Great experience but FT are bottom of social ladder - Fixed Term Faculty Penn State Employee Review

4.0
Jun 23, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

For being a large research focused university, they are actually focused on students and teaching. Great colleagues and supervisors who care and are supportive. Access to any technology you want for your class, research/projects you want to work on, and access to any expert you could ever want. It's all at your fingertips.

Cons

Despite PSU relying heavily on fixed term faculty (in most colleges the majority of faculty are FT), it is made VERY clear that you are at the bottom of the PSU ladder. What you have to say does not matter. But if a tenured faculty says the same thing, oh Lord, what a great idea! At least for FT teaching faculty, your job is strictly to teach. Research and publication is NOT part of your contract, which may be fine for some folks, but need to remember that lack of research and publications is going to hurt you when looking for another position. New FT contract is BS. States that the college/university can terminate you with only 12 weeks notice. WTH is the point in a yearly or multiyear contract!? FT faculty were NOT consulted on this, the change was just made.

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5.0
Jul 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great treat, clear platform, adequate salary

Cons

No cons at all honestly

3.0
Jul 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent Benefits, Nice Amounts of Time off

Cons

Staff are the lowest of the totem pole and you KNOW it. Pay not enough to live by yourself as a working adult in State College Area. Will waste your time if there's nothing to do by requiring you to sit there while faculty and admin get to "work from home" (they really don't) President Benepudi will probably give herself 2 more $1.5 million pay increases while you work there unable to afford a simple apartment by yourself.

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