Faculty & Staff

Faculty statistics question UH’s diverse reputation

NEWNEW Faculty Headcount final

The University has a reputation for being the second-most diverse college in the nation in accordance with its student body, but that reputation does not extend to the faculty.

According to Fall 2013 Institutional Research data, of the 967 ranked faculty members employed at the University, 652 are white, 62 are Hispanic and 33 are African-American. Center for Mexican American Studies Director Tatcho Mindiola said he would not be surprised if it had a negative effect on minority students’ graduation rates by having few professors from their background to identify with.

“I don’t think the University is engaged in an extensive outreach program to recruit more Blacks, Mexican-American or other Latino faculty here. They seem to do well with Asians and hiring a lot of Asian faculty here,” Mindiola said.

The 174 Asian-American professors represent the second-highest number of ethnically diverse faculty members at the University — a number that has nearly doubled since 2002, when 91 Asian-Americans, 46 Hispanics and 25 African-Americans were professors.

And while Hispanic faculty rank in third place, Mindiola said it is important to note that pool includes individuals from countries like Argentina and Brazil who may not have minority experience because they come from middle- and upper-middle-class families.

“Even though the University is putting them in account for (Hispanic faculty) because they’re trying to put their best foot forward, and I understand that, it’s a little deceiving because what we’re concerned about (in our Center) is Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans and now a growing number of Central Americans who were born here in this country, and their socioeconomic background are very similar to those of Mexican-Americans,” Mindiola said.

Mindiola was a student at the University when UH crowned its first African-American Homecoming queen, Lynn Eusan, and has witnessed the changes that have occurred throughout the years, like the start of the African-American Studies Department in 1969 and CMAS in 1972.

James Conyers, director of AAS, said that an ethnically diverse faculty can provide ethnically diverse students with an alternative analysis if they dispense a diverse, cultural world view.

“The alternative analysis provides a theory and lived-experience perspective,” Conyers said. “Perhaps this offers ethnically diverse students a holistic perspective in engaging differences between various ethnic and gender groups. In closing, faculty can be models and mentors for students to extract aspects of their attributes in developing their ideas, views and analysis.”

These models won’t be of much use, however, if the University’s Diversity Committee — which Conyers said has conducted research during the past two years concerning closing the gap and stretching the field for a more diverse faculty — does not begin hiring more Mexican-Americans and African-Americans.

“We always hear that the academic pool of faculty is small nationwide, which is true. But at the same time, not only UH, but many universities are not doing anything to increase the pool. There is no intensive outreach program, for example, to recruit Mexican-Americans, African-Americans and other minorities into graduate school. To me, it’s like they’re having it both ways,” Mindiola said.

“You’re not doing anything to increase the pool, but you’re using the limited pool to help justify why there is not more faculty on campus. They can’t have it both ways. They have to have an extensive outreach program to get more students, good students who have intellectual inclinations to become professors. It’s a great job.”

Mindiola was a member of a Hispanic Advisory Committee under former provost John Antel to advise him on their biggest concern: faculty hiring. A report was submitted to him, but it wasn’t until Fall 2013, when Mindiola and some other minority faculty had a meeting with President Renu Khator, that they discovered she’d never seen the report. Mindiola said Khator requested that an update be made to the report that initially proposed a comprehensive minority recruitment plan.

“The University is an attraction for both junior- and senior-level faculty alike nationally. Therefore, we will need to be assertive and aggressive in our pursuit to recruit and retain. Target opportunity hires is another method that can be employed to attract and recruit faculty,” Conyers said.

“Overall, this action will require an ongoing process of recruiting, much like the method employed in fundraising and development, meaning all year and constantly networking nationally with scholars in the various academic fields of research.”

This articles is the first part in a three-part series that will conclude in March. Read the second part here

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53 Comments

  • “Center for Mexican American Studies Director Tatcho Mindiola said he would not be surprised if it had a negative effect on minority students’ graduation rates by having few professors from their background to identify with.”

    Worrying that students can only succeed if their professors have the same amount of melanin as they do? What a racist perspective.

    • Leave it to a Libertarian to miss the obvious…

      They certainly can’t succeed by becoming professors if UH only hires whites…

      • Where is the data that suggests that the faculty applicant pool is as diverse as the student body? You made that assumption and decided that the university is inherently racist without knowing the facts.

        • >Where is the data that suggests that the faculty applicant pool is as diverse as the student body?

          I’m working form your premises. I don’t need data, unless you are rejecting your own argument.

          You argued that students have the same level of achievement coming out of college regardless of their professor’s skin color. I accepted that as a premise and then asked, “If UH has a diverse student population, and those students have the same chance at success regardless of their professor’s skin color then it follows that UH doesn’t hire minorities regardless of their level of success.”

          I don’t accept your premises (that minorities have the same chance at success as whites), but arguendo I accepted them because it would be rude not to.

          >You made that assumption and decided that the university is inherently racist without knowing the facts.

          Well, no. You asserted the idea that ‘minority students can only be made successful by minority professors is racist.’ I never once used the word racist, nor did I imply anything of the kind. I simply said, using your premises, there is a disparity between student success and professor hiring.

          It seems like there is a big outstanding question here – why does UH not have as many minority professors as students. It seems like you’ll do anything to avoid answering this question directly. As a libertarian, I’d think you’d do anything to get to the truth on your own, not wanting to rely on others and all. But I suppose you must be some kind of new socialist libertarian, that believes the answers to complicated questions should be provided to you. Interesting.

          • My original criticism was of a person who worried that students who look one way can’t be as successful in college because their professors look another way. That is the most trivial reaction I can imagine and insults the integrity of students with different ethnicities from their professors.

            You changed that subject to make the claim that the university is “only” hiring whites, as if that was relevant to my original comment or to any factual basis. You directly implied that the university is racist as if there is some bias in hiring where recruiters favor white educators.

            My lack of comment of the current ratio of SKIN COLOR of the professors has more to do with the fact that I see it as irrelevant than it is worth analyzing. I believe in merit, not judging people by their skin color.

            • >My lack of comment of the current ratio of SKIN COLOR of the professors has more to do with the fact that I see it as irrelevant than it is worth analyzing. I believe in merit, not judging people by their skin color.

              You still aren’t getting it. The problem with this idea is that, if you believe in merit and that UH hiring is done on merit, that means that there aren’t minorities that meet the bar for being a UH professor. Which means that UH isn’t educating minorities of that caliber.

              • An institution can only hire people who apply for jobs. You keep making the assertion that an ideal (to you) ethnic ratio of people are applying. I care more about the quality of educators than the color of their skin. If that turned out to be 100% Hispanic or 100% Black I would still support the merit based hires over a racial quota because I don’t care about skin color..

                • >An institution can only hire people who apply for jobs. You keep making the assertion that an ideal (to you) ethnic ratio of people are applying.

                  Suggest you take a class on statistics before you continue this conversation.

                  • I have taken both an undergraduate and graduate level statistics class at Bauer and hold two business degrees from the university. If you want to be condescending, at least do so when you can back it up. Show me UH’s data of applicants and then you can make your point. As it stands, everything you are saying is based on your assumptions and a seemingly bitter victim mentality complex.

                    • >I have taken both an undergraduate and graduate level statistics class at Bauer and hold two business degrees from the university.

                      Take them again. You’re not understanding the consequences of your premises. It’s a common problem.

                      >Show me UH’s data of applicants and then you can make your point.

                      For the last time, I’m not making any argument about UH’s applicants – *you* are.

                    • From the article: “We always hear that the academic pool of faculty is small nationwide, which is true.”

                      Your thoughts?

              • “You still aren’t getting it. The problem with this idea is that, if you
                believe in merit and that UH hiring is done on merit, that means that
                there aren’t minorities that meet the bar for being a UH professor.
                Which means that UH isn’t educating minorities of that caliber.”

                Is the NBA racist?

                • The NBA isn’t doing enough to attract Latinos(3% of players) and Asians(1%). The NBA certainly likes making money from Latino and Asian fans. Boycott the NBA’s racist recruiting tactics.

                    • I don’t understand the point you are trying to make. Are you saying the NBA is owned by the government?

                    • No, but taxpayers subsidize the NBA. Therefore the NBA can be legitimately scrutinized by the taxpayer. Do you think the NBA is racist?

                    • >No, but taxpayers subsidize the NBA. Therefore the NBA can be legitimately scrutinized by the taxpayer.

                      I don’t agree.

                      >Do you think the NBA is racist?

                      Yes, but not in the selection of players. All players have the same opportunity to join the NBA. You’ll notice that the ownership of the NBA and the Front Offices and Coaches are almost universally white. That is a product of racism.

                    • How did you come to the conclusion that all players have the same opportunity to join the NBA?

                    • By examining the selection process. How did you come to the conclusion that all players do not have the same opportunity to join the NBA?

                    • Look at the number of Latino and Asian players in the NBA. The NBA is not diverse enough compared to the diversity of the cities they represent. You need to look at the underlying causes that Latinos and Asians are under-represented instead of assume that it is fair. I don’t want to put words in your mouth(since you politely did not do that to me). I simply would like to ask if you think the low amount of Latinos and Asians is because they aren’t as qualified as Blacks to become NBA players?

                    • >I simply would like to ask if you think the low amount of Latinos and Asians is because they aren’t as qualified as Blacks to become NBA players?

                      NBA != UH

                    • You don’t want to answer the question. I don’t have to explain why that is ok, as we both know that you owe me no explanation or answer, but you are not answering the question.

                    • I answered your question why I think Latinos and Asians do not have the same opportunity as Black players. It is due to underlying inequality and discrimination, from High School, College, all the way to the NBA. Then I asked you if you believe that the low amount of Latinos and Asians in the NBA is because they aren’t as qualified as Blacks to become NBA players?

                    • And I answered your question by saying I don’t think that the two situations are equivalent.

                    • They are equivalent by the fact that you have NBA players and UH faculty both not diverse enough to represent the communities in which they exist. The same lack of opportunities that would discourage Latinos and Blacks from going to college or being properly prepared for college, and being selected into faculty positions once they graduate, exist for Latinos and Blacks becoming players in the NBA. Many Latinos and Asians are discouraged from playing basketball in high school. There is a racist perception that they aren’t as skilled in basketball as Blacks and should focus on “more realistic” sports. There are less Latino and Asian role models in the NBA for them to look up to compared to Blacks. Its much harder for Latinos and Asians to get athletic scholarships for playing Basketball than Blacks and Whites, as seen by the low amount of Latinos and Asians on basketball scholarships. The NBA has not done enough to recruit Latinos and Asians. If they were, do you think the NBA would still have as few Latinos and Asians?

                    • “exist for Latinos and Blacks becoming players in the NBA”
                      Sorry, I meant Latinos and Asians becoming players in the NBA. (need more coffee)

                    • >They are equivalent by the fact that you have NBA players and UH faculty both not diverse enough to represent the communities in which they exist.

                      This is not my complaint. You appear to have misunderstood my concern. The problem isn’t that “there aren’t enough minority professors” – however, the minority professor statistics is indicative of a problem.

                      In the case of the NBA, the racial disparity is *not* indicative of a problem despite your insistence to the contrary.

                      In the case of UH, the racial disparity most likely is indicative of a problem.

                      You’ve created a strawman fallacy; which while interesting is not itself a counterargument.

                    • This is no strawman fallacy. It is a legitimate argument that indicates a problem at the NBA as well at UH. I cannot understand why you do not want to see the evidence or the struggles Latinos and Asians face in becoming NBA players due to their racial background. Do you think the low amount of Asian and Latino players is because they are less qualified to be NBA players compared to Blacks?

  • The only statistic this state-funded institution of higher learning should concern itself with should be derrived from the achievments and contributions of its students in a global setting. If someone decides that the most qualified staff of educators that could be assembled with the allocated budget of public funds isn’t to their personal liking, they have every right not to attend. Managed/forced racial diversity is, by definition racist and will always lead to mediocrity and discord.

    • That’s the problem with public institutions. By having private universities catered to certain races or ethnicities, we wouldn’t have this problem. Whites at a White University, Asians at an Asian American university or Mexican Americans at a Mexican American university wouldn’t have to fear racial discrimination. They would only have to worry about the socioeconomic, and networking/connection discrimination that is already rampant at universities.

  • Professors should be hired solely based on who has the best credentials and can move the University higher up on the Tier 1 list.
    GoCoogs!!

  • I’m proud that the Director for the Center for Mexican American Studies advocates for Mexican Americans. European Americans should also advocate for European Americans. Everyone should fight for their own groups. Americans of European descent are taught that it is racist for them to identify with their own group(much less advocate for their people), when other groups openly advocate to benefit their groups. That’s probably why some of them get upset when they lose jobs to unqualified affirmative action candidates. I have alot more respect for Tacho Mindiola(a proud Mexican American) than I do for self hating “Whites” or Americans of European descent. He deeply cares for the Mexican American community. European Americans should not be ashamed of the acheivements they have made as pioneers in Art and Science. Their goal should be to make sure that they continue with their great achievements in Art and Science in this new millennium.

  • “And while Hispanic faculty rank in third place, Mindiola said it is
    important to note that pool includes individuals from countries like
    Argentina and Brazil who may not have minority experience because they
    come from middle- and upper-middle-class families.”

    As a Hispanic I find it disgusting that he would generalize Argentine and Brazilian faculty has not having the required “minority experience” needed to work at UH.
    What litmus test will he require for “minority experience” What about an excellent physics professor from Finland or South Korea? According to Mindiola’s rhetoric, I’ll assume he will find their backgrounds not diverse enough. So what. America may be a “diverse” place, but a 98% White country or 98% Asian is not worse than country that resembles a mini-UN. Most of the countries with the highest secondary education math skills are homogenous countries(White and Asian). People are people. I find it quite racist to judge the quality of people, organizations, or countries based on the racial/demographic makeup of the country.

    • They don’t look like non-Hispanic whites to me. Classifying them as “White” can give a false impression to the ignorant public that non-Hispanic whites have a much higher crime rate than they actually do.

      Since I’m a non-White Hispanic that works in my community to reduce violent crime by raising the awareness of how many Latino youths are being caught up in a cancerous thug culture, I would like members of my community to understand how disproportionally violent criminals affect our community. Its easier for our hard working family oriented fathers and mothers to stamp out bad behavior before the whole society has to get involved. Sadly many youths resort to crime even though they have so many more opportunities than their parents could ever dream of.

      • My gentle, loving Latina mother would be my first concern if I ever committed a crime. She told me she did not endure the pain of birth to raise a criminal. I would be more afraid of her punishment than anything a cop could ever do to me. I would never dare to do anything that would disgrace my family.

  • this is so true…Mexican American can not find employment at U of H. We are speaking about professional position not the lawn work duties. Look at the Library and the leaders in that group of individuals, its not hard to spot their recruitment target.

  • How many Latinos are on UH’s basketball team? Hopefully the Center for Mexican American Studies can decide if it is diverse enough to match UH’s student body.

      • I obviously don’t have any data(too bad UH wont show it), but my impression is that they are probably mostly Asians

  • Absolutely ridiculous that some people think the colour of a professor’s skin somehow determines their quality, commitment, and knowledge as an educator.

    • A few professors told me that White teachers cannot effectively teach non-White minorities since they lack the understanding and life experiences of non-White minorities. All of them got upset when I asked them if Non-White minorities could effectively teach “majority” White students since they lack the understanding and life experiences of “majority” Whites.

  • Diversity is overrated. All these groups clamoring for “their people” to be elevated to positions they are underrepresented in is plain stupid.

    Hiring should be based ONLY on merit and NOT the color of your skin. Also, the very statement that this Director made reeks of racism….disgusting.

  • I can only talk about my experiences. I find it much easier to gain acceptance or be treated equal in hiring, research opportunities, and other activities when dealing with Whites compared to Asians regardless of whether they are Americans or Immigrants. I have a much harder time getting accepted by Asians. Looking at the various labs in my discipline, I see White PI’s with a diverse group of grad students. However with most of the Asian PI’s in my discipline, there is less non-Asian diversity. Again, I can only talk about MY experiences.

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