system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Serious dilemma.  Four slots open for students, but will be leaving the University in one year.

So I'm in an ethical position I am unsure how to handle.  The situation with my university has become so terrible, I've decided to leave in one year, but of course haven't announced this to my department.

Basically my department is incompetent, terrible, and demoralizing.  I'm being blocked and thwarted at every turn, despite bringing in $2.3M in grants this year (making me account for 35% of our entire College's research funding).  The situation is affecting my ability to make progress, our staff is fleeing the sinking ship, and I've already had two important collaborations killed by an incompetent purchasing department.

To make matters worse, my Dean is sabotaging me, and our admissions office still hasn't managed to get their act together.

My issue is this.  I need to make progress on my grant, and I need to hire no less than four students this semester.  I don't want to strand some poor students here, however, when I jump ship.

I'd love to just say I'll take them with me, but what if I can't find a job in academia?  In that case, I'm still leaving because I am done with this place.  So under the circumstances I feel bringing in new PhDs is unethical.

Really looking for advice, Reddit.
gpt
It seems very unethical to bring on students to a department you yourself don't want to be a part of. Is it possible to hire lab techs? Maybe you couldn't hire as many, since you actually have to pay them a living wage, but they might be more efficient.