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 11
the graduate curriculum initiated by the caucus to better incorporate and represent LGBTTQI
issues.
The tangible advancement of equity goals has been the result of the commitment,
leadership, and dedication of faculty and students. Although Diversity and Equity Committee
and the GLBT Caucus operate at different institutional levels, they both illustrate exemplary
practice in terms of governance.
A further example of Dalhousie University, School of Social Work’s leadership and
commitment to equity and diversity is their initiative and involvement with diversity training at
the University, called “Diversity at Dal: What Part Will You Play?” (Thomas Bernard &
Hamilton-Hinch, 2006). This program was “organized by the Employment Equity Office and
the Personnel Office, and designed and facilitated by the School of Social Work’s continuing
education division, [where] a group of 13 Dalhousie employees were trained to conduct diversity
training for other staff at Dalhousie” (Thomas Bernard & Hamilton-Hinch, 2006, p. 135). This
was organized into two parts, the first being a “train-the-trainer” program, and the second
involving these members each facilitating one or two workshops in training teams of three
people. The Diversity Training program was organized around three core principles: awareness,
analysis and action, which they call the Triple A Paradigm (Thomas Bernard & Hamilton-Hinch,
2006). This program exemplifies the leadership roles that the School has taken, not only within
their programs, but also through their relationship with the entire university.
Student Outreach, Admission, and Support
In the early 1970’s, the Internal Minorities Task Force connected with an officer of the
Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. The Commission had identified three groups for
affirmative action programs: Aboriginal peoples, Acadians, and African Nova Scotians