University tenure track only available for women and non-binary people

Canadian university advertises for tenure track research chair in its Faculty of Environment – but only women or people who identify as transgender, non-binary or two-spirit are allowed to apply

• The public university has an opening for a tenure track position in geography, earth science, environmental science, or sustainability – but men cannot apply
• According to a listing posted in March, the position is only available to ‘qualified individuals who self-identify as women, transgender, non-binary, or two-spirit’
• Men, meanwhile, are barred from applying for the job – especially if white
• The successful applicant would join the school’s Natural Science and Engineering Research division in an Assistant Professor’s role
• The position pays $90,000 and $120,000 a year, according to the ad

The University of Waterloo has an opening for a tenure track position in geography, earth science, environmental science, or sustainability – but white men need not apply.

According to a listing posted by the Canadian University last month, the position is only available to women, or ‘qualified individuals who self-identify as women, transgender, non-binary, or two-spirit’ – a gender-variant derived from Native American culture.    

Men, meanwhile, will not be considered, the school says – especially if they are white.

The successful applicant would join the school’s Natural Science and Engineering Research division in an Assistant Professor’s role – a position that would pay between $90,000 and $120,000 a year, according to the ad.

‘Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates,’ the post then notes.

According to the listing posted by the Canadian University, the position is only available to women, or ‘qualified individuals who self-identify as women, transgender, non-binary, or two-spirit’ – a gender-variant derived from Native American culture

Men will not be considered for the Assistant Professor position the school says – especially if they are white 

In the listing, the school asks applicants to fill out a self-identification form to ensure that they fall into one of the four aforementioned categories, in an effort to ‘address the underrepresentation of individuals from equity deserving groups among our Canada Research Chairs.’

‘Because this is a special opportunity for a specific member of the four designated groups, applicant self-identification information will be used for the purposes of screening and consideration,’ the university said.  

‘As such, this opportunity is open only to individuals who self-identify as women, transgender, non-binary, or two-spirit.’

The stipulations listed by school brass may come as a surprise to some, as the university – which has a main campus in Waterloo, Ontario, and three more satellite campuses throughout the province – is a public institution, meaning staffers are prohibited from implementing polices that discriminate based on gender.

‘However,’ the ad asserts that school officials can circumvent that policy by implementing ‘special programs’ under the Ontario Human Rights Code, ‘designed to help people who experience hardship, economic disadvantage, inequality or discrimination.’

The school says that those who self-identify as women, transgender, non-binary, or two-spirit fit that criteria.

The successful applicant would join the school’s Natural Science and Engineering Research division in an Assistant Professor’s role – a position that would pay between $90,000 and $120,000 a year, according to the ad

‘The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff,’ the post, which was accepting applicants between March 21 and April 22, reads.  

‘The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. 

‘The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. 

‘As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as Indigenous peoples,’ the listing states.

‘Two-spirit,’ a gender-variant associated Native American culture, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, describes ‘male, female, and sometimes intersexed individuals who combined activities of both men and women with traits unique to their status as two-spirit people,’ the agency writes.

The term may also refer to ‘same-sex attraction and a wide variety of gender variance, including people who might be described in Western culture as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, gender queer, cross-dressers or who have multiple gender identities,’ the site states. 

Users on social media were quick to question the legality of the listing.   

‘”Even though the University of Waterloo is a public institution that prohibits discrimination based on gender, it can implement “special programs,”‘ one user wrote, quoting a piece from Fox News that reported on the post.   

‘Is this not a double [standard]?’ the tweeter remarked. ‘Tenure should stop altogether.’

Users on social media were quick to question the legality of the listing, which circumvents federal laws that prohibit public schools from implementing policies that put a bias on gender

Another exclaimed that the university ‘has gone woke,’ with someone else the Canadian college had ‘taken Biden’s affirmative action even farther’ with their ‘special programs’ hiring search. 

The listing is not the first from the Canadian public school – which nixed 49 of its staff last month over required vaccine mandates – to put a premium on candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.

Late last year, staffers engaged in an ‘Black Faculty Cluster Hire’ at the Canadian university, which saw school brass advertise 20 track tenure professor positions reserved for Black and indigenous applicants.

‘All applicants to this cluster hiring opportunity must self-identify as Black in their cover letter,’ staffers wrote on the school’s website advertising the campaign.

‘Because this is a special opportunity restricted to self-identified Black candidates, applicant self-identification information will be used for the purposes of screening and consideration.’

In both instances, university brass allowed applicants who ‘self-identify’ themselves as members of the marginalized groups to apply. However, it is not clear what level of proof the university requires out of applicants during the hiring process.

Recent studies have illustrated an increase in such self-identifications on applications – and consequently, an increase in applications that contain false claims concerning an applicant’s background.

One survey conducted last October by College Admission tracker Intelligent found that more than a third of white students falsely claimed minority status on college applications.

The study also found that half of the 1,250 white college applicants claimed Native American status. 

Meanwhile, 77 percent – more than three-quarters of the sample set – of students who lied about their race were accepted by the schools they applied for.

Late last month, University of Waterloo brass announced the school had terminated 49 of its staff, including at least one professor, over the school’s COVID-19 proof of vaccination requirement.

The school asserted that the ‘vast majority’ of those fired were non-faculty members.

‘We have an obligation under the Heath and Safety Act to protect our employees, and the employees have the obligation to comply,’ said Nick Manning, vice-president of university relations. ‘All of those who weren’t able to be compliant after progressive measures faced the ultimate result of termination.’

The progressive measures mentioned by the staffer included both paid and unpaid leave.

In late March, the school announced it would suspend its proof of vaccination requirement for entry onto its campuses on May 1.   

University officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment concerning the prospective professorship Monday morning. 

In late March, the school – which fired 49 staffers last month for not getting vaccinated – said it would suspend proof of vaccination requirement for entry onto its campuses on May 1

Source: Read Full Article