Why we need better data on faculty diversity

January 10, 2023

A diverse faculty brings diverse perspectives. Yet, at most U.S. colleges and universities, the faculty is less diverse than the students.

In a recent opinion column for Inside Higher Ed, Laura W. Perna says that institutions need better data on faculty backgrounds, their experiences and working conditions, and (in)equities in measures of success.

"To improve faculty diversity, college and university leaders need data. Qualitative data are useful for probing the experiences of faculty with different identities in particular contexts. Quantitative data are also essential, especially for documenting patterns of inequity and raising questions about how bias and other forces lead to observed differences," writes Perna, a professor of education at Penn GSE and Penn's Vice Provost for Faculty.

Read the full column here.