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 14
attract and retain First Nation students resulting in an insufficient number of professionally
trained First Nation social workers. The staff of the program includes the Coordinator and
Student Support Worker. The MMBSW is guided by a Steering Committee composed of
members representing the two universities, employing agencies, and students from New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This Committee guides the overall operation of the program in
areas such as curriculum planning, course adaptation, and instructor selection aspects of the
program as well as funding and evaluation of the program. Students are able to earn their BSW
degree in a flexible format on a part-time basis over a three-year period. The program design
respects that First Nation students are typically employed and have family commitments.
Students who wish to study on a full-time basis can access the mainstream programs at either
university. The MMBSW program requires students to successfully complete sixty Social Work
credit hours over a three year period. Some of the unique features of the MMBSW program
include:
• Students come together at one location for 4 weeks of course work in May and June;
• Students come together for offsite delivery in Sackville, NB for one week per month
from September to April;
• Course schedule accommodates full time employees;
• Recognition of First Nations systems of knowledge and ways of learning;
• Recognition that First Nations people have historically been disadvantaged in educational
and other systems;
• Flexibility in admissions and programming;
• Culturally relevant curriculum that reflects First Nations experience;
• First Nations Coordinator fluent in Mi’kmaq and some First Nations faculty;