Assessing Qualifications for Working in a Diverse Environment

During interviews, remember to incorporate inquiries and raise them in varied contexts regarding teaching, scholarship, and teamwork. Ensure that various members of the search committee ask questions so that diversity issues will be raised regardless of the gender and racial make-up of the group. Solicit information about the candidate's work in the areas of diversity, for example, experience in recruiting, retaining, and promoting women and minorities in previous positions and success in these efforts; and information about programs, committee memberships, and diversity initiatives in previous positions.

The following pages suggest some sample interview questions to assess candidates' qualifications for teaching and/or working in a diverse environment.