Progressive college in Maine drops DEI job requirement after opposition

Bates College abolishes ideological “litmus tests” for teachers

Bates College in Maine has removed the requirement for DEI statements in applications after the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression wrote a letter and reported The college fix.

FIRE sent a letter to the private liberal arts college in southeastern Maine on July 22 raising concerns about the DEI “litmus tests” in two of the school’s job postings, following an interview with The College Fix for a June article.

The solution The report had pointed out that applicants for the position of visiting lecturer in earth and climate sciences had to provide evidence of “past and potential contributions to equality and inclusion” when applying to the university.

Similarly, applicants for the position of visiting professor of physics and astronomy were required to submit “a ‘statement of their teaching philosophy/experience that also addresses equity and inclusion,'” says FIRE’s letter, which was written by Graham Piro, a fellow of the group’s Faculty Legal Defense Fund and former investigative reporter for The college fix.

“Whether intended or not, such requirements risk turning institutions into echo chambers for exclusively certain preferred views,” Piro wrote.

“Without agreed, objective and precise definitions, 'diversity,' 'equality,' and 'inclusion' – which carry political connotations that are the subject of much debate and controversy – will almost certainly serve as proxies for particular viewpoints or beliefs,” said the letter from the group, which defends free speech and academic freedom.

The letter asked the college to remove DEI requirements from job postings.

The school did not respond directly to FIRE's letter, but the mandatory DEI statements were quickly removed from job postings, FIRE reported on August 14.

The job postings now state: “Candidates have the choice to provide evidence of their skills and experience in supporting a diverse student body either in a separate, additional document or integrated into the teaching and research statements.”

“We commend Bates for acting quickly,” FIRE said in response to the change. “Colleges can pursue their own diversity initiatives and recognize voluntarily submitted work on DEI, but must refrain from imposing their own definitions on applicants and current faculty members.”

However, Bates College remains committed to DEI programs. It approved a curricular requirement on “Race, Power, Privilege, Colonialism” in 2023, which will take effect in 2026-27.

Last year The Federalist reported that Bates College's DEI office is being used to intimidate faculty members into submitting to its progressive ideology. Professors are reportedly hesitant to challenge students for fear of being reported to the school's DEI office.

Keith Taylor, a former administrator at the school, even faced backlash and was eventually fired after raising concerns about the DEI office, as previously reported The College Fix.

As for DEI statements, FIRE conducted a 2022 survey that showed they are a contentious issue among university professors. Of nearly 1,500 respondents, half viewed the diversity statement requirement as “'an ideological test that limits academic freedom,' while the other half said such requirements were 'a legitimate criterion for tenure at a university,'” FIRE reported.

MORE: Bates College greenlights 'Race, Power, Privilege, Colonialism' curriculum requirement

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