Equity Case Studies Report - School of Social Work - University of ...

UBC school of social work equity and diversity strategic plan: A compilation of case studies 10
include Faculty members serving on community boards, delivering guest lectures at community
functions, and conducting joint research initiatives (MacDonald et al., 2003).
Leadership, Governance, and Strategic Commitment
As previously mentioned, a task force (Internal Minorities Task Force) was formed in
1973 to address equity issues at the School of Social Work, which evolved into a standing
committee in 1983, called the Committee on Racial and Ethnic Affairs, and is now called the
Diversity and Equity Committee. When it was still the Committee on Racial and Ethnic Affairs,
it received recognition from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission for its sponsorship of
an affirmative action program (MacDonald et al., 2003). The mandate of the committee
includes:
Addressing issues such as recruitment of applicants from designated groups, overseeing
and promoting the affirmative action policy, nurturing community links, and supporting
students. Status as a standing committee entails formal recognition within the
governance document; designated representation on all decision-making committees;
workload recognition for faculty participation; involvement in a myriad of school
processes such as recruitment, admissions, orientation, curricular review, program
development, and organizing and sponsoring conferences; and representation on
university-wide committees. (MacDonald et al., 2003, p. 473)
In addition, although it does not have formal recognition in the governance document, there is a
Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) Caucus, initiated in 1998 by students and faculty.
The GLBT Caucus provides support to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Two Spirited,
Queer, and Intersex (LGBTTQI) students and examines areas within the School that are
homophobic or heterosexist in design or practice. For example, in 1999, there was a revision of