next »

[crowie]

A writer asks Randy Cohen, 'The Ethicist,' in today's New York Times Magazine whether it is ethical for his state university to offer financial incentives to departments who hire minority candidates: "A department receives $1,000 for completing a tenure-track hire but $5,000 if it hires a minority candidate." 

You can read the site for Cohen's answer on the ethics of the policy (in a nutshell, he doesn't see anything wrong with it).

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/magazine/27wwln-ethicist-t.html?ref=magazine

I am starting this thread not to solicit pro/con opinions it but simply to ask the forumites whether there is a policy like this one at their institution?  Or are there other ways in which institutions try to provide incentives for departments to make particular hires?  What are the nuts and bolts ways in which diversity in hiring is encouraged in your institution, beyond that 'boilerplate' language in the job ads and targeted advertising in specific professional organizations?

[locutus]

I'm not sure if I'd call it unethical. But I think it's a good example of misdirected good intentions.
Though I personally would benefit from this policy, the money could be better used. I'd rather see the money going towards pre-college programs or increasing minority undergraduate support (graduation rates are often low).

[sockgumbee]

I like Cohen's reasoning for not seeing it as a problem, He says that in the past hiring committees were given incentives to hire white males. So the system itself has not changed, it's who/what kind of hire nets a prize.

I would be more inclined to agree with Mboy18, if there were more minority professors. It's a kind of Catch-22 to me. You need/want minority students to go to college and those who start college to finish. But you also need minority professors to aid this--if only as role models.

[larryc]

In trying to keep with the OP's question: No, my institution does not have extra money for minority candidates.

[sockgumbee]

Lo siento, about the opinion.

To the point no, no extra money.

[crowie]

In trying to keep with the OP's question: No, my institution does not have extra money for minority candidates.

Thanks larryc! (and sockgumbee!, just saw your new post)  I suppose I was naive to expect people not to jump in with their opinions, especially when I linked to the piece.

Just to repeat, I was wondering if people could report whether they have a policy like this at their institution?  Or, does your institution have other specific policies (beyond EEO language in ads) designed to provide departments with an incentive for diversity in hiring?

[locutus]

I'm pretty sure that at some point during the "official procedure" the SC is supposed to explicitly talk about the lack or presence of minority candidates in the pool. I don't think my university gives any extra money though.

[larryc]

Crowie, this might work better as a poll. I am not sure but I believe you would have to begin a new thread.

[crowie]

Crowie, this might work better as a poll. I am not sure but I believe you would have to begin a new thread.

I've added a poll.  I thought about doing a poll at first but I wanted to broaden the question to what other things institutions do in addition to or instead of this financial incentive.  Since I don't know what those things are I couldn't include them in a poll.  So at this point I've made it a simple Yes/No/I don't know.  I hope people will add what else their departments/institutions do in the comments.

[mountain_ivy]

We hire certain folks because our Equity and Diversity office sends out the word that we'd better "or else."  We know they have the power--bigtime--to shut down hiring if we don't play their game. 

Money is a carrot; our place just uses a very, very big stick.