Report to probe minority faculty relations

An upcoming study by the Committee for a Multicultural University will evaluate the effectiveness of the University's minority faculty recruitment and retention procedures.

Education Prof. Rudolf Schmerl, chair of the committee, spoke about the study at yesterday's Senate Assembly meeting.

The committee referred to several studies previously employed on campus to provide background for its analytical work. Through these studies, Schmerl said, the committee discovered some University practices, not policies, tend not to attract underrepresented faculty.

"Some traditions ... appear to mitigate against the recruitment of minorities," he said, citing the tradition of not offering entry instructional positions to graduates of the department.

The committee also noted that while this might seem to impede diversity, offering positions to graduates might not change the situation.

In terms of retention, Schmerl said, the University also has the tendency to assume its faculty understand how to go about their business, especially in matters of obtaining tenure.

"It is not so much a matter of keeping secrets from junior members of the faculty as assuming that they know or can find out what to do without much explicit guidance," Schmerl told the faculty's governing body.

One solution the committee suggested is to develop more effective mentorship programs between senior and junior faculty members to benefit minority instructors.

Pharmacology Prof. William Ensminger, chair of Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, said he believed the study will be an effective technique in analyzing the recruitment and retention policies.

"The attempt is to increase the number of minority faculty," Ensminger said. "I don't believe the numbers are what anyone would like to see around the campus."

Ensminger added that SACUA should be doing as much as possible to augment the number of underrepresented faculty at the University.

Schmerl said the committee plans to publish information in University media about the most effective techniques as soon as the study is finished.

Recently appointed Vice President and General Counsel Martin Krislov, a former member of the U.S. Department of Labor, also addressed the Senate Assembly yesterday. Krislov, responsible for managing the University's legal affairs, said his values include trying to serve all his clients - students, administration and faculty.

Although Krislov said he hopes to represent all University parties, he said he would tell faculty members to seek their own counsel when appropriate. Since the General Counsel has hierarchical priorities, this situation could occur if two University parties have a conflict.

"When it appears the actions of the administration are in conflict with that of the faculty, we might try and compromise," Krislov said. "If I can't represent the faculty member, I will advise them to get their own lawyer."

01-12-99