Dear Readers,
The landscape of hiring in higher education continues to be under political scrutiny, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Across the country, legislative and ideological attacks are attempting to dismantle DEI-focused hiring practices under the false premise that they prioritize identity over merit. This rhetoric misrepresents the true goal of equitable hiring: ensuring that candidates are evaluated on their qualifications, not excluded because of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, among other things.
DEI in hiring has never been about giving unqualified candidates an advantage. It exists to correct long-standing inequities that have, for too long, privileged certain applicants while systematically disadvantaging others.
Historically, hiring decisions in academia—as in many industries—have often been influenced by informal networks, unspoken biases, and structural barriers that made it difficult for qualified candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to receive fair consideration. DEI policies work to ensure that characteristics such as a candidate’s race, social affiliations, or personal connections are removed from the hiring process.
Higher education is responsible for preparing students to enter a world and workforce that is increasingly diverse, interconnected, and global. That preparation is strongest and most effective when employees reflect the students they serve. A truly equitable hiring process seeks to ensure that students see themselves in the faculty who teach them, in the administrators who support them, and in the staff who help shape their academic and college experiences and journeys. This isn’t about identity politics; it’s about building institutions that genuinely embody the values of access, opportunity, and excellence for all.
Higher education professionals must resist efforts to strip DEI from hiring processes. Not because it is politically expedient, but because it is ethically, financially, and academically necessary. If we believe in the promise of education as a tool for progress, then we must also believe in an employment system that upholds that promise— for our institutions, for our students, and for the future of academia itself.
To the human resources professionals who work tirelessly to uphold fair and equitable hiring practices: we see you, we appreciate you, and we recognize the challenges you may face.
In the midst of political pressure and shifting policies, your role remains critical to the integrity of higher education. You are not just hiring employees; you are shaping the future of our institutions. Your work ensures that colleges and universities continue to serve all students equitably, and that higher education remains a space where talent, dedication, and expertise—not privilege—determine opportunity.
Stay the course. Your efforts matter, and they are making a difference.
