February 24, 1999

To: University of Delaware Faculty and Administrators

On December 6, 1998, the Delaware Association of Scholars (DAS) mailed a survey concerning race and sex preferences to all full-time faculty at the University of Delaware. We thank the faculty for their participation, and report here the survey's major findings.

SUMMARY: The National Association of Scholars (NAS) made news in 1996 when it reported that "a solid majority" (about 60%) of faculty nationwide opposes race and sex preferences in student admissions and faculty employment and would vote to ban them. A parallel survey by the DAS reveals even stronger opposition at the University of Delaware. Seven in ten UD faculty oppose racial preferences in faculty employment and student admissions and would approve a policy banning them at UD. Even a majority (51%) of self-described liberal faculty opposes race and sex preferences, as do about 80% of moderates and conservatives.

Would You Ban Preferences in:
Faculty Employment?	Student Admissions?

Opposition to preferences is strong in most of the University's seven colleges, including its largest (Arts and Sciences). In six of the seven colleges, from 70%-90% of the faculty would vote to ban preferences in faculty employment. In five of the seven, equally high proportions would also ban preferences in student admissions. Sentiment is about evenly split in the two other colleges.

Most faculty believe that UD does, in fact, grant race and sex preferences. Over 80% believe that UD has either formal or informal policies in faculty employment "that give preference to applicants on the basis of their race, sex, and ethnicity." About 60% see preferential policies in student admissions.

Among these faculty who believe that the University grants preferences by race and sex, about half say that the preferences have affected the quality of faculty and students, generally for the worse. From 26% to 44% of all self-described moderates and conservatives believe that preferences have hurt the quality of both faculty and students (5% to 11% believe they have helped). Liberals are more evenly split over whether preferences have raised or lowered quality.

The results of the DAS survey of UD faculty are consistent with the results of the 1996 NAS/Roper poll of faculty nationwide. About a third of both faculty samples is liberal and a sixth conservative (a 1996 Gallup poll found the opposite to be true for the general public). Both surveys reveal that solid opposition to race and sex preferences pervades most segments of the faculty. The level of opposition at UD is somewhat higher, however, than that documented two years ago for faculty nationwide. UD faculty are also much more likely to report that preferences have had a harmful effect at their institution.

CONCLUSION: The UD chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has advocated race and gender preferences. Moreover, the great majority of UD faculty believes that UD actually does grant preferences in faculty employment and student admissions. Virtually all segments of the faculty, however, would ban preferences, usually by a wide margin. The AAUP is thus promoting policies that not only put the university in legal jeopardy, but also violate the wishes of its own membership. The UD Administration appears to be doing the same.

FURTHER INFORMATION: The full DAS report is available on the web at http://www.udel.edu/DAS/. The NAS/Roper report is available at http://www.nas.org/roper/textsum.htm. Questions may be directed to Linda S. Gottfredson, President of the Delaware Association of Scholars (302-831-1650 or das-req@udel.edu).