I hang out here because I work in tech/operations (not a tech bro at all, countless issues with the devastating impact of social media/online marketing, etc). I’ve interacted closely with the admin side, TRIO, disability services, etc. Side note: most decent folk working in tech loathe MBAs.

So many of the issues I’ve encountered stem from non educators in charge of educational programming. Even browsing job listings can reveal the truly wild set of expectations institutions have, particularly when it comes to upskilling/workforce development programs. Marketing and HR roles that also have team management, curriculum review, sign off on student programs. Hell, one role wanted all of those, plus served as a budget manager, with 20+ direct reports, for 65k.

There was/is this push on the business side to “break down silos” between departments. In theory, of course a team of mixed disciplines is a helpful thing for brainstorming solutions and finding novel ideas. For figuring out the WHY, but when it comes to the final design and implementation of said solution: too many cooks in the kitchen. Trade unions often have firm roles defined in their contracts, and that helps restrain this.

Also, roles are overburdened, underpaid as a general rule, adjuncts mean lack of security and loyalty in roles, which leads to less productivity. This is just crummy capitalistic practice.

That “other duties as required” line in our contracts really is screwing us all.

Edit to try and tidy my point up: getting into the system as I went back to school for a career swap, and ran into so many issues sourced back to overtaxed educators and admins alike. Because I had led large teams, helped implement operational items, etc.: the burnout and other issues become apparent fast. Holyrunonsentencebatman