This memo, addressed to a university rector from a group of students, proposes expanding faculty hiring to include individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and increasing the number of qualified information technology staff. The students argue that current hiring practices favor American cultural norms, leaving students from other societies underserved in teaching methods, library resources, and language instruction. The proposal outlines the problems with existing policy, presents survey-based evidence of student interest in cross-cultural and multilingual education, assesses the feasibility of diverse hiring, and considers the associated costs and long-term benefits to the university's reputation and ranking.
To: The Rector
From: Group of Students
Date: 5 July, 2012
Re: Hire Diverse and Cross-Culturally Represented Faculty and Technical Staff
We propose that the university hire more faculty members from cross-cultural backgrounds. This will encourage students from diverse societies to enroll and will consequently improve the university's ranking, revenue, and reputation. Additionally, the university's upgraded technology infrastructure requires more qualified technical staff to share the workload efficiently. The Human Resources Department must plan to complete these hires before September 2012 so that new staff can participate in the upcoming academic program.
As students from different cultural backgrounds, we have a fundamental need for our cultures to be respected and for awareness of one another's traditions to be cultivated. Under the current policy common to many American universities, students are treated according to American norms — taught about American customs and social conventions. Because most faculty members are American, a single cultural framework dominates the classroom. As a result, students from other societies are often dissatisfied with the teaching methods and course content. Research on diversity in higher education consistently shows that culturally homogeneous faculty can limit the academic experience of international and minority students.
A second problem is that the university's library staff currently reflects that same cultural and religious uniformity. Librarians are consequently unable to maintain a high-quality collection of books, sources, and reference materials representing other societies. In practice, a single staff member manages the collections across all departments — including languages, technical subjects, and social sciences — which is inadequate for the scope of the institution's needs.
A third problem is a severe shortage of technical teaching staff. The university has underestimated how many information technology experts are required to serve the entire student population. This understaffing places an unsustainable burden on the few IT faculty currently employed and prevents the university from keeping pace with advances in technology. Without modern, well-supported systems, the university risks falling significantly behind peer institutions.
Survey results gathered within the university indicate that the majority of students want to learn about different world religions — including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam — and wish to study cross-cultural languages that can open career pathways globally. It is therefore important that students be taught by instructors familiar with those cultures and traditions. Because the university currently employs a predominantly American faculty, it is essential that the institution hire cross-culturally representative staff members who can meaningfully broaden the academic environment. The principles of multiculturalism in education support the idea that exposure to diverse perspectives strengthens learning outcomes for all students.
In addition to diversifying the teaching faculty, it is equally important that the university hire librarians from varied cultural backgrounds who can build and maintain appropriate collections of books and resources representing a wide range of traditions and knowledge systems.
Regarding technology, a well-maintained IT infrastructure not only improves the standard of education but also raises the institution's ranking and reputation. Achieving this requires sufficient IT faculty and staff to manage the systems and absorb the workload effectively. The university should advertise for both technical staff and cross-cultural faculty positions as soon as possible so that new hires can contribute to institutional improvements from the outset. Investment in upgraded technological infrastructure is also necessary to remain competitive. According to research on educational technology, universities that invest in robust IT systems and qualified technical staff consistently outperform those that do not in both student satisfaction and academic output.
"Student outcomes and university ranking gains"
"Why diverse hiring is practical and manageable"
"Short-term costs offset by long-term profits"
We are willing to discuss this proposal at your convenience and hope you will give it serious consideration. Thank you.
You’re 66% through this paper. Sign up to read the remaining 3 sections.
Sign Up Now — Instant Access Already a member? Log inAlways verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.