Racism in Action: University of Vermont Reserves Tenure-Track Fellowship for ‘BIPOC’ Scholars Only
6th September 2024
The University of Vermont solicited applications for a postdoctoral fellowship that was only open to “BIPOC/POC scholars,” according to a job posting obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, raising questions about the school’s compliance with civil rights law as universities face scrutiny over the racial breakdown of their newest classes.
Advertised on the American Political Science Association’s (APSA) online job bank, the posting—which has since been removed—indicated that the Henderson-Harris fellowship, which has existed since the 1990s, “specifically seeks applicants” who “identify as people/persons of color.” The two-year position pays up to $70,000 and fast-tracks winners for a tenured professorship at the university.
“Applicants should be BIPOC/POC scholars,” the posting read. “Preference will be given to candidates whose research focuses on the themes of inequality and/or exclusion.”