Q&A
Legal and ethical considerations in CUNY's hiring practices
2:25:15
·
3 min
The discussion delves into the legal and ethical considerations surrounding CUNY's hiring practices, particularly in relation to potential candidates with controversial backgrounds or views. CUNY officials explain the complexities and limitations of considering factors beyond academic qualifications in the hiring process.
- CUNY emphasizes that hiring decisions are primarily based on academic criteria and scholarship.
- There's a debate about whether and how CUNY can consider a candidate's past actions or statements in hiring decisions.
- CUNY is exploring the legal and HR constraints in implementing recommendation 12 from the Lippman report.
Derek Davis
2:25:15
And very, clear about tenure and promotion in higher education.
Eric Dinowitz
2:25:20
Okay.
Derek Davis
2:25:22
I don't think anyone has asked their political view, what God they pray to, or their background.
2:25:30
They look at their scholarship, the merit and weight of that.
2:25:33
I think that's what all institutions of higher education pride themselves in.
2:25:37
And it's a very dangerous slippery slope and rabbit hole to go down to suggest that we look at, one's political positions to the extent that they are reflected in their great weight of their scholarship.
2:25:50
Most institutions pride themselves on that.
2:25:53
Obviously, character matters and if someone is unfit, I doubt they would make it to a final review of a faculty selection committee
Eric Dinowitz
2:26:02
for various reasons.
2:26:03
A statement like Jews will not replace us, that's you consider a political statement?
Derek Davis
2:26:07
You're making a you're a hypothetical.
Eric Dinowitz
2:26:09
I think Well, no.
2:26:10
It's not hypothetical.
2:26:11
They said that.
2:26:11
They said it at the rally.
2:26:12
I'm not make I I wouldn't say that.
2:26:14
That's something that they were saying at this rally, but I'm using it as an example.
2:26:18
If someone were chanting that, I I just wanna know CUNY's policies.
2:26:22
CUNY allowed to is is that viewed of as CUNY viewed of by CUNY as a political statement, and is a statement like that not disqualifying for the recommendation, number 12, to foster inclusivity?
2:26:36
Someone who has chanted in the past, they don't wanna be inclusive of everyone.
Derek Davis
2:26:41
I think the best answer to your question, chairman, is to make sure that, the selection of every faculty meets the highest standards of our mission, And I think that is true of this university.
2:26:51
And I don't think anyone, this university seeks to find or looks to find, ways to hire people who do not meet the academic criteria and scholarship that is required to teach at the City University of New York.
Eric Dinowitz
2:27:06
I'm saying in addition to academic criteria.
2:27:09
I I think it's it's obviously a no brainer that the professors we hire, we want them to be the best.
2:27:14
Our our our students deserve nothing more.
2:27:16
But I'm talking about recommendation 12.
2:27:18
I just I I just want to read, if CUNY is going to create an environment of tolerance and respect, it must examine its faculty recruitment and hiring process and ensure that it recruits and hires those who will encourage and promote inclusivity, constructive dialogue, and tolerance.
2:27:36
And by the answer, it just sounds to me that if So someone who is marching in Charlottesville chanting Jews will not replace us, it seems you're being very careful about saying whether or not that is or is not disqualifying.
Felix Matos Rodriguez
2:27:50
So we are looking that is a recommendation that we're looking, from an HR and legal about, you know, what are the limits, and and it's not as clear cut as and I think that that's why you will see that the judge's recommendation is very, cautious, right, in in what they're recommending because they know that there's a fine line in many of these things.
2:28:12
Where do you get that information?
2:28:13
At times in some of the searches, we're limited in terms of, what sources of information we can get from the candidate.
2:28:20
So we are exploring what maneuvering room we have to be able to, know, sort of lift to that, bringing the highest level candidates back.
2:28:30
So that's something that we're exploring, based on existing law and HR.
Eric Dinowitz
2:28:35
Yeah.
2:28:35
I I appreciate that you're you're looking at it, and I understand there are legal ramifications, and those two answers were different.
2:28:44
Just just know those two answers that we just received as testimony were different.
2:28:49
Now you this is recommendation number 12 when you're looking at what is your time under?
2:28:53
Have you provided a deadline as chancellor to legal for making the recommendation?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
2:28:59
So to to be candid, we've been, prioritizing, the the portal.
2:29:04
We're prioritizing the the policy review, some of the other items in the, in the report.
