Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

This study explores student perspectives on faculty diversity and representation. I evaluate whether students express these concerns by writing articles or opinion pieces in their University’s student newspaper. I systematically examined student newspapers from twelve Canadian institutions. Keywords used in the search process included: faculty diversity, lack of representation, racist professor(s), Indigenous faculty, black faculty, Asian faculty, lack of faculty diversity. Articles, posts, and opinion pieces regarding these keywords were examined. The search yielded over 100 posts from 12 Universities. Based on the articles and posts obtained in the search, student perspectives on faculty diversity and representation were categorized into themes. The systematic search and review of student articles and commentary provided insight into how students feel about diversity, inclusion, and representation within their faculty. Diversity and representation in faculty members in Canadian universities is a concern expressed by students through the medium of the University’s student newspaper. Furthermore, the articles and opinions posted by students in their school’s newspapers suggest that these issues warrant further consideration and action by university administrators and decision-makers of faculty hiring. This paper sheds light on our findings that faculty representation matters in higher education. Recommendations for students, university administrators, and faculty members are provided regarding how to make students’ voices better heard.