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• Since 2019 SAIT has only hired contract ("adjunct") instructors. There is very little chance they will hire any permanent faculty. Used to be a good place to work but not now. No loyalty, no opportunities, no future, no vision. Feel sorry for current and future students, and any remaining staff. Over the past 2 years so many faculty retired early (forced or volunteered) and that is a good indication of the state of SAIT.
  For an adjunct it is a stepping stone to gather some income while looking for proper employment.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 8 January 2022 by Rater #18 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• Used to be a wonderful engaging campus full of optimism. Roll in the consultants and wham, it's pure hell. When they are gone, it will be better. But for now, stay away. Stay far away.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 7 March 2019 by Rater #17 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• If you want to know what corrupted education means, I suggest to work for this institution then. This is a revolving door kind of employer; turnover is really bad. Management does not know the meaning of ethics, integrity or professionalism. If they want somebody out they are not afraid to use any tactic in the book including harassment, discrimination, and racism among many others. SAFA is useless and the quality of education is just horrible. There is a reason polytechnic are known as diplomas, certificates, and "degrees" factories instead of academic institutions.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 3 October 2015 by Rater #15 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• SAIT does not spend much time or effort with recruitment or retention. In fact, recent survey stated that staff admins turnover for the school in one year was 70%. Management only focuses on mid management and instructor retention and morale. Hence the training and conferences (Professional Development fund) goes primarly towards their education and training. Admins are discouraged and are not promoted for advancement. If you apply for another position, HR will blacklist you and let your manager know. Very poor morale among admin group. Compensation is low in the admin group but good for other departments.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 30 November 2014 by Rater #14 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• I first started working at SAIT not long ago after having left another post-secondary institution. At first I thought it was a great, great place, until I tried to advance, at which point I learned from many other SAIT employees that they DO NOT like you to move from the position you're in. They want you to stay where you are, so if you're even thinking about moving up to another pay grade, don't even bother because chances are they won't let you. I definitely found this out the hard way.
  SAIT can be quite hierarchical and the treatment of assistants is very reminiscent of downtown oil and gas setups where they're treated more like maids, servants and housekeepers than people who can actually take on responsibility regardless of how qualified and experienced they are. Instructors who are incapable of tying their own shoes are left to teach the students which results in a large body of students who, in turn, have a hard time sorting themselves out.
  SAIT definitely coddles students too much and expects very little of them, not to mention lets them get away with treating staff horribly; I can't count the number of times I've been yelled at by an irrationally irate student and management never lifts a finger to instigate change, nor do they condone the behaviour of staff insisting on getting respect from students.
  There is a huge unbalanced focus at SAIT right now, and they are moving in the direction of focusing solely on international recruitment which will definitely hurt it in the long run (not many spots available for Canadian students thus leaving a large uneducated body in our economy) but all they can see are the dollar signs. The alternative to this is that SAIT pays its staff well and encourages covered PD conferences on occasion.
  Compared to another big institution in Calgary, it's pretty good, but it's FAR from perfect. Think of SAIT as a stepping stone to bigger and better things, NOT as somewhere to settle in and move up, because you probably won't.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 19 August 2014 by Rater #13 | Comments (1) | Flag as inappropriate

  Was this review helpful? 9 3

• SAIT is far ahead than 90% of Canadian post-secondaries, that still live in 80s. It is run like a corporation, that's why there are no cuts this year, even though there were substantial budget cuts from the province. The organisation is very hierarchial and top heavy. Would be great to see a more flat structure.
  Great professional development opportunities, even admin assistants go to Florida fpr conferences, as long as it is part of the PD plan and is relevant to what they do at SAIT. In addition each employee is eligible for $7500 per year towards a credential. Overall, great place to work!   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 22 June 2013 by Rater #12 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• Having read a lot of the reviews on SAIT, I noticed that quite a few were from some time ago. A lot has changed in the last 5 years and some Management have worked hard to change the perceptions. I think a lot of people who write these generally are looking for a forum to tell the world about their negative experiences but you might notice that SAIT has roughly 2000 employees and not many comments when you consider that. Overall my experience has been pretty positive and I think SAIT is moving forward in the right direction. Most post secondary institutions have a fair few employees that have probably had their day in the sun and should move on. However, by the very nature of the fact that SAIT is a Polytechnic it is very cutting edge in a lot of things. The fact is SAIT is a forward looking institution and in my experience most of the employees are happy there.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 27 February 2013 by Rater #11 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

  Was this review helpful? 4 23

• It is hard for this place to keep quality people due to poor management and disorganization. They are very good at creating a sense of culture and community but this place has too many miserable, lifers and is NOT open to advancing people with innovation. My biggest complaint is that a lot of management rely on the hard-work of their team and know little about processes. Need to get rid if the dead weight and recognize the hard work and initiative brought my workers.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 10 February 2013 by Rater #10 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• This employer has a habit of taking advantage of people and getting away with whatever they can get away with.  

  Posted on 23 April 2012 by Rater #9 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• Its an OK place to work. Not the best nor the worst.  

  Posted on 21 September 2011 by Rater #8 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

  Was this review helpful? 1 1

• Executive and upper management do not care about the people-plain and simple. Turnover is high. One VP is in desperate need of more outside experience. An organization in serious need of a complete overhaul. Sad!   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 1 March 2011 by Rater #7 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

  Was this review helpful? 9 0

• SAIT would be a good company to work for if they would just leave the instructors alone to do their job. Management is ALWAYS screwing things up by making up stupid rules and doing stupid things to look busy. Upper managment (Deans, VPs and President) are all on a power trip and dictatorship in dealing with underlings. The middle managment is afraid for their jobs and have no power or authority to make decisions. While instructors are treated with some respect because they are needed, while the support staff are just abused or contracted out. The support staff union filed a bad faith bargaining complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board because SAIT wouldn't negotiate on basic quality of life issues. There is no negotiating with SAIT's managment - it's their way or the highway.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 7 December 2010 by Rater #6 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• SAIT is a good employer in many ways. I think that the people who rate on this site are often only those with bad experiences. There are problems (like any organization) and the experience does depend on what department you work in but overall I had a good experience working there.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 4 September 2010 by Rater #5 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• Dealing with the students is great, dealing with management sucks! Nothing gets addressed by management unless its a crisis. Deans and Academic Chairs receive bonuses to cut corners, rather than provide the best educational experience. It's very top heavy: lots of VPs, Associate Deans of dept that don't exist, managers who don't manage anybody...   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 4 April 2008 by Rater #4 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• Was it Kissinger who said that university politics are particularly viscious because the stakes are so low? Well, SAIT is living it.
  
  The execs go on development seminars in Florida and dine at the prestigious downtown clubs, while worker bees work for 60% of average salary.
  
  Many instructors are mediocre and enjoy a 100% job security protection from the union (A small number instructors are brilliant).
  
  One insider compared SAIT to a royal court where the dukes (the deans) and the royal family (the management) work hard to keep peace in the family, meaning employees are perceived as non-entities.
  
  The state of the organization is best compared with the communist Russia where initiative was discouraged, the politics were uninfluencable, and the population just coasted till retirement--SAIT is one of the last bastions where pension is guaranteed for life.
  
  A sweeping, swift and aggressive reform is in urgent order.   read complete rating Hide complete rating

  Posted on 3 April 2008 by Rater #3 | Comments (3) | Flag as inappropriate

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• This place needs help on all levels.  

  Posted on 30 January 2008 by Rater #2 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

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• Very poorly managed with no incentive to advance. Employees express their concerns constantly with no change. Morale is very low. There is no training provided.  

  Posted on 30 January 2008 by Rater #1 | Add Comment | Flag as inappropriate

  Was this review helpful? 8 1