In my eight years with DeVry, there have been constant changes. I loved the job when I first started. Of course I had my complaints because no job is perfect, but I was as happy as I had ever been. With the recent improvements that had been made just prior to my start, I was proud to be a part of it. Things continued to improve for a couple of years afterward too -- increased academic rigor, improved quality in courses, more support for students, increased involvement in industry events, and other meaningful upgrades. Students were landing great jobs and I was proud of that.
Then things gradually started to decline. I think it started when professors lost academic freedom, being forced to adopt standardized course content rather than teaching the courses as they saw fit. Then more and more oppressive elements began to descend upon us -- more frequent observations and performance reviews, increased expectations for university service, and various other instances of micro-management and additional (uncompensated) obligations. Then the layoffs started the elimination of key people, some who had been with us for over 20 years. Then more layoffs, and just this week, more still. Those of use who survive are carrying double or triple duty to make up for the loss, are still held to the same quality standards, and it's about to get worse.
I wish I could say the decline only affects employees, but sadly, it's just as bad or worse for students. With our depleted resources, we can't offer the same number of classes we used to. Students are forced to choose from a limited selection of courses each session, and frequently, those courses do not match up with their needs, forcing them to either take an unwanted course, take something online, risk losing their financial aid, or relocate across the country to a campus that offers what they need. (So yes, they technically have options, but not good ones.) The university is now starting to offer new (and genuinely improved) degree programs, but unless they can replenish our resources, students in those programs will fare no better.
Indeed, greed and questionable ethics dominate the corporate strategy. The noble thing to do at this point would be to use whatever resources we have left to formulate an exit strategy. Lay off the admissions department, halt the new ill-advised local marketing campaigns (huge money savings there), teach out the students we currently have, and then bow out gracefully, with dignity. But as long as there are still pennies to squeeze out of students, that's probably not going to happen.
I could easily go on with a plethora of factors I did not yet mention, but that's enough ranting. Suffice it to say, I am no longer proud to be a part of what this organization has become, and soon enough I shall wash my hands of it.