The Need for Diverse Faculty at Minority-Serving Institutions: A Qualitative Document Analysis of the Need for Diverse Hires

• In Event: Race and Gender and the Professoriate

Abstract

The lack of change in the diversity of faculty presents universities with a unique challenge as the need for faculty to reflect the more racially and ethnically diverse students in the classroom remains a vital issue as the nation’s population becomes increasingly diverse. While the need to diversify faculty has been acknowledged, few universities have managed to increase their hires of faculty of color. This paper utilizes a qualitative document analysis method to illustrate the lack of faculty diversity at Minority Serving Institutions (MSI). Indeed, there are a myriad of reasons that contribute to the lack of diverse faculty found at most institutions of higher education. Universities must consciously ensure that equitable opportunity exists for scholars of color.

Authors

• Rosa Maria Banda, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway

• Alonzo Martice Flowers, Old Dominion University

• Petra Alaine Robinson, Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge