Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

U. Texas-Arlington provost wants more black faculty
By I'sha Gaines
The Shorthorn (U. Texas-Arlington)
05/02/2006

(U-WIRE) ARLINGTON, Texas — In response to a faculty member's plea for more black faculty, University of Texas-Arlington Provost Dana Dunn said she would also like to see an increase but that the University is having problems recruiting and keeping minorities with doctorate degrees.

Dunn said that due to competition, some faculty leave and go to better-paying institutions. She also said that a problem is the low number of black professors earning their doctorate degree, which is traditionally required for a faculty member to become tenured.

"Competition is intense," she said. "I don't think we have concrete evidence that black faculty are leaving more than others, but we are concerned about all faculty departure."

Dunn said the best solution to keeping minority faculty is to create committees that are willing to encourage students to continue their education.

"It's the best solution long-term," she said. "We believe that if all institutions work harder to graduate more minority doctoral degreed students, we will make significant inroads in diversifying faculty on campus and nationwide."

Management associate professor Myrtle Bell said that since 1995, there has been a decline in black faculty, and it worries her that the university has limited recruiting.

Compared to the 3,333 black students, there are six tenured faculty, the UTA Fact Book states.

Marvin Dulaney, former tenured history professor, said he enjoyed working at UTA, but the number of black faculty was "pathetic." Dulaney, who teaches at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, said that when he was a professor here, the university made an extra effort to help recruit black faculty.

He said he agrees that there is a lack of minorities with doctorate degrees but said that, for some, the process is too long.

Dulaney said that because minorities with doctorate degrees are in great demand, universities are willing to pay them more.

"It's like supply and demand," he said. "They get into a bidding war, especially if you are good."

He said inspiring students to apply for doctoral fellowships, graduate teaching assistants and internships will encourage students to get a doctorate.

"The remedy to this problem is to get them in the pathway to mentor and nurture them into the system," he said.

Sociology junior Angelica Eddington said she plans to get her master's or doctoral degree because it will widen her career choices, provide her with job stability and make her more money.

"You are also in a better position to help young black people that are scared to pursue PhDs," she said.

Eddington said a lot of black students in lower social classes or in urban areas are discouraged when thinking about the price of higher education, and they may have family members who didn't go to college.

"There's not a lot of encouragement," she said. "The most successful black people that are exemplified the most in the media play sports, are rappers and are in the music industry. They don't put people with Ph.Ds in the media as much."

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