The Johns Hopkins University will provide at least $5
million over the next five years in
matching funds for departments seeking to improve
diversity, including hiring and retaining
outstanding women and underrepresented minority scholars
for faculty positions.
The initial funding for the Mosaic Initiative, as the
pilot program will be called, comes from the
offices of President William R. Brody and Provost Kristina
M. Johnson. The university will also seek
additional funding from outside sources. Among those who
have already committed to the effort is
the Society of Black Alumni.
"The initiative will support the recruitment and
retention of outstanding faculty, including
women and individuals of color," Johnson said in announcing
the program to the university community.
"Our aim is to create a mosaic of the best and the
brightest faculty across all our schools and in all
our disciplines, a mosaic including rising stars interested
in becoming part of the intellectual life of
this great institution."
Johnson said that she and Brody believe that
recruiting a faculty of leading scholars that also
reflects America's diversity is essential to accomplishing
the university's mission of teaching,
research, patient care and service.
The university has worked hard to recruit women and
minority faculty and has made some good
progress, she said. This academic year, Johns Hopkins has
206 more women and 45 more members of
underrepresented minorities on its full-time faculty of
3,519 than it did four years ago.
Still, she said, women account for only 38 percent of
full-time faculty and fewer than 20
percent of full professors. Underrepresented minorities
account for only 6 percent of the full-time
faculty and fewer than 4 percent of full professors.
"A university with our commitment to diversity must do
more," Johnson said. "I am pleased that
the university's deans and directors are enthusiastic in
their support of the Mosaic Initiative. All of
us believe that a diverse faculty is essential to Johns
Hopkins' future success. All of us believe that a
diverse faculty is crucial in attracting the best and
brightest students to pursue their scholarly and
professional goals at our university."
The Mosaic Initiative will be funded initially at a
minimum of $1 million per year. A department
may apply for funds to the dean or director of its
division, who will prioritize requests and forward
them to the provost. Departments may make proposals for up
to $250,000, to be spent over three
years on such items as salary, research support and
laboratory equipment. Funds will be allocated on a
rolling basis; allocation will continue as long as dollars
are available in any recruiting year.
Applications are being accepted immediately for funds
to be spent in the academic year that
starts July 1.