U. Louisville Prevents Asian and White Candidates from Applying for Physics Position
Many colleges want more ethnically and racially diverse faculty members. But should searches be limited to underrepresented groups?
Inside Higher Ed reports.
Whites, Asians Need Not Apply
Even before the recent, widespread student protests over campus climate issues, many colleges and universities were working to make their faculties more diverse. But can a department specifically reserve a position for an underrepresented minority candidate? That’s what some are asking after a job ad for an assistant professorship reserved for nonwhite, non-Asian Ph.D.s was abruptly deleted from a jobs site on Tuesday.
The post (inactive but still cached here) on HigherEdJobs mostly resembled a typical ad, encouraging applicants “with a Ph.D. in physics or a related area, a strong research record and a passion for teaching” to apply. It also included a standard equal employment opportunity statement saying the University of Louisville is “an affirmative action, equal opportunity, Americans with disabilities employer, committed to community engagement and diversity, and in that spirit, seeks applications from a broad variety of candidates.”
But just under that statement, the ad continued, “The Department of Physics and Astronomy announces a tenure-track assistant professor position that will be filled by an African-American, Hispanic American or a Native American Indian [sic].”
Comments
When we used to hire in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s we would put in the ad that we were an equal opportunity employer. In the new progressive world, there is no such thing. Only, we want diversity now which means that we want incompetence. Sickness reigns!!!!!
Ohio State has such a program, however they don’t actually advertise it. They do undercover diversity searches. My former department has one such hire, although she’s pretty good.