small amount once a year IF they do it at all, you fill out a performance review but its just a conversation once a year, there has become no motivation to learn more, and there is no motivation to succeed at doing more because there is no pay increase or milestones that result in more pay, just management asking nicely, and so people quit who know more, and then more new people are hired until they figure out the game, and then they either quit for the same reason, or learn to not advance their skills because then they get the option of not having to work weekends and overtime if they aren't proficient at the skill, and even if they are some people are favored and still don't have to come in.. and STILL get the SAME raise everyone ELSE GETS. The system is flawed, people are using it, and the hard workers who are advancing their skills take those skills somewhere else because that is the most obvious solution which is why the turnover rate is terrible for veterinary nurses/ animal health technicians, once there are hardly any senior techs left (2+ years), and even those techs aren't happy and are looking for other jobs I hear, HR just looks the other way, I'm not sure how they will even be able to follow basic animal regulations for those poor animals, but HR has been asked over and over to make a change, make a difference, step up, or reward those who flourish with their skills, and they just won't listen.  Other labs pay so much more and don't charge for parking, and stick to regular schedules.  So many techs have left for this very reason, and are currently happy elsewhere even with the "great benefits" IU likes to sell you on, and then collect money for parking out of your paycheck, offer "compensation time" instead of overtime so they can work you more and tell you to take a day off knowing your schedule won't allow it.  They also love to pay MEN so much more than WOMEN here for the same type of positions. This is eventually a dead end job, and that is why there are always open positions, and there always will be, it just takes a little time to figure it all out. And boy, once you do!  

I truly enjoyed my time at IUSB as an Admin. Assistant. It's a great place to work, with great benefits (free tuition, great PTO rates, low premiums for Anthem) and great people. The work is fairly easy and straightforward once you get a handle on the ins and outs of higher ed and its complicated policies. 
IU, however, complicates federal/state
policies further and with little communication about changes. Lower level management also does not go through a training process to become a manager-- it's thrust upon them along with the thousands of other things they need to keep up with daily as faculty. Because of this, management can either be fantastic, helpful and understanding or extremely ineffective, overworked to burnout, and/or flat out unhelpful. 
Compensation and role clarity is a serious issue as well. Many staff feel under appreciated and underpaid. I worked for almost 5 years and regularly hired students into work study positions with higher hourly pay than I received. Colleagues who started after I did were paid more than I was simply because, despite doing the same job functionally, they had a different title and, therefore, a different pay range in the job framework. As is the case with most staff on campus, 90% of my functions fell under "other duties as assigned", which caused insecurity as I wasn't sure what was within the scope of my position and what wasn't. There was role inconsistency within upper administration as well, causing communication issues. 
Many folks felt they could not utilize the great benefits offered by the university because they were so busy due to understaffing. 
I did not receive an exit or entry interview. Performance reviews were almost yearly, though the process just recently changed, so I'm not sure what the structure is now. 
Complaints aside, I do hope IUSB and IU as a whole can structure the university's staff and faculty in a way conducive to success and growth. IU offers a quality education at affordable rates for so many students who need it. I would have loved to continue that
mission further and would have stuck around if I felt I could make a bigger difference. I do love the people, the work, and campus. I would love to return in the future if some kinks in the system are fixed.

Each work day varies which can be good and bad. There are various meetings scheduled throughout the week; approving time cards, shutdowns, and material orders is almost a daily activity; helping customers, peers, and staff are always an important part of my daily work. There is the occasional emergency that can occur at any time whether it is a flood, utility outage, or customer facility issue. I manage several medical research facilities on campus; therefore, freezers, HVAC, medical gases are vital to the research being performed in our buildings. There are frequent new construction projects, renovation projects, and space utilization demands that I play a role in or manage as well. 

I have learned a considerable amount working as a facilities manager at IUPUI. I made significant contributions in the construction of multi-million dollar research facilities from the ground up. I have played a key role in aligning staffing to meet the demand of a campus that sits on 509 acres in downtown Indianapolis with approximately 9.8 million sq.ft. of gross facility space. I helped in the development and demolition of the former Wishard Memorial Hospital Complex with approximately 1 million sq. ft. of gross facility space. Additionally, I have learned to manage staff in a union setting; and I have gained considerable knowledge working in facilities that performs medical research. 

I believe overall that IUPUI has a good culture with management and co-workers working together to help meet the campus mission. I try and help insure our staff and peers are committed to providing excellence in service, effective leadership, and fiscal responsibility.
 
The hardest part of this job is it requires wearing multiple hats and juggling multiple priorities; whereas, the best part of the job is the satisfaction I get in helping others. Working in a research facility that helps in the fight against cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and other life threating diseases is rewarding.

I have worked there twice and both times I experienced management that were not friendly or caring towards employees and seemed burnt out. Very "professional" interactions and not in a good way. You can only request days off if you have pto hours to cover and you can't request in advance and you don't accumulate pto hours unless you're an appointed employee and the rate at which you accumulate is very slow, half day off every two weeks. You are placed in unsafe conditions or environments. In my experience any time I asked management about details in relation to my work assignment I was given incorrect information and when it became an issue it was my fault not the management that gave me the incorrect info. There were several times this happened. There is no job advancement unless you want to be a supervisor and the process to do so is extremely difficult and isn't worth it as they barely made more then regular crew. I did encounter a lot of rude students that made messes as you cleaned or would refuse to leave the area so you could clean. You also will experience a lot of elitism from staff in higher positions. If there are weather conditions they make you come to work despite the adverse weather policy they have. The whole experience with low pay and no raises both times I worked there was horrible and I do not recommend for anyone to work there. I am not a bitter ex-employee just trying to give it to you honest.

The Biology Department's Martin's Lab was an intensive research experience. We built our research projects based upon previous studies the lab successfully conducted. We, the research assistants, helped the different graduate students plan how to conduct the study, construct the apparatuses, run the experiments and then, finally, examine the data. The lab conducted weekly meetings to discuss any problems that might have arose, in order to gain the help from other members in the lab. The experience taught me about time management, teamwork, meeting deadlines, and learning to think differently. The research process also taught me how to deal with trial and error. There were times, after we created the apparatuses, when my group and I noticed a small glitch. We would then have to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new apparatus. At times it would be tiring and frustrating, but it was a valuable experience to go through. The most enjoyable part of the experience was working with graduate students, while I was an undergraduate student. I was able to learn the process and difficulties of higher education. It gave me a better understanding on whether or not I would want to pursue more education. I gained close relationships with the other individuals in the lab and I still remain in contact with them.

My typical workday would consist of twelve hour shifts beginning at 0700.  After report, assessments were completed, and medication administration would begin.  The remainder of the day was spent reassessing the patients every hour, if not more frequently.  Most days on the ICU I had two patients that would be every fifteen minute vital signs for twelve hours.  On the progressive care units, I would generally have a three patient assignment with varying levels of acuity.  All patients were complete care, with no ancillary staff to help with the patient's basic needs.  I learned quite a bit in the short amount of time that I was there between all of the different ICU's: medical, surgical, transplant, neuro, and the bone marrow transplant unit.  The management consisted of a shift supervisor, as well as a unit manager, to whom I was very rarely introduced.  My co-workers were generally not helpful, as they themselves were equally as busy, and had no time to stop to help anyone else.  As this was the case on most of the units, I felt that general patient care suffered tremendously.  Patient satisfaction on most units was generally low.  The hardest part of my job was transitioning between the units, as there was no consistency in what was required of me.  The most enjoyable part of my job was learning all of the new information that I had not experienced at my former place of employment.

I loved working here. I enjoyed meeting new people and I enjoyed learning different parts of this job. I got the manager position after I graduated college from IUS. 
I was in charge of staffing, scheduling, training, keeping inventory, and making sure everyone was doing their job. 
Of course, like most jobs there was a little bit of drama, but I eliminated it, because I would not put up with it. 
Everyone that worked in the coffee shops had responsibilities, I had them all own up to doing daily tasks through out the day so that no one would be with out supplies. 
But the most important thing that I told all of my associates was that school comes first, that's the most important thing, job comes second. 
Oh and being able to make new drinks, and trying out new recipes was always fun! We tried to have seasonal drinks, and end of the school year drinks as well. I also decorated the coffee shops for the different holiday's that were approaching as well. 
Another amazing thing was that you got to smell like coffee after work so that was also a plus.
Like I said I loved this job, I loved my staff and everyone I got to work with. I really wish I didn't have to quit, but they didn't want to pay me full time, give me full time hours with benefits either, so I was very upset to quit this job. But I guess I had to move on.

I have worked for this company in different capacities throughout the years. The last two years have been the worst, and this will continue for the next several years because of a massive budget deficit of the university. 

The current administration of the university does not care about the staff. We aren’t given raises, positions are no longer reposted when someone leaves … the job responsibilities of those who have left just get added on to others already full jobs. I am currently working what could be considered 3-4 full time positions, there is never enough time to give the proper attention to any one area of my job because of this. We are all spread very thin and the current moral of the staff is terrible, because no one feels appreciated for taking on extra responsibilities through the years. 

The pay is considerably lower than comparable jobs in the Michiana area, and currently, to solve a massive budget deficit, the administration is getting ready to cut full time positions, adjunct faculty, programs, and consolidate schools if needed. The climate of the university is very dark right now. Wouldn’t recommend joining IUSB during the current administration. 

I learned there is always more than one right answer, there is a time for deep analysis and a time when one must just be brave enough to make a plan and lead the charge (even if you aren't 100% sure), that clear communication is vital and that sometimes you win--even if you aren't the best, by just working harder than the other guy. And sometimes you lose for reasons you might never know. The key is to keep trying.

I loved working for IU. There were times more difficult than others but they hired me as a secretary when I was a single 20 year old mother with nothing but a high school diploma and a desire to give my son a better life. They believed in me, promoted me, encouraged me, and allowed me to turn myself into a successful professional with 2 degrees + graduate hours and the opportunity to work on projects I'm sure I never would have been exposed to in the private sector.

It is a very political environment (but where isn't these days) yet I made friends for life and had the opportunity to meet/work with many individuals that have had a great influence on our lives and times. Thank you, IU, for helping me become who I am today.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Instructor 12 salaries reported	$22,375 per year
Research assistant 12 salaries reported	$15.67 per hour
Graduate assistant 4 salaries reported	$25,942 per year
Graduate researcher 16 salaries reported	$28,875 per year
Postdoctoral fellow 18 salaries reported	$55,544 per year

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