student assistant

graduate assistant

assistant professor

dean of students

assistant director

Miami University

First I just wanna clarify I would NOT recommend this "Prestigious" school for a job. I'll set most of my stuff like a list so read on, it gets better. They try to pull you in with there promises of competitive pay and that if you work for the school you can go for "free" no strings attached. A small minority of the managers are alumni from the school, go figure. Anyways, I was a BGA (Building and Grounds Assistant) Sounds so good right? No, your just a lonely dishwasher, basically the lowest scum of this crooked totem pole. Here's my list:

Management:
It is an absolute JOKE, a zoo managed by a bunch of apes could probably run things better than this place. Especially the alumni, they feel a sense of entitlement which seems to be a common trait with most of the snobbish students/managers. They all hide in their offices only to come out to bark out orders only to quickly retreat back into there holes, but they still find the time to micro-manage. Actually, the guy who is the director just sits and watches the cameras all day. Now, for me my Supervisor was great, shes basically the head honcho of the area I worked at. However, I will have to mention that her ability to manage fairly was lacking in many aspects.

Workplace Culture/Co-workers:
Honestly, I have never worked anywhere that has shown more helpful staff. When I first started there was never a sense of, "that was a stupid question". The other BGA's, FSA's were absolutely awesome with helping me. But, see there's a catch. With that, it's a very hostile work environment due to the fact that everyone wants some sort of job advancement opportunities, but there is nothing of the sort. It's a big school full of more "qualified" people, and most of the time once someone gets into a better position they just stay stagnant which I don't blame. The other thing I wanna point out is the whole "free" college ploy they like to push. They tell you that your job comes first before school, yet the contradict this with the students who have actually paid to go to the school that school comes first. I know apples to oranges, but still, they don't really let you do better for yourself by providing the educational opportunity.

The hardest part of the job:
Really it's just washing the dishes, but I do wanna point out that some of the other positions are overworked a little bit. They are understaffed because the job turnover rate is HORRIBLE. They just did another pay raise, but the cost of living doesn't compare to what they wanna pay. 

So, there's my review. If I were you I'd look somewhere else better because it definitely isn't Miami. They pull you in for one position only to be like, "Oh, we have positions open for Food Service." You most likely won't get the position you applied for, they'll try to send you over to the food halls, which by the way are absolutely nasty on cleanliness, which again its "partly" because of low staff, but still, grab a mop or broom and clean the place up. And parking is an absolute JOKE. Even if you pay for parking, there's no guarantee you'll find a parking place so paying is almost a waste of money. My time at Miami is nothing I d look back and be like I miss that job Like I said if I were you keep calm, and carry on.

A typical day a work consists of showing up to the classroom, having everyone (students) find their seats and class commences. To begin the lab, lecture material is dictated to the students with questions welcome at any point in time. The lab procedures are told to the students, allowing time for the students to digest the ideas and ask questions for clarification if needed. Following the background lecture and lab procedures to give the students information supplementing the experiment, the practical lab procedures begin. I walk around the classroom as the students work in groups (most of the time) to make sure they're conducting the processes correctly. Once the lab ends, the students clean up the lab, wipe down their work stations with ethanol, and we have a concluding discussion to make sure the topic makes sense to the students.
I've learned many things in my position as a TA. Among these are how to work with students, as well as be an authority figure amongst them. The management experience of working with a classroom full of students is invaluable. I found that every week I was learning new things, and that working with a culturally eclectic classroom allowed me to learn how to interact uniformly, while still making the student feel wanted and included. The hardest part of the job was grading hand-written exams, which were a mandatory part of the course. However, reading the different styles of writing and types of penmanship made the experience much more personal. The most enjoyable part of the job was working with the students. I enjoy being sociable and interacting with the individuals I am teaching, and passing on the knowledge to students is extremely rewarding.

At Miami University, once you were able to obtain a position, you retired from Miami!  When I was hired on it was at a low pay rate, but the health benefits and retirement benefits were excellent along with the perks of being able to send your children to college nearly for free, as well as not having to worry that you would ever lose your job there.  As time went on, all of that changed.  Little by little, they started taking benefits away or increasing the cost of insurance without increasing pay at all.  I know that I personally went 3 years without any pay increase.  The environment was very negative, even though the required duties were not difficult.  Once budget cuts were announced and jobs were being eliminated, it got worse.  Avoiding the rumors and gossip was probably the hardest part of this job.  The work wasn't difficult, if performed correctly.  Follow ups and organization was key to being successful both individually and as a group.  Not getting caught up in the "noise" going on with talk that wasn't work related was something I became very good at in this position.  Also, I worked with everyone from the university president, to directors, instructors and students, so I really perfected my customer service approach in this position.  I at this time learned how to focus on what needed done, overcome the negativity in the workplace and stay on target.  The most enjoyable part of my position at Miami University was meeting so many different types of people, many of whom I still keep in touch with from time to time.

A typical day would start in the morning with early feed, water and grain. Then all horses would need to be turned out into the specified pastures. Once this was complete, all stalls had to be mucked to ensure sanitary living conditions.Once this was complete the horses would be returned back to the stalls for practice/competition preparation. Finally the late water, grain, and feed would occur before last clean. 

Most of the employees working were student employees like myself. Majority were on the equestrian team and our managers were the equestrian coaches. I was not on the equestrian team, so communicating with the managers was difficult because they were never around. Although this brought me closer to my co-workers and I learned how to make decisions on my own thinking of the managers intentions. 

The most important thing I have learned from this job is awareness of your surroundings and attention to detail. Horses are large, easily spooked, animals that can never be fully anticipated. Everyday the workers were in danger of getting injured in one fashion or another. For this reason, one needs to be fully aware of what is going on around them and how the horse is acting. Picking up on details, like how the horse is holding itself can be the difference to finishing the day without being injured.

Overall, so-so. Not bad, not great. As is the case for most of higher ed, the administration of your particular department or agency has a lot to do with how your job will feel.

I worked in the University libraries in Oxford. Admin is distant, not really super involved in day-to-day operations and most won't know much about you aside from your name and maybe a few general facts. The librarians aren't present always, in fact they don't work a service desk at all and seldom will you encounter them unless you are a fellow librarian and as a result a lot of work falls on the assistants. 

The atmosphere is just okay. Not really super congenial but not hostile by any means. The Circulation and tech services department are run by a management that does at times play favorites, especially when it comes to scheduling but that seems standard at most companies and institutions. 

Miami does offer decent benefits, the healthcare was good and the pay was fair. I commend their work from home policy as well. The university is a stable and sound place to work but don't expect a lot of room for advancement, warmth or even anyone to care a lot about you or what you contribute. The atmosphere is very static and traditional (at least within the libraries). However, if stability and predictability are what you are looking for then this might be the place for you.

Overall, very average. 3/5

This is not the same Miami of the past. After budget cutbacks, there is no such thing as job security. The bean counters manage the budget like a for-profit business. In the private sector, that's common sense. However, this is still a state funded institution as much as they try to manage like a private school. One person is now expected to do the job of 4. Corners are being cut and it shows.There are no incentives to do exceptional work because there are no rewards, just an expectation to do more work. The "new" Miami does not plan for you to stay there for 30 years, nor does it want you to for that matter.

Wages are poverty level. A person cannot survive on the entry level wage with most positions. Benefits are being taken away little by little. Health insurance was a benefit that used to be 100% on Miami. Newer employees who haven't been grandfathered in pay for insurance now. As far as advancement, there is no such thing. Nepotism runs rampant. Miami is too top heavy with managers and more managers.  

This is not the place to go if you are looking for hourly pay. As far as salaried position, that's a different story.

Was hired for a role that wasn't anything like the title would imply. Was replacing someone who was retiring. Incredible complexity due to literally 1000+ spreadsheets, none of which were linked and that had to be maintained manually, plus learning all kinds of systems and memorizing thousands of accounts/scholarships/chairs/etc. Lots of low level accounting tasks when hired for high level duties. Learned how much time the retiree actually spent doing this job (50-60 hours/week in the office PLUS taking work home on weekends and on "vacations"), no way could anybody learn this job and keep up with that workload. HR and VP for Finance never conducted a job audit to see if this was a full time job. I gave notice and then they brought in temp help. Job was split into 2.5 FTEs!!! Imagine that, they hired one person (me) to do the work of 2.5 people, because the person leaving was doing the work of two people, and they never bothered to put 2 + 2 together that this wasn't a pne person job!! Screwed up my work history, soured me on the school ( I am an alum) and have heard since then that this is how they operate. Would never recommend working there, only gave it two stars because you get food discounts in dining halls and the food is pretty decent, haha!

If you want to work in the food service part of Miami University, I give you credit. You are overworked, underappreciated and underpaid for the things you will have to endure. The dining halls and al la carte locations are severely understaffed and management expects you to manage an area with little to no help. I think the food service assistants and the assistant managers need a raise before the president of the university since they deal with more than just serving the students their food. I would enjoy helping the students, after all, that is my job. I loved making sure they ate their breakfast or lunch. The fast pace environment made for a fast day unless it was only you and you would have to face off with over 400 students in less than 8 hours give or take. I truly loved my job but I did not enjoy the fact every day you would have to wonder if you were going to be able to get a break you are entitled to. The upper management was poorly managed and loved to play favorites. They need to evaluate all their managers and give the ones who actually know how to manage the praise they deserve because they do more than anyone else I know who loves to micromanage but not actually manage.

Miami University, located in Oxford, Ohio, is a great place to work for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, the university is committed to providing its faculty and staff with a supportive and inclusive work environment. This includes comprehensive benefits packages, ample opportunities for professional development, and a culture of collaboration and mutual respect.

Miami University also boasts a beautiful and historic campus that is a joy to work on. From the lush green lawns to the classic brick buildings, the university's physical environment fosters a sense of community and pride in one's work. Additionally, Miami University is home to a diverse student body, which provides employees with the opportunity to work with and learn from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Finally, Miami University is dedicated to academic excellence and innovation, which creates a dynamic and engaging workplace for its employees. Whether you are a faculty member conducting groundbreaking research or a staff member supporting the university's mission in a myriad of ways, working at Miami University is an enriching and fulfilling experience.

I am sorry but Miami University is a beautiful campus but there is no parking for students or employees .  We pay more every year yet have no set places to park..you have to walk as much as 10-15 minutes just to get into your work area usually.   There is no chance for advancement as they hire from the outside mostly when there are internal positions.  Management is poor so its hard to do your job well.   We are also short on help in many departments as it takes forever for HR to fill positions.  I suppose this is due to low wages and poor morale..most people don't stay or want to work here.  We have poor systems..like hire touch and the support staff does not even know how to navigate this system.  I work in a center so I love the students and culture of my workplace but not the University as a whole.  I have been here many years but it is time to move on.  I would have to say the best part of working here is the flexibility.  You can take lots of time off.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Student assistant 7 salaries reported	$12.64 per hour
Graduate assistant 7 salaries reported	$21,786 per year
Assistant professor 3 salaries reported	$51,379 per year
Dean of students 19 salaries reported	$27.50 per hour
Assistant director 5 salaries reported	$48,600 per year

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