By: Elie Cantin-Nantel and Noah Jarvis
The University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria have become the latest Canadian postsecondary institutions to take part in race-based hiring – by mandating that new professor hires be black.
These hiring practices are being pursued in accordance with their “diversity, equity and inclusion” agendas.
UBC plans to hire five quantitative and environmental science professors based on race.
“This search will be restricted to qualified black scholars,” notes the university.
“Applicants who wish to be considered for this initiative must self identify as ‘black’ to be considered eligible.”
“We welcome applications from Black scholars who may also identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, multi-racial persons, persons with disabilities, women, and/or members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities,” adds UBC.
In addition to being black, UBC says that interested candidates must also commit to the school’s diversity agenda, requiring applications to include a two-page “statement describing current and future commitments or interests related to (equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization).”
In similar fashion to UBC’s job posting, the University of Victoria’s school of music is limiting its search for a new assistant professor to black scholars.
UVic’s race-based search is being done on the grounds that certain groups face barriers to equity, and that members of equity seeking groups ought to be prioritized in the hiring process.
Thus, only black people will be considered for the position.
“We actively encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity, and in particular we are seeking for this Limited Hire search candidates who are Black,” reads UVic’s equity statement accompanying the job posting.
The posting promises a six-figure salary on tenure track with a “generous benefits package,” a pension plan, and eligibility for leaves of absence.
While some may find the practice racist and discriminatory – both universities say they’re doing this pursuant to section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, which exempts affirmative action from discrimination claims.
“It is not discrimination or a contravention of this Code to plan, advertise, adopt or implement an employment equity program that… has as its objective the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups who are disadvantaged because of Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression,” notes the code.
In its job posting, UBC also declared that ecology is racist, and stressed the importance of black “lived experiences.”
“Historically and at present, both data science and environmental policies have perpetuated harm to marginalized communities.”
“It is therefore imperative to include a diversity of perspectives into this scholarship, and the lived experiences of Black scholars position them well to contribute to just and equitable applications of “big data” to environmental research questions.”
Neither UBC or UVic returned True North’s request for comment in time for publication.
