The reported staff increase of 1,219 over the decade amounts to 12 additional administrators and support staff for every one additional student. Overall, the university employs approximately three people for every two undergraduate students.
Micaiah Bilger, assistant editor for The College Fix, says it is all part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) effort to increase its DEI program.
"MIT created six new deans of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) just in 2021," she offers as an example. "They added six new top administrative positions for DEI."
University spokesperson Abby Abazorius defended the hiring increase in a recent email to The College Fix.
"At MIT, staff play an essential role, and hiring is focused on ensuring the university has a workforce that can successfully support its operations, including specialized scientists and instructors who help teach our students and conduct research in our labs, and graduate students whom we pay to serve as teaching and research assistants," she wrote.
Between 2013 and 2022, undergraduate student enrollment remained basically flat. But in addition to the new hires, the school also established a student "Wellbeing Lab."
"They say it's – quote, unquote – for students to unwind," Bilger relays. "It provides workshops on sleeping and nutrition, and they're saying it's this comfortable, fun atmosphere for students just to rest and recharge."
The center, which also provides therapy dogs, employs eight staff.
But as some of the institute's DEI efforts have been met with legal challenges, Bilger says one positive development is President Sally Kornbluth has ended DEI statements in faculty hiring.
