University of Chicago updates equal-opportunity statement for job ads

This announcement came from our Provost’s office, but apparently hasn’t been sent to all parts of the University. Nevertheless, it surely applies to all job ads for the University of Chicago.  What it shows is that the University has updated its Equal Employment Opportunity statement, a statement that must be included in all ads for academic jobs.

Here’s the old statement:

“All University departments and institutes are charged with building a faculty from a diversity of backgrounds and with diverse viewpoints; with cultivating an inclusive community that values freedom of expression; and with welcoming and supporting all their members.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University’s Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.”

The new statement:

“The University of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call NUMBER REDACTED or email EMAIL ADDRESS REDACTED with their request.”

Note the “diversity” or “diverse” appear four times in the old statement, but not at all in the new one.  I suspect the change reflects the government’s new anti-DEI stance. Regardless, I like the new one better as it’s succinct, does not encourage the applicant to add things about ethnic diversity to the application and, at any rate, the link given in the old statement goes to a page on the University’s stand on diversity which is still up.