Memorial University Restricts Tenured Professor Applications to Equity Groups
Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, has implemented a hiring policy that excludes straight white males from applying for several tenured professor positions. According to five job postings advertised in April, only current employees and individuals who identify as members of designated employment equity groups are eligible to apply.
Eligibility Criteria for Research Chair Positions
The university's job postings specify that applicants must belong to one or more of the following groups: women, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, and persons with disabilities. This policy applies to five research chair positions that were publicly announced on Monday by independent journalist Chris Brunet.
One of the positions is a research chair in musculoskeletal health and genomic map of the Newfoundland and Labrador population. This is a seven-year term position with an annual salary of $200,000, potentially extendable for another seven years. The other four positions include:
- Community health and substance use
- Computational biochemistry
- Artificial intelligence-driven navigation for Arctic and harsh environments
- Indigenous knowledge, youth and digital technology
These positions offer five-year terms with a $100,000 annual salary plus an additional $20,000 research stipend, with possible five-year extensions.
Legal Framework and University Commitment
The job postings are legally permissible under Section 15 of the Canadian Constitution, which allows for programs aimed at improving conditions for disadvantaged groups. Memorial University states in its postings: "Memorial is committed to employment equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, and encourages applications from all qualified candidates."
The university's human resources webpage further emphasizes its dedication to "supporting the creation of a diverse workforce" and "providing community leadership as a progressive and equitable employer." Applicants will receive an employment equity survey link via email after submitting their applications.
Funding and Program Context
These positions are part of the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program, established in 2000. The federal government funds this program at approximately $311 million annually to support research in engineering, natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. The program aims to enable institutions to maximize their contributions as centers of research and training.
Memorial University, founded in 1925 as a "living memorial" for Newfoundlanders who died in World War I, currently educates over 17,000 students from more than 120 countries. The university's recent hiring initiative reflects its strategic approach to diversifying its academic staff while adhering to constitutional provisions that permit affirmative action measures for historically disadvantaged groups.
