Before the change, MIT required applicants to submit a statement that “demonstrates knowledge of challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the first institution to dump diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statements from its faculty hiring process.
A spokesperson from the prestigious college said, “Requests for a statement on diversity will no longer be part of applications for any faculty positions at MIT.” President Sally Kornbluth made the decision “with the support of the Provost, Chancellor, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, and all six academic deans.”
Kornbluth thinks there are other ways to build inclusivity outside of diversity statements. “My goals are to tap into the full scope of human talent, to bring the very best to MIT, and to make sure they thrive once here,” Kornbluth said.
“We can build an inclusive environment in many ways, but compelled statements impinge on freedom of expression, and they don’t work.”
However, such statements are used at several top universities in the country.
Before the change, MIT required applicants to submit a statement that “demonstrates knowledge of challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” in addition to highlighting a “track record of working with diverse groups of people.” Candidates were also instructed to speak on a plan to push DEI forward in their position at the school.
A survey from The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a freedom of speech advocacy group, revealed that a “large portion of MIT faculty and students are afraid to express their views in various academic settings.”
“The realities surrounding mandatory DEI statements, however, make me wince. The practice of demanding them ought to be abandoned, both at Harvard and beyond.”
However, some people in favor of the statements feel they serve an important purpose to guarantee faculty members are able to reach all students that they will interact with in such a diverse setting, according to The Hill.
Source: Black Enterprise
