Newsletter

April 2007

Excellence And Diversity In Faculty Hiring At UofT

In your job search, you should be looking for the best
possible candidate, whether they are Canadian or not. If you have two candidates
of equal value, you must hire the Canadian. Sometimes the characteristics which
determine the value of a candidate may go beyond their qualifications. In
reflecting on proactive recruitment be sure to consider whether an individual’s
ability to add to the diversity of your department or faculty may increase their
desirability and level of excellence. In aiming for excellence in recruitment,
remember that this is a socially constructed concept; employing diverse
academics may offer the University of Toronto the opportunity to include new
knowledge and expertise in its teaching and research. For instance, the use of
language such as ‘demonstrable excellence’ in teaching or research establishes
the qualifications for the position and may assist in distinguishing between
candidates.

Equity Statement The Employment Equity policy at the University of Toronto
requires that advertisements include specific wording to ensure that members
of designated groups are encouraged to apply. All advertisements must
include the following statement:

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity
within itscommunityand especially welcomes applications from visible
minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with
disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute
to the further diversification of ideas.

Statements such as this are widely used in advertising for faculty positions in
Canada, the US, the UK and Australia/New Zealand. As Furedy et al. (1999) note,
equity statements are used to ensure equality of outcome in the recruitment
process, not just equality of opportunity. The statement recognises that, as
discussed in the PowerPoint presentations provided, evaluation on the basis of
merit can unfairly discriminate. It also suggests a commitment by the
institution to equity throughout an employee’s tenure (Powney, 1994).

From section on
Advertising and Searching. http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/link/administrators/recruitmenttoolkit/Advertising_and_Searching.htm.