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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Harvard University’s School of Arts and Sciences is removing the requirement of new hires writing DEI statements as part of the job application process to work at the prestigious institution. This comes after many current faculty members at the school let administrators know that the mandatory statements could hinder free expression and that it may turn away potential great hires in the process.
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New hires in the past were required to write and submit essays which explained how they would encourage a diverse, inclusive, and belonging environment, which faculty also feel could be an infringement on academic freedom. MIT and the University of North Carolina also decided to remove mandatory DEI statements from the job application process citing similar reasons to Harvard.
"The Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences has expanded its approach to learning about candidates being considered for academic appointments by requesting broader and more robust service statements as part of the hiring process. This updated approach acknowledges the many ways faculty contribute to strengthening their academic communities, including efforts to increase diversity, inclusion, and belonging," Harvard's College of Arts & Sciences said in a statement.
The reversal of this trend comes five years after DEI statements in higher education employment applications were sweeping across the country.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.
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