Debate over Catholic Identity and Diversity Initiatives
The University of Notre Dame is under scrutiny following a recent directive from its provost, John McGreevy, which places equal emphasis on hiring Catholics and increasing faculty diversity. In a faculty-wide email on January 17, McGreevy outlined the university’s hiring priorities, stating that along with recruiting Catholic faculty, Notre Dame must also focus on increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities. His message emphasized the institution’s commitment to becoming a diverse and inclusive intellectual community in alignment with its mission.
However, this directive has sparked controversy among faculty, students, and observers. Critics argue that the university is prioritizing secular ideologies over its Catholic identity, risking the dilution of its foundational mission in pursuit of broader academic prestige. Some see McGreevy’s hiring goals as an attempt to align with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) frameworks prevalent in secular institutions rather than maintaining a distinctly Catholic approach to faculty recruitment.
Conversely, supporters of the initiative argue that increasing diversity aligns with Catholic values by better reflecting the universal nature of the Church. They contend that hiring a broader range of faculty members can enrich the academic environment and provide a more inclusive representation of global Catholicism. The discussion surrounding these priorities has intensified as Notre Dame prepares to implement a new hiring guide on July 1, which aims to support departments in achieving these dual objectives.
The Role of DEI in Notre Dame’s Mission
The controversy at Notre Dame is part of a broader national debate on DEI policies in higher education. The university has previously integrated DEI principles into its operations, establishing an Office of Institutional Transformation in 2022 and a Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in 2023. According to reports, DEI-related salaries at Notre Dame amount to $6.5 million, and the university hosted 167 DEI-related events in 2024 alone.
Scott Yenor, a political scientist at Boise State University and a fellow at The Claremont Institute, has been vocal in his criticism of Notre Dame’s DEI policies. In a February 17 article for First Things, Yenor described McGreevy’s hiring directive as part of a long-standing shift toward secular academic norms. He argued that Notre Dame’s embrace of DEI threatens its Catholic mission, noting that similar initiatives at other universities have led to ideological shifts that are at odds with traditional Christian values.
The debate intensified as the directive coincided with the Trump administration’s recent executive order, announced on January 21, which aims to cut federal funding for universities promoting DEI frameworks. It remains unclear how this policy shift will impact Notre Dame’s hiring practices. Some faculty and students have questioned whether the university’s DEI initiatives will continue under this new federal scrutiny, while others believe that Notre Dame’s commitment to diversity will remain unchanged.
Balancing Catholic Faculty Representation and Diversity
Amid the controversy, questions have arisen about Notre Dame’s commitment to maintaining a strong Catholic faculty. The university has not publicly disclosed the percentage of Catholic faculty in recent years, leading to concerns that Catholic representation may be declining. The Sycamore Trust, an alumni group dedicated to preserving Notre Dame’s Catholic identity, has criticized the administration for withholding this data. Bill Dempsey, the group’s founder, argued that hiring priorities should emphasize increasing Catholic faculty rather than focusing on broader diversity initiatives.
Others within the university, however, see diversity as essential to Notre Dame’s mission. Business professor Laura Hollis, a faculty senate member, defended McGreevy’s directive, stating that recruiting faculty from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups aligns with global Catholic demographics. She emphasized that Catholicism is growing rapidly outside of Europe and North America, and Notre Dame should reflect this shift by hiring more faculty from regions such as Africa, South America, and Asia.
The divide in perspectives highlights the broader tension between Notre Dame’s Catholic identity and its position as a leading academic institution. As the university moves forward with its new hiring framework, the question remains whether it can maintain its Catholic roots while adapting to the evolving landscape of higher education.
