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Arizona State University

Engaged employer

English Department Instructors are over-worked and massively underpaid. - English Instructor Arizona State University Employee Review

2.0
6 Jun 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good benefits. Beautiful campus. Great colleagues and students.

Cons

Management continues to pile on more and more students, so that what started as a 4 course load each semester is now a 5 course load per semester with NO COMPENSATION for that change. This means that for a measly 36K per year (lowest salary for English in the whole country) we are expected to offer individual attention to 125 first year college students and help them learn to write. Never mind that many arrive unable to write a sentence and needing much more help to get used to college, we are expected to take care of them. We're paid for 40 hours a week, but typically have to work 80 hours a week to keep up. We're expected to be grading machines. A typical semester requires that we grade (line edit, explain problems, mark errors) over a 1000 assignments. The recommended maximum number of first year writing students per instructor (per the NCTE) is 65. We're being forced to teach 125. When I got here 10 years ago, I had 76 students each semester. Now, I have 125. Our load has increased by 46% and there's been little or no compensation for that increase. We're asked to give more than is humanly possible. And we care about our students. We want them to succeed. Yet ASU continues to Waltmartify the educational experience by exploiting staff. Do NOT EVER COME HERE to work as an Instructor. You'll regret it if you do.

Explore other reviews about Arizona State University

5.0
26 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Research oriented, learnt a lot.

Cons

Experience gained, depends on the research project and team.

2.0
29 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Competitive pay for some positions, some great colleagues.

Cons

The "culture" in some non academic departments is incredibly toxic. Employees often see others as competitors and some will try to throw others under the bus to avoid being in trouble from senior leaders. It is slow to get any work done if you need upper admin approval and often time work that you have created and completed is thrown away and never looked at again. Personalities of some administrators is very fake and friendly, when they will cut you with no regard or thoughts. The senior administrators of ASU act in a cult like manner and tightly control many goals, works, etc. You will most often have little to no freedom to accomplish the goals that you know would be best for your department because you spend an inordinate amount of time on projects deemed important to senior leaders, that have little to no impact but padding a report for someone in Fulton. Culture is extremely toxic in many areas, and senior leaders refuse to listen to those serving and trying to provide feedback. There is heavy turnover in many areas, while adminstrators turn a blind eye to it and chalk it up to "normal" turnover. Many mid level managers end up sick, stressed, seeking new employment, or taking FMLA to try to deal with the stress and trauma. You will have little opportunity for advancement unless you move departments regularly, or by hunkering down to be a lackey. Routinely expect last minute requirements and expectations, budget cuts without notice, and little to no professional development or support. Depending on the area you may also deal with difficult students/parents who are not held accountable for their actions.

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