New Toolkit on Transformative Approaches for Racially Inclusive Faculty Hiring
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Natalie Passov | natalie.passov@gse.rutgers.edu | 848-932-0728
New Brunswick, N.J., February 15, 2024 – The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute of Leadership, Equity, and Justice (Proctor Institute) is proud to announce the release of its latest publication, “Achieving Equity: A Toolkit for Racially Inclusive Faculty Hiring.” The toolkit shines a light on the lack of representation in the racial and ethnic makeup of faculty and calls for action from institutions of higher education to see growth.
Born out Revolution U: Dismantling Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring, a two day event held in June 2022 and Marybeth Gasman’s book Doing the Right Thing: How Colleges and Universities Can Undo Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring, the toolkit empowers readers to confront their institution’s faculty hiring practices and break down traditional barriers to promote equity and justice.
“When crafting this toolkit, we wanted to develop something that left readers with actionable steps to have a lasting impact on higher education,” shared Marybeth Gasman, Executive Director of the Proctor Institute and Distinguished Professor at Rutgers University. “It was designed for not only leaders in higher education but anyone passionate about the representation of people of color among faculty.”
The authors emphasize the importance of restructuring and rethinking search processes, using data in faculty hiring, holding faculty members accountable for the search committee process, and pushing leaders to foster equity in the hiring processes.
"Revolution U was an innovative and enriching experience fostering important conversations surrounding the need for more equitable faculty hiring practices. We hope that this toolkit serves as a guide for faculty and administrators looking to enact change on their respective campuses nationwide,” shared Rebecca Perdomo, Senior Research Associate (by courtesy) at CMSI and co-author of the toolkit.
Authors highlight the importance of addressing excuses that lead to underrepresentation in academia and challenging traditional definitions of quality. They recommend concrete strategies for creating a diverse applicant pool, focusing on inclusivity rather than exclusivity, requiring well thought out search committee training, and confronting anti-Blackness in faculty hiring.
“Achieving Equity” serves as a guide for academic leaders committed to creating racially inclusive and equitable learning environments.
Find the toolkit here.
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About the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice (Proctor Institute) is a national center that focuses on issues of leadership, equity, and justice within the context of higher education. It brings together researchers, practitioners, and community members to work toward the common goals of diversifying leadership, enhancing equity, and fostering justice for all. The Proctor Institute is located at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, in the Graduate School of Education and, houses the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions (CMSI). For more information about the Proctor Institute, please visit https://proctor.gse.rutgers.edu/.
