The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

University of Illinois goes full woke

Professors’ future to be evaluated on DEI — Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Office of the Provost recently announced that the “promotion and tenure process for tenure-stream faculty members” will serve to “reflect the evolving strategic priorities and current practices” of the university. Three “Task Forces” — including the “Task Force on the Revision of Promotion and Tenure Guidelines” — released a proposed update to Communication #9, the school’s primary source for information on its tenure policy….

Faculty will be required to submit a personal statement about how they have paid homage to DEI, as detailed in Communication. Candidate evaluations must include, under the pending communication, “contributions toward enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their research, teaching, and/or service.” In assessing a candidate’s research, “Consideration must be given to the candidate’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and their impact.” The Communication is full of similar requirements.

Oh, of course, it won’t affect your promotion, professors were assured in a Q&A. Except read between the lines, and you’ll see its a load of bunk.

In the next few years, faculty coming up for promotion and tenure will not be penalized if they are not doing DEI work. However, faculty will still need to prepare the DEI statement so that they can think about what they are already doing around DEI and what they will do in the future. For faculty who are currently heavily engaged in DEI efforts, this is an opportunity for them to share what they have been doing. Their DEI efforts will be considered as a strength in the evaluation process. Eventually, all faculty will be expected to make DEI efforts and these will be part of the evaluation process

What if the professor’s field has nothing to do with DEI? What is a good DEI statement? Such questions are asked in the Q&A, and similar slimy answers are provided.

I can only sympathize with, say, civil engineering professors who think this paperwork interferes with her work.

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