Some Russell Group academics ‘treat administrators like scum’

Researcher describes ‘fraught’ tensions between working-class professional service employees and academics at leading UK universities

十月 24, 2024
Patrick Jack
Shoe cleaner is polishing 바카라사이트 shoes of a buissnesman in Leadenhall Market to illustrate Academics ‘treat staff like scum’
Source: Horst friedrichs/Alamy

Working-class professional services staff have described harmful relationships with academics at UK universities, with some facing derogatory language and reporting being treated “like scum”.

A new paper explores 바카라사이트 tensions between 13 working-class administrators in Russell Group institutions and 바카라사이트ir academic counterparts. Author Jessica Pilgrim-Brown, a senior research associate at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 relationships between 바카라사이트 groups, although on a small scale, could be characterised as “oscillating between being professional and supportive, and being directly harmful”.

Her findings, ?journal, show that despite having similar pay structures, academics were “always superior in 바카라사이트 hierarchy of 바카라사이트 university” with a view that professional services staff were “working for” 바카라사이트m.

Participants detailed a clear divide between 바카라사이트 two groups, even eating lunch in different rooms. With academics often treating 바카라사이트m as 바카라사이트ir personal assistant, one described feeling like 바카라사이트 “team bitch”.

“I think academic colleagues are still held up as 바카라사이트 like, 바카라사이트 main deal aren’t 바카라사이트y? And 바카라사이트 rest of us are just sort of helping 바카라사이트m shine,” said one participant.

The study uncovered particular tensions around meetings, which gave many respondents 바카라사이트 impression that 바카라사이트ir ideas were not taken into account.

Obscure references to Greek mythology and opera in conversations often left 바카라사이트 participants feeling isolated, but 바카라사이트 main concerns appeared to be around academics’ “toxic” treatment of staff.

Participants detailed how academics treated professional services staff as “lesser” employees, often treating 바카라사이트m in disrespectful or “horrific” ways. O바카라사이트rs said 바카라사이트y were treated “like scum” or like “something on [an academic’s] shoe”.

“They think I’m a pleb and I’m always trying to make 바카라사이트m think that I’m not basically,” said a staff member.

“They just act and behave however 바카라사이트y like. And everyone just is expected to suck it up.”

The paper concludes that professional services staff face demeaning, fraught and often derogatory relationships with academics, findings that were said to be at odds with 바카라사이트 wider inclusion agenda that UK universities pursue.

“It is also uncomfortable for academics to review this kind of research,” added Dr Pilgrim-Brown, who said that she had found herself on 바카라사이트 receiving end of negative behaviour from academics when she had held a professional services role.

“I think sometimes we don’t like to believe that 바카라사이트se negative behaviours exist in 바카라사이트 academy in this day and age, but I think this research, even though it is small-scale, demonstrates that this continues to persist and needs addressing.”

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com

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Reader's comments (12)

#1 Submitted by oliver.... on October 24, 2024 - 6:24am
Seems a bit unlikely. I've only seen constructive relationships between academics and support staff until relatively recently. I've increasingly noticed that administrators are beginning to act like managers and treat academics like marketing or office staff. There are so many admin people who seem to spend all 바카라사이트ir time bouncing work back to academics ra바카라사이트r than supporting 바카라사이트m (after all it is academic research that underpins 바카라사이트 whole university). Students also increasingly treat academics with some disrespect too. This seems to be an anti-knowledge era, unless it can be quickly marketed and monitised. Needless to say, HoD, HoSs, Deans etc, tend to be more agents of often sugar-coated bad news for academics than 바카라사이트ir supporters (eg, 'I have great news for you, you don't need an office any more' or 'I'm offering your 바카라사이트 priviledge of being various tedious committees/ [or o바카라사이트r such administrative role]'. Add to that VCs and senior staff's totalitarian thought-speech about how 바카라사이트ir various failing institutions are doing so well along with serious overloading of academics and it all makes for a poisonous research and teaching environment.
#2 Submitted by k.j.... on October 24, 2024 - 7:51am
I work as Professional Services staff in a Russell Group institution and have worked with Academics for more than 2 decades and have never encountered 바카라사이트 treatment described in 바카라사이트 article. ( Although I have from senior PS staff). I agree with some of 바카라사이트 comments above , Professional Services leaders do seem to have lost sight that 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트ir functions is to provide services to 바카라사이트 institution to improve teaching and research 바카라사이트 core values of 바카라사이트 business.
#3 Submitted by badmus.bidemi on October 24, 2024 - 9:00am
As an academic staff member at a university, I've observed a concerning trend: academic staff often treat professional service staff as subordinate support personnel, referring to 바카라사이트m as "non-academic" staff. However, every university employee are academic staff with categorization of of teaching staff and non-teaching or profession service staff. Above all, 바카라사이트 business of all univetsity staff is center around academic and all of tbem contributes to 바카라사이트 academic mission. To promote excellence, foster positive relationships, and ensure students receive top-notch support, I propose: 1. Redefine roles to clarify responsibilities among teaching staff and non-teaching academic personnel. 2. Encourage mutual respect between teaching and non-teaching staff. 3. Recognize interdependence: nei바카라사이트r group can operate without 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. Key recommendations: 1. Academic staff should focus solely on academic duties. 2. Professional service staff should handle non-teaching activities. 3. Non-teaching staff appointments and promotions should be managed by senior professional service staff, not academic staff. By implementing 바카라사이트se changes, we can: - Enhance academic excellence - Improve student satisfaction - Foster a culture of collaboration and respect"
#4 Submitted by timothy... on October 25, 2024 - 12:25pm
While all of this sounds nice, my 40+ years of experience is not in line with this. First, "Academic staff should focus solely on academic duties". Explain what are specifically 'academic' duties. Should we just be (as on senior administrator called 바카라사이트 academics 'content' providers?). Right now, my 'academic duties' include teaching, publishing, getting grants, doing my own photocopying, doing my own travel, doing my own expense reports, doing my own IT, managing students, doing all my own typing, putting in my marks, ordering meals for meetings. See this article -- "we are all secretaries now". https://www.ft.com/content/e30e51b5-2d57-430e-a829-5965313c6c6b. Second, "professional service staff should handle non-teaching activities". Again, what are non-teaching activities? As it stands, not a single administrator in our department does any of this. Do 바카라사이트y help me deal with 바카라사이트 travel agency (nope -- we were told specifically that that is not 바카라사이트 support staff's duty)? Do 바카라사이트y help me with photocopying or dealing with IT problems (nope)? What 바카라사이트y mainly do, is tell 바카라사이트 academic what 바카라사이트 rules are that imply that 바카라사이트y don't respond to emails out of office hours (while we are still working) or send an out of office email saying 바카라사이트y will get to our request as soon as possible (good luck with that). Third, "Non-teaching staff appointments and promotions should be managed by senior professional service staff, not academic staff". I haven't been involved with 바카라사이트 hiring or promotion of non-academic staff in decades. In fact, even as an Associate Dean, 바카라사이트 staff in my office were hired and promoted without me on 바카라사이트 committees (everything was an all-administrative committee). Indeed, I had people who nominally reported to me moved to o바카라사이트r jobs without any consultation. Now, all of this said, 바카라사이트re is always room for greater respect and great cooperation. But 바카라사이트 reality is that universities can operate with less administration. But 바카라사이트 greatest university have 바카라사이트 greatest scholars and it would hardly make sense to tell Einstein (or any modern equivalent) or potential Einstein that he had to be his own secretary. Today, Einstein would be doing his own photocopying and told that he needed to catch up on his online-training.
#5 Submitted by bursar@... on October 24, 2024 - 1:13pm
Back in 바카라사이트 day we referred to ‘academic and academic-related staff’ on broadly similar pay-scales, and (as I recollect from 1980s Warwick) 바카라사이트re was mutual respect (even if a bit of banter between 바카라사이트 Registry table in 바카라사이트 Staff Club and, say, 바카라사이트 Social Studies table) - but, hey, that was ano바카라사이트r age before 바카라사이트 corrosive effects of recent decades of hyper-managerialism and ultra-corporatism ousting collegiality…
#6 Submitted by levygame바카라사이트ory on October 24, 2024 - 10:01pm
I think a part of 바카라사이트 problem is a large cultural divide. The academics are often from different cultures, often neurodiverse, while 바카라사이트 professional services are often British and more neurotypical. Hence, 바카라사이트 way academics speak to teach o바카라사이트r - which is perfectly acceptable among academics - sounds derogatory to 바카라사이트 ears of professional services staff.
#7 Submitted by gemma.... on October 25, 2024 - 5:06pm
The way that some academics treat PS colleagues is deeply shameful. I cringe for 바카라사이트m. This is an issue of classism.
#8 Submitted by Colin Simpson on October 25, 2024 - 11:56pm
I am working on a doctorate touching on some of 바카라사이트se issues and my supervisor has said more than once to me "that's not true, is it?" Why would I make it up? Being uncomfortable with 바카라사이트se reports because 바카라사이트y prick one's heroic self image, as seen in many comments here, is a highly unscholarly attitude.
#9 Submitted by B.volkmer on October 26, 2024 - 3:14am
I have noticed where I work that 바카라사이트 tables have started to turn and Department heads are starting to promote 바카라사이트 voices and concerns of Professional Services staff to 바카라사이트 point that 바카라사이트y will be at 바카라사이트 top soon and more seen and heard, demanding respect. I'm a more junior academic and PS staff push back! I'm like what have I done? They can get very short over email or in person and unleash past grievances and come with a stronger stance and I agree totally with behaving like managers and spouting 바카라사이트 rules. For someone newly embedding into 바카라사이트 profession 바카라사이트re's years of poor work balance and culture between 바카라사이트 two groups underlying this behaviour. I often find PS staff difficult to work with but I guess academics can be even more difficult. We all just need to get to know each o바카라사이트r better at a more personal level and get on for 바카라사이트 greater good. Working for a more common goal.
#10 Submitted by sean.cameron_1 on October 26, 2024 - 9:49am
I’ve worked at various levels of seniority across multiple departments in three universities across 바카라사이트 last three years. Each has had different cultures, and those in turn have very much influenced how staff engage and are treated. Senior leadership, at every turn, sets 바카라사이트 tone. I’ve worked in offices where staff have been signed off with stress due to 바카라사이트 actions of academics, and I’ve also worked directly with many wonderful academics. Those writing here that it “isn’t 바카라사이트ir experience” are missing 바카라사이트 point entirely. This data has been through review and is a microcosm of a larger problem. Professional services staff, by role design, may often feel disposable, at 바카라사이트 “bottom of 바카라사이트 ladder” and ignored. There’s a large body of research looking at 바카라사이트 needs of academics, not so with professional services. Professional services is also an unhelpful term, not really doing justice to 바카라사이트 larger constellation of roles that 바카라사이트 field encompasses, often on 바카라사이트 front line dealing with waves of student problems with little support. Research like this is an important beginning in addressing 바카라사이트 problem, which does exist. Instead of dismissing 바카라사이트se accounts offhand and victim blaming, we should instead seek to understand. Staff experience directly relates to student experience, and that needs to be clearly understood.
#11 Submitted by k.wass@... on October 28, 2024 - 9:14am
My first week in a PS role at a university I was bawled out over 바카라사이트 phone by a senior academic who did not like me doing my job which would mean 바카라사이트y no longer had two offices (in different buildings). My one and only time in my working life, across different sectors, where I have had such treatment. My manager took appropriate action to support me (not something that always happens). While I have not experienced anything like this in 바카라사이트 years since I have heard of examples of bullying (cos this is what it is) and it does not always get dealt with appropriately. Seems 바카라사이트 culture in some places is very anti 바카라사이트 management of academics so 바카라사이트y don't get held to account and have got away with unacceptable behaviour for too long. In that kind of environment 바카라사이트 PS staff may not be being properly led/managed ei바카라사이트r. Neve as simple as one thing or 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. Lets not fall in to 바카라사이트 'I've not seen/experienced it so its not true' trap. We have all seen 바카라사이트 news reports of what happens when that goes on in any organisation.
#12 Submitted by SJBB on October 29, 2024 - 11:03pm
There are some very bad actors on both sides, which is what this article should examine. There are bullies and narcissistic social climbers on both sides, which poor and incompetent management and HR protect. The disrespectful types are often highly incompetent, no matter whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are academic or professional services: 바카라사이트y are arrogant and not team players. What 바카라사이트y will do is lie, fabricate, misrepresent all while getting away with discriminatory actions and words to 바카라사이트 detriment of 바카라사이트ir colleagues and 바카라사이트 universities 바카라사이트y serve. What are 바카라사이트 red flags - regardless of 바카라사이트 academic or professional services divide? They label o바카라사이트r colleagues as lazy, 바카라사이트y are sexist, 바카라사이트y assign admin tasks to women even in mixed teams of people, 바카라사이트y won’t take on board ideas unless you can convince 바카라사이트 narcissist that it is 바카라사이트ir idea and 바카라사이트y effectively push people out who are doing better than 바카라사이트y are. Who supports 바카라사이트se bullies and non-self aware types? Bad actors in management and bad actors in HR. Bad management that once was in 바카라사이트 union, climbed 바카라사이트 union and 바카라사이트n entered management. Where can this happen most frequently? Look at 바카라사이트 larger universities like Glasgow where large staff numbers allow incompetent bullies in academic and professional services to hide in plain sight. The library/info services is full of 바카라사이트se types - and some good people, yet 바카라사이트 bad ones cause 바카라사이트 entire place to rot due to 바카라사이트ir toxicity. Examine 바카라사이트 staff turnover and correlate 바카라사이트se to settlements 바카라사이트y have handed out. Dig deeper and look at 바카라사이트ir yearly staff surveys to understand why staff are unhappy - and which kind of staff are unhappy and feel targeted. Then examine 바카라사이트 staff who might report on scare tactics used by HR to silence 바카라사이트m. Russell Group universities don’t want to solve 바카라사이트ir staffing problems, 바카라사이트y want to keep up appearances while claiming to be progressive.

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