In an October report, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) found that the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards, such as diversity statements, in hiring and promoting staff is an important part of “academic freedom.” claimed to be an element.
AAUP’s Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure A views DEI standards positively in the hiring process, arguing that they help evaluate faculty skills and performance. report state. The committee argues that the DEI statement is closely related to academic freedom, but also says that universities have a duty to teach about inequality.
The group rejects claims by critics who oppose the DEI statement, calling it a “political litmus test” or “ideological vetting tool” to weed out conservative candidates, and others have suggested It condemns the idea that it is not a form of unconstitutional opinion discrimination. .
AAUP recommends that instead, using DEI statements in the hiring, rehiring, and tenure processes will increase diversity and potentially positive outcomes when faculty are asked about their teaching approaches and research interests. The report states that this will help promote
NEW: AAUP has issued a new statement defending the use of DEI statements in academic institutions’ hiring, tenure, and promotion processes as “compatible with academic freedom.”
— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) October 9, 2024
“Criticisms of DEI statements and other standards often confuse social and institutional values with imposed orthodoxy,” the report says. “Blanket or abstract critiques of DEI standards fundamentally, and often intentionally, misunderstand and misrepresent this distinction. Universities must (1) recruit and retain diverse student populations; 2) recruiting and retaining diverse faculty to teach those students, and (3) increasing the institutional focus on education, research, and services that meet the needs of diverse students.”
The group argues that opposition to DEI statements leads to restrictions on other areas of teaching and research, such as areas of research related to gender and race not being classified as “intellectual,” and that social and institutional They claim that DEI and academic freedom in the sense of the term will be violated. (Related: National faculty association claims Florida university paid ‘lip service’ to academic freedom by abolishing critical race theory)
Universities’ DEI statements in hiring have changed in recent years, as they often require candidates to espouse a particular ideology or political view that affirms DEI efforts that many consider to be racist. I’m under attack. In May, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology banned the requirement for prospective teachers to submit written statements.
AAUP did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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