A reader writes in:
Coming from the UK system, I found the Job Market Boot Camp series you ran on the Philosophers’ Cocoon very helpful. For a recent job application I was asked to submit a document I hadn’t encountered before: a diversity statement. I was wondering if it might be worth a supplementary entry in the series.
Because I am presently on a search committee and not in a position to give advice on this issue, I thought it might be most helpful to open up the topic for community discussion. It would be most helpful, I expect, if past or present search committee members were to weigh in on what they look for in these statements. Thanks, in advance, to everyone who chimes in!
All I can offer is what I did, which was to talk about my syllabus design (where, e.g., I've focused on ensuring women are well represented), course structure (where I've instituted, e.g., blind grading), and course content (where, e.g., my students' interests--they're largely international and often from my own linguistic and cultural minority group--influences some of my choices of modules--e.g. modules on multiculturalism and minority rights in Contemporary Moral Issues). I also talked a little about some experience tutoring a student with learning disabilities, and the accommodations I make for such students in my classes.
Whether that's enough/what's desired, I don't know.
Posted by: Michel X. | 11/03/2015 at 05:05 PM