r/ChapmanStaff • u/LastLemon777 • 8d ago

Welcome to r/ChapmanStaff!

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I created this community as an independent space for Chapman University staff members to connect with one another, share experiences, ask questions, exchange resources, celebrate successes, and support each other through the realities of working in higher education.

Working at a university can sometimes feel siloed. Many of us never get the chance to meet colleagues outside our own departments, even though we're all contributing to the same mission. My hope is that this community can help bridge those gaps and create a space where staff can connect, learn from one another, and have honest conversations about our work.

Whether you'd like to:

  • Ask for advice or recommendations
  • Share professional development opportunities
  • Discuss workplace policies and processes
  • Celebrate accomplishments and milestones
  • Share challenges you're facing at work
  • Seek support from colleagues who may have had similar experiences
  • Vent about a frustrating day
  • Connect with colleagues across campus
  • Learn from others' experiences

...you're welcome here.

This community is intended to be a place where staff can discuss both the rewarding and challenging aspects of working at Chapman. Honest conversations are encouraged, including respectful discussions about workplace culture, policies, communication, workload, and other issues that impact staff. The goal is not to tear people down, but to support one another and foster meaningful dialogue.

A few community guidelines:

  • Be respectful and engage in good faith.
  • No harassment, bullying, or personal attacks.
  • Do not share confidential university information.
  • Do not share student information or anything protected by FERPA.
  • Focus criticism on ideas, policies, and experiences - not individual employees.
  • Remember that people from all areas of the university may be participating.

Important: This subreddit is unofficial and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Chapman University. The views expressed here belong to individual community members.

Welcome, and thanks for being here. Here's to building a supportive space where Chapman staff can connect, share, and be heard.

1 comment

r/ChapmanStaff • u/LastLemon777 • 2d ago

working at Chapman is different now

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3 Upvotes
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r/ChapmanStaff • u/LastLemon777 • 3d ago

Disappointed by Chapman's return to campus policy

12 Upvotes

Chapman University recently announced a return-to-campus policy that will require most staff to be on campus five days a week.

I understand that many positions require an on-campus presence. Student-facing roles obviously need to be available to students. But requiring five days a week for every employee, including many who are not student-facing, feels unnecessary and out of touch with the realities of modern work.

I would argue that staff who have flexibility and work-life balance are better equipped to support students. Hybrid schedules don't mean people care less about their jobs. They allow employees to attend a doctor's appointment without taking an entire day off, care for a sick child while still staying connected, or handle life's responsibilities without sacrificing productivity.

The most frustrating part of this policy is that it overrides existing systems that were already working well. Department leaders previously had the flexibility to do what made sense for their teams. Now, that decision-making power has been taken away from those who actually handle the work.

What's even more confusing is that the university doesn't appear to have enough office space for everyone being required back. Departments are scrambling to find workspace and create makeshift offices to accommodate staff.

This decision feels less about improving student outcomes and more about exerting control over employees.

I care deeply about students and the university's mission. That's exactly why this is disappointing. Supporting employees and supporting students are not competing priorities. When staff are trusted, respected, and given flexibility, everyone benefits - including students.

I'm curious how other university staff members feel about this mandate. Will they actually improve collaboration and student support, or will they mainly reduce employee morale?

Read more about the policy: https://www.chapman.edu/faculty-staff/human-resources/employee-relations-and-services/services/return-campus.aspx

8 comments