Who Controls Canadian Universities? Ethnoracial Origins of Canadian University Administrators and Faculty's Perception of Mistreatment

ABSTRACT/RESUME This paper evaluates the distribution of ethnoracial groups among the top administrators of Canadian universities from 1951 to 2001, as well as faculty perceptions of mistreatment of visible minorities by university administrators. The results suggest that the proportion of presidents, vice-presidents, and deans of British origin has declined, though not as much as has the proportion of the population who are of British origin. French administrative representation has generally been stable, though like those of British origin, their proportionate share of the population has also declined. In contrast, the administrative representation of Europeans of non-charter ethnic origin has increased, while their share of the population has been relatively stable. More importantly, visible minorities are rarely represented in university administration, despite a significant increase in their population share. Not surprisingly, visible minorities perceive members of visible minorities to be mistreated by the administration more than do other groups. Cet article evalue la distribution des groupes ethniques parmi les administrateurs superieurs des universites canadiennes de 1951 a 2001, aussi bien que les perceptions du corps enseignant du mauvais traitement des minorites visibles par les administrateurs universitaires. Les resultats suggerent que la proportion de presidents, de vice-presidents, et de doyens d'origine britannique ait diminue, cependant pas autant que la proportion de la population qui sont d'origine britannique. La representation administrative francaise a generalement ete stable, mais cependant, comme ceux d'origine britannique, leur part proportionnee de la population a egalement diminue. Par contra ste, la representation administrative d'Europeens d'origine ethnique non-charte a augmente, alors que leur part de la population a ete relativement stable. Plus important, les minorites visibles sont rarement representees dans l'administration universitaire, en depit d'une augmentation significative de leur proportion de la population. Pas etonnamment, les minorites visibles percoivent que les membres des minorites visibles sont maltraites par l'administration plus que d'autres groupes. ********** Student bodies at universities are becoming more ethnoracially diverse, as is the Canadian population as a whole. One might expect this diversity to be reproduced among both faculty members and university administration personnel. Evidence in some universities suggests, however, that racial minorities are actually under-represented among university administrators and professors. Charges that racism is rampant in Canadian universities is based on this type of evidence (Ng 1994; Henry and Tator 1994b, 75). These allegations, however, may be premature and/or misguided. A summary of the pertinent research suggests that we have little systematic national information about the ethnoracial representation of Canadian university professors and administrators (see Ogmundson and McLauglin 1992; Henry and Tator 1994b; Nakhaie 1997, 1998). Similarly, there is an empirical void in the literature regarding university professors' perceptions of prejudice and discrimination by administration at the national level, despite much anecdotal evidence. The failure to provide systematic and national evidence regarding these issues is particularly problematic, given the charge of racism directed against Canadian universities (Henry and Tator 1994a) and, more broadly, the lively debate generated by Porter (1965) on ethnic stratification. (1) The most cherished institutional imperative in universities is a commitment to universalism in pursuit of truth. Universalism dictates that recruitment and promotion be based solely on merit. Such an ethos demands that be open to talent, and any restriction on scientific careers other than lack of competence prejudices the furtherance of truth (Merton [1942] 1973, 270-272). …

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