Specific Examples of DEI Statements at MIT

    President Sally Kornbluth banned the use of "DEI Statements" (Diversity-Equity-and-Inclusion Statements) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in May 2024.  Before this decision, many departments at MIT did require candidates for  professorships to submit a statement of their beliefs and activism in "diversity, inclusion, and belonging", which is, of course, is an ideological litmus test. You may think it unfair to call it that, but we are just repeating what MIT itself says, in different words. The MIT Media Lab has a well-known website for doctoral students who want to become professors  on how to write a diversity statement.  It says

"A successful faculty application diversity statement . . .

  1. demonstrates knowledge of challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
  2. outlines your track record of working with diverse groups of people and advancing DEI.
  3. concretely discusses what you will do as a faculty member to actively encourage DEI and belonging within your group, department, and community. . . . 

   Those most likely to read your diversity statement in detail are search committee members or other faculty who are deeply involved in DEI efforts. With this in mind, keep your statement focused on how you think about DEI, what you have done, and what you will do rather than on providing basic definitions.

   The bold-faced parts are clear: a university which uses DEI statements will not hire you unless you "advance DEI" and "actively encourage DEI and belonging".   You are writing it for the people in the department who favor DEI and are looking for action and political allies, not academic quality.    



Specific examples of requirements

  • To be a professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences, the department that disinvited Dorian Abbot,  you needed  to provide,

(1) A cover letter, (2) Curriculum Vitae, (3) a 1-3 page summary of current and future research directions, (4) a 1-3 page statement describing teaching and mentoring experience and/or future plans, including contributions to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, and (5) three letters of recommendation.


 "A statement on diversity, inclusion, and belonging, including past and current contributions as well as their vision and plans for the future in these areas (1-2 pages)."


  • To be a professor in the Department of Architecture and Schwarzman College of Computing, you needed to provide,

"A statement on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including past and current contributions as well as vision and plans for the future in these areas. Applicants are encouraged to discuss approaches to fostering an inclusive environment including but not limited to teaching, mentoring, and affirming diverse viewpoints."


"A statement regarding their views on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including past and current contributions as well as their vision and plans for the future in these areas.   Approaches to fostering an inclusive environment including but not limited to teaching, mentoring, and affirming diverse viewpoints, are encouraged to be discussed."





    











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