The University of Waterloo is currently limiting the hiring of several science, technology, engineering and mathematics research chairs to only candidates who “self-identify” as women or another gender minority.
According to the post-secondary school, candidates “are required to identify as a woman or gender equity-seeking group, which is defined to include individuals who self-identify as women, transgender, gender-fluid, non-binary, or Two Spirit people.”
As of Tuesday, the university had six job postings for research chairs. Five of the six job postings require candidates to self-identify as women or gender minorities.
A University of Waterloo spokesperson told True North that the school is part of the Liberal government’s Canada Research Chairs Program, which requires them to address under-representation in four groups designated by the feds. The four groups are women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and members of visible minorities.
The university said that it follows the requirements on self-identification and that any universities in the program are subject to the same regulations, along with fines if they violate the rules.
“Our CRC position postings are specifically designed to attract the most qualified candidates who help us fulfill the research and teaching goals of the university and our duties under the CRC program to meet and exceed federal targets for each of the underrepresented groups,” said the spokesperson.
A recent study from the Aristotle Foundation highlighted that only two per cent of university job ads are merit-based and not DEI. Despite this overwhelming representation of DEI hires, a previous poll highlighted that the majority of Canadians oppose DEI hiring, including 50% of immigrants.
Various private organizations, like Molson Coors and Walmart, have been rolling back DEI policies and hiring in light of public pushback.
The university said that it will continue to hire from under-represented groups to maintain the university’s diversity goals.
The Liberals sent a letter to all institutions participating in the CRCP in 2019. The letter highlighted that the Liberals developed its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan in 2017, which stipulates that universities develop their own DEI plans and meet equity targets by 2019.
Additionally, institutions were required to develop DEI targets to meet by 2029, consider how to recruit LGBTQ individuals better, and collect data on those who are LGBTQ or white.
The University of Alberta recently ditched DEI policies in favour of intellectual freedom.
Forty Canadian professors previously signed a letter calling for the end of DEI in universities.
“These policies disproportionately punish small institutions, are not supported by evidence, employ flawed metrics with no end goal, and are unpopular with the public who funds the research,” the professors wrote.
The University of Waterloo’s current DEI job postings are in the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Mathematics, the Faculty of Science, the Department of Biology, and the Faculty of Health.
Maclean’s ranked the University of Waterloo the most innovative university in Canada for 30 of the last 33 years. It is also ranked third for highest quality among Canadian universities.
President Donald Trump recently signed an Executive Order banning DEI.
“In the private sector, many corporations and universities use DEI as an excuse for biased and unlawful employment practices and illegal admissions preferences, ignoring the fact that DEI’s foundational rhetoric and ideas foster intergroup hostility and authoritarianism,” reads the order. “Billions of dollars are spent annually on DEI, but rather than reducing bias and promoting inclusion, DEI creates and then amplifies prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict.”
