assistant professor

student assistant

teaching assistant

research assistant

lecturer

San Jose State University

Associated Students is a dynamic and inclusive organization that truly values student voices and empowerment. My experience with them has been nothing short of fantastic. They offer a wide range of services and opportunities that cater to diverse student needs, from organizing engaging events to providing essential resources like counseling and academic support.

What sets Associated Students apart is their unwavering commitment to fostering a sense of community on campus. Through their various clubs, committees, and initiatives, they create spaces where students can connect, collaborate, and make a difference. Their dedication to sustainability and social justice issues is also commendable, as they strive to create a campus environment that is not only vibrant but also socially responsible.

Moreover, the staff and volunteers at Associated Students are incredibly passionate and dedicated individuals who go above and beyond to support students in achieving their goals. Whether it's through advocacy efforts, leadership development programs, or simply being a friendly face on campus, Associated Students truly embodies the spirit of student-centeredness. I highly recommend getting involved with Associated Students – it's not just a student organization, it's a community that empowers and uplifts every member.

Generally, the coworkers were friendly, depending on the department you work, and if lucky, you might receive a load as high as 7 classes per semester as an adjunct of associate professor.  However, you have to work 3 consecutive semesters to receive any benefits beyond a mandated retired Savings Plus retirement program.  If you work summers, there is a high probability that the departmental secretary will not submit the vouchers needed to ensure that you will get paid by the college because they will suddenly go on vacation of sudden sick leave and no one in Human Resources or the Union will have any idea that you are working.  To make a long story short, CSU San Jose has a major problem with communication between departments, I learnt that they will not be available in any department when it comes to issues important to their employees.  The culture is "you are on your own" and even after great evaluations, expect to have 2 semesters of work and be cut loose and expected to apply later on for more work.  This habit is to restrict paying benefits, and the hardest part of the job ensuring that you get paid when promised and securing future work.

The administration is tainted by the new president who ruined UC Hayward while he was there.  Now he is slowly replacing people in key positions at SJSU from Hayward that helped him get what he wants.  There are redundant positions everywhere so they can keep a high ratio of admin to faculty positions.  A lot of time and energy is wasted.  Admins in the admissions just stand around and talk half the time and don't have anything to do.

As far as education classes are cut when enrollment hasn't met an impossible number even before registration has ended.  And necessary classes are cut to switch them to summer classes.  This allows the university to charge a special session fee that is more than the regular semester fee.  These are classes students need to graduate so even though this is a state school they are just as evil as the for profits.

Students however make their best effort to use what they have to make their time worth it.  Student orgs are strong and attitudes survive through the constant construction.

Loved the diversity of students and fellow faculty, but my experience was limited due to being a lecturer (adjunct faculty).  Though I was able to get a 3-year entitlement as they call it in one department which garaunteed me 2 classes per semester, the other department I worked for never came through for me, and 2 classes are NOT enough to survive on anywhere in the Bay Area, so I had to move away and give up my entitelement.  Faculty housing on campus was a seriously bad joke:  I lived there during the financial crisis in 2009 and when everywhere else rents were declining SJSU faculty housing rates kept climbing, so had to move out.  When I asked about the absurdity of their ever-increasing rents, I was told that they were set by committee and that the committee no longer exists therefore nothing could be done.  But they have abandoned their original commitment to providing any housing assistance to new faculty - probably in violation of their charter.  Great place to work if you can afford to live anywhere nearby....

I worked as a Student Assistant at San Jose State University, which provided me with a valuable opportunity to balance my academic responsibilities while gaining professional experience. The role allowed me to develop essential skills in teamwork, communication, and time management. My supervisors were supportive and understanding of my academic commitments, which made it easier to manage my workload.

The work environment was generally positive, with a focus on student success and flexibility in scheduling. However, like many part-time student positions, the compensation was modest, and there were limited opportunities for career advancement within the role.

Overall, working as a Student Assistant at SJSU was a beneficial experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally. I would recommend this role to students looking to enhance their skills and build their resume while pursuing their studies.

Feel free to adjust this review based on your specific experiences and preferences.

Being a teacher means no day is the same; both the professor and the student face daily challenges.  What I enjoy most about my profession is the ability to create an environment where students develop a thirst to improve their communication proficiency in Spanish.  I also appreciate the interaction with my colleagues who share the same goals, as their experiences contribute to my professional growth.  I enjoy the chance to turn difficult tasks into opportunities to improve my students' education.  For instance, a student who may be shyer than his classmates poses a challenge to me as his teacher because I must find a way to connect to him and make him feel comfortable participating in class.  Although at first it may seem hard, the satisfaction of seeing him communicating with confidence makes the hard work worth it.  I love my profession because I believe communication is a person's most valuable resource for personal growth.

Staff are completely overloaded as SJSU focuses on hiring additional faculty while  doing away with positions of staff who have retired or quit; staff who remain are now taking on the tasks of those who have left.

Upper Admin are not flexible with staff at hours at all; there is zero flexibility. We are required to be in the office 5 days per week/8 hours per day, even those of us who work behind the scenes in support of departmental business  operations. Staff concerns appear to never be taken seriously.

The main campus is located in downtown San Jose and is surrounded by garbage and people who live in the area that openly harass staff, faculty, and students; campus is open to the public and it’s common to find that people are using restrooms as public bathing and sleeping facilities - staff do not have staff only restrooms.

Office of about 65 employees. A typical day for me would include opening up the office, and restocking the supply cabinet and kitchen area so the office as a whole can perform proficiently. I learned the technical skills of both HR and receptionist. Skills include, proper office etiquette, costumer service, employee laws and regulations, hiring procedures, safe work environment, ability to take on multiple project and being able to manage your time effectively. Management was among the most professional in the area of HR compared to past jobs I have worked and they really make it feel like your department is family. Hardest part of the job would have to be working with each others schedules. Everyone in the office is very busy. The most enjoyable part was the different cultures of people you get to interact with and meet.

As this was my first job, I learned quite a bit from interacting with my boss. I had a fixed time to come in everyday and work. During the school year, I generally came in after my classes and went home late, after I got my work done. During the summer, I worked earlier and as was needed. The work was pretty easy and not too demanding. I processed and organized music scores and took inventory of what the library had. I used my skills of organizing and performing routine work daily. Sometimes, I had to use a step ladder to put away materials. My boss was in his office doing work as I worked, and I was free to ask him anything I needed help with or clarification on. I learned how to work diligently and learned what was basically required of me, and I also learned standard musical instrument names as I processed old and new scores. Overall, my job as a library assistant was very satisfying. 

A typical day consisted of advising and instructing students and staff how health is communicated to the public through technology. What I learned: Many staff and students come from very diverse backgrounds and everyone learned at various levels. Training was challenging, but exciting in regards to this aspect because it helped me modify training materials to adhere to the needs of the audience. My co-workers were amazing and I was able to foster a network of lasting relationships with everyone I connected to in this work environment, both inside and outside of work. I believe the most difficult part of this job was having to leave everyone I enjoyed working with when I moved. They most enjoyable part was watching the growth and knowledge that was retained by students and staff.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Assistant professor 43 salaries reported	$99,111 per year
Student assistant 4 salaries reported	$18.75 per hour
Teaching assistant 8 salaries reported	$21.09 per hour
Research assistant 4 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour
Lecturer 4 salaries reported	$65,000 per year

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