The problem is that it is hard to hire, and if you can pick a criteria up front that makes at least some sense then it can help a lot. Justice Scalia explained why he only takes people from the Ivys:
“I’m going to be picking from the law schools that basically are the hardest to get into. They admit the best and the brightest, and they may not teach very well, but you can’t make a sow’s ear out of a silk purse. If they come in the best and the brightest, they’re probably going to leave the best and the brightest.”
In this way you are just taking advantage of the hard work that some college admissions committee put in to sorting your candidates.
Of course my current employer has even less diversity. Out of the 50 people in the IT department here I am one of two that didn't go to school here. When I pointed out that fact my boss defended herself and said that she doesn't consider herself to be from here either because she didn't come to to U-M until grad school. That is what qualifies for an outside hire here.
“I’m going to be picking from the law schools that basically are the hardest to get into. They admit the best and the brightest, and they may not teach very well, but you can’t make a sow’s ear out of a silk purse. If they come in the best and the brightest, they’re probably going to leave the best and the brightest.”
In this way you are just taking advantage of the hard work that some college admissions committee put in to sorting your candidates.
Of course my current employer has even less diversity. Out of the 50 people in the IT department here I am one of two that didn't go to school here. When I pointed out that fact my boss defended herself and said that she doesn't consider herself to be from here either because she didn't come to to U-M until grad school. That is what qualifies for an outside hire here.