MIT Removes Diversity Pledge Requirement for Faculty Applicants
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced the removal of its requirement for candidates applying for faculty positions to make a pledge to commit to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
A spokesperson for MIT confirmed to the New York Post that “Requests for a statement on diversity will no longer be part of applications for any faculty positions at MIT.” This decision was reportedly made by MIT President Sally Kornbluth, with the support of the university provost, chancellor, and academic deans.
Kornbluth explained the rationale behind the decision, emphasizing the university’s commitment to tapping into the best possible pool of talent.
“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.
MIT previously required candidates for faculty positions to submit a statement demonstrating “knowledge of challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion” and their “track record of working with diverse groups of people.” They also were required to show how they would advance DEI in their position at the university.
However, Kornbluth admitted that these compelled DEI statements “don’t work.”
“We can build an inclusive environment in many ways, but compelled statements impinge on freedom of expression, and they don’t work,” she explained.
MIT’s move follows a trend observed in several other academic institutions, where similar requirements have been lifted. The practice of requesting diversity statements from job candidates has faced criticism, with some labeling it as a “political litmus test” designed to identify the individuals’ political ideologies.
Last fall, the Arizona Board of Regents took a similar stance, announcing that publicly-funded universities in the state would no longer mandate diversity, equity, and inclusion pledges for job applicants. A report preceding this decision revealed that up to 80% of faculty positions at Arizona public universities required such pledges.
