Recent critiques of U.S. higher education hiring practices highlight significant racial disparities, particularly for Black faculty, with only 8% of assistant professors being Black. Political backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has escalated, especially following Trump's presidency and his administration's orders undermining DEI efforts. As a result, institutions face pressure to shift towards merit-based hiring policies. Harvard University, for instance, is resisting these orders, which threaten its funding and status, thus illuminating the wider challenges faced in the pursuit of a diverse academic workforce.
According to a late-2022 paper, higher education will never achieve demographic parity among tenure-track faculty at current rates of hiring.
Only 8% of U.S. assistant professors are Black, significantly lower than the U.S. Black population, raising concerns about representation.
Trump's administration targeted DEI initiatives, promoting merit-based hiring while creating backlash against diversity efforts within higher education.
Harvard refuses to comply with Trump's demands to end DEI initiatives, facing threats to funding and tax-exempt status.
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