In late September, Georgia Tech formally adopted a new template for advertising faculty positions.

Spearheaded by Georgia Tech’s ADVANCE Program, the initiative to update the existing template enabled a closer alignment of the language in faculty hiring ads with the institution’s goals around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The amended ad states: “Georgia Tech prides itself on its technology resources, collaborations, high-quality student body, and its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion … We strongly encourage applications from women, underrepresented minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. Georgia Tech has policies to promote a healthy work-life balance and is aware that attracting faculty may require meeting the needs of two careers.”

ADVANCE Professor and Georgia Power Chair Kim Cobb noted that the revised template “serves to remind the entire Georgia Tech community of our shared goals and responsibilities in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Cobb previously worked with colleagues in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences to develop updated language to advertise new faculty positions. In partnership with the other ADVANCE professors, they advocated for campus-wide implementation by engaging with the office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Graduate Affairs, Office of Human Resources, Office of Legal Affairs, Office of the Provost, and Institute Diversity.

“Georgia Tech’s new language for faculty hiring advertisements explicitly states our goal to achieve greater diversity in future faculty hiring outcomes,” said Archie Ervin, vice president for Institute Diversity. “Directing this message to women, underrepresented minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans will encourage more members of these communities to consider joining our campus community.”

The initiative to update the faculty position advertising template is also in line with ADVANCE’s mission “to develop systemic and institutional approaches that increase the representation, full participation, and advancement of women and minorities in academic STEM careers — thus contributing to a more diverse workforce, locally and nationally.”

Ervin highlighted the institutional importance of ADVANCE, noting that “Georgia Tech ADVANCE professors provide visible and tangible leadership for our equity and inclusion agendas with a special emphasis on gender equity.”

The updated faculty position advertisement template is available online.