Late Sunday and in response to widespread criticism, the Administration added two more women to this committee, bringing female representation to just 22%.
Fewer than a one-third of its members are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
This is not reflective of our community, and we are demanding change.
In an open letter to the Board, TAUP calls on the university board of trustees to appoint more women and People of Color to this selection committee.
“If the University is genuinely dedicated to “prioritizing recruitment and retention of faculty and employees of color” as stated in Temple’s brand new Anti-Racism Initiative, the imbalance of this search committee does not reflect this,” said Jill Luedke, a member of TAUP executive committee and Librarian Constituency Council Chair.
“The composition of a search committee should be representative of the institution and signal to candidates the values the institution holds,” said Luedke. “The lack of diverse representation on the current Presidential Search Committee is disconcerting and a clear message from the Board that it is devoted to diversity at Temple University merely in talk and not in action.”
TAUP believes strongly that any presidential selection committee should have representatives from the neighborhoods that surround Temple University and more representation from our student body.
Women make up 54% of Temple students, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Four in 10 Temple students are considered minorities and People of Color.
Click here to read our open letter to the Temple University Board of Trustees.
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