Villanova Professors Denounce University’s New Assessment of Faculty Sensitivity, Bias

By

The campus of Villanova University.
Image via Villanova University.
Delaware County universities like Villanova University saw endowment growth in 2023.

Professors at Villanova University have denounced the school’s new assessment of faculty sensitivity and bias as harmful to its mission of providing a liberal education, write Colleen A. Sheehan and James Matthew Wilson for The Wall Street Journal.

In a letter to The Wall Street Journal, professors said Villanova’s administration notified the faculty that course and teaching evaluations filled out by students each semester will now include new diversity and inclusion questions. These will ask students if the instructor demonstrated “cultural awareness” and created an “environment free from bias on individual differences or social identities.”

The students will also rate professors on their “sensitivity” to a student’s “biological sex, disability, gender identity, national origin, political viewpoint, race/ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, etc.”

Professors believe the change will impede their ability to provide a liberal education, and give students incentive to steer clear of discussions on subjects that might be considered offensive.

“Professors and our students must be free to think and question and debate,” states the letter. “Surely respecting diversity must also allow for diversity of thought.”

Read more about the issue in The Wall Street Journal by clicking here.

[uam_ad id=”62465″]

Join Our Community

Never miss a Delaware County story!

"*" indicates required fields

Hidden
DT Yes
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Advertisement