Abstract
This case study of Florida International University is part of a 12-year
line of research on intentional change in public metropolitan research
universities. Using IPEDS data, this study focuses on changes
(2011-2020) in 20 intersectional, full-time faculty categories that
combine Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Appointment Type. In these results,
the analysis explores diversity, equity, and inclusion issues connected
to metric-centric faculty hiring policies. The answers to the study’s
three research questions are all affirmative: (a) during the study
period, 2011-2020, the FIU full-time faculty composition changed in
intersectional categories of Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Appointment
Type; (b) the results reveal patterns of change; and (c) these patterns
of change have diversity, equity, and inclusion implications. FIU’s
metric-centric policies appear to favor the exchange of full-time
Permanent lines (tenured or tenured-track) for full-time Contingent
contracts (non-tenure). If gains are made by non-White faculty, they
tend to be in Contingent categories rather than Permanent. The
discussion situates the results in the Culture Wars currently occurring
in Florida that involve attacks on academic freedom and tenure.