University of Washington professor blasts mandatory DEI statement for new hires, warns many qualified candidates could leave
A University of Washington professor has criticised the institution’s mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement for new faculty, warning it could discourage highly qualified candidates from applying. Stuart Reges, a non-tenured teaching professor at UW’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, said he would not have been hired under the current DEI requirements despite his academic achievements. The controversy centres on a job posting for an associate professor of school psychology. Applicants were required to submit a one-page diversity statement describing their identity, positionality, experience, and commitment to DEI, in alignment with the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework.Professor highlights impact of DEI requirements Reges told Fox News, “You have to say that you have deep knowledge of the DEIs in order to get a high rating on all of this. Funny thing is, I’m convinced I would not be hired if I applied today. There’s just no way, even though I’ve won the Distinguished Teaching Award here at the university.” The listing also included a rubric to assess potential professors’ performance. Candidates were rated on DEI contributions, with “Poor” describing individuals showing “little evidence of potential to contribute to the UW Diversity Blueprint,” according to the job posting. Reges added, as quoted by Fox News, “I’ve known faculty, very talented faculty, who’ve left because of this kind of pressure and people who won’t even apply. I think a lot of grad students who might’ve wanted a career in teaching are kind of saying, why bother?” He further noted that applicants must craft statements designed to satisfy the university’s DEI expectations rather than reflecting genuine teaching philosophy or research focus.University responds to criticism A University of Washington spokesperson told Fox News, “The university does not view diversity and access as being in opposition to merit and excellence, and we remain committed to providing access to excellence for all. Our hiring practices adhere to state and federal laws in ensuring that race is not a factor in hiring, and the UW has acted proactively when such a violation is known to have occurred.” The spokesperson added, “Schools, colleges, and departments within the university have significant latitude in their hiring practices; however, all must adhere to state and federal laws. The College of Education search referenced in a recent local commentator’s blog post was in compliance with these laws, but to prevent any ambiguity or misinterpretation, we are cancelling it and providing additional guidance on hiring practices before it is reposted.”Federal context and investigations The mandatory DEI statement comes amid wider scrutiny of diversity-based hiring practices. The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has launched investigations into multiple universities, including UW, for alleged race-exclusionary practices in educational programmes and activities. As reported by Fox News, a university spokesperson stated that UW is reviewing hiring practices broadly to ensure compliance with state and federal law, while maintaining access to academic excellence for all applicants. The spokesperson emphasised that all departments must follow these guidelines and that the university is committed to transparency in its hiring process. The DEI requirements, including both the statement and rubric, represent part of the University of Washington’s broader strategy to implement policies promoting racial equity and social justice across its colleges and programmes.
