My Experience Working for UTSA Honors College
Good afternoon,
I am writing to share my experience working within the Honors College. Unfortunately, my time in the department was challenging and, at times, discouraging. The workplace culture often felt unwelcoming, with a noticeable lack of collaboration and support among staff. Instead of fostering a team-oriented environment, there appeared to be a tendency toward internal politics and heightened scrutiny over minor issues.
Additionally, I found that new employees were not consistently provided with adequate training or guidance. There seemed to be an expectation to quickly master responsibilities within a very short timeframe, which made the onboarding process particularly difficult.
I also want to highlight concerns regarding support for individuals with learning differences and mental health conditions. After disclosing my ADHD, I did not feel that appropriate understanding or accommodations were provided. This contributed to an environment where I felt unsupported rather than set up for success.
I recognize that I was not a perfect employee; however, it is unrealistic to expect any new hire to be perfect, particularly during the early stages of onboarding. I was committed to improving and made a genuine effort to learn and grow in the role. Unfortunately, I did not feel that I was given the necessary tools, guidance, or support to succeed.
In my experience, leadership did not always demonstrate the level of support, communication, or empathy that is essential for a healthy and productive workplace. As a result, my overall experience in the department was negative, and I would encourage the organization to reflect on ways to improve its workplace culture, training practices, and support systems for employees.