Equity Case Studies Report - School of Social Work - University of ...
Equity Case Studies Report - School of Social Work - University of ...
Equity Case Studies Report - School of Social Work - University of ...
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UBC school <strong>of</strong> social work equity and diversity strategic plan: A compilation <strong>of</strong> case studies 51<br />
part <strong>of</strong> the respective courses and, at the same time, highlights the importance <strong>of</strong> bringing input<br />
from different social work domains to address diversity issues” (p. 81).<br />
Another consideration in improving equity and diversity in curriculum and teaching is in<br />
the faculty hiring process (C. Williams, personal communication, August 2, 2012). The Faculty<br />
believes that it is imperative to ensure that faculty member candidates demonstrate an ability to<br />
integrate equity into their pedagogy, regardless <strong>of</strong> what courses they teach. It is through these<br />
multiple strategies <strong>of</strong> addressing diversity issues throughout the curriculum that the Faculty<br />
implements their goal involving diversity curriculum and teaching in their Diversity Initiative.<br />
Community Building and Research<br />
In terms <strong>of</strong> community building strategies, the Factor-Inwentash Faculty <strong>of</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Work</strong><br />
continues to develop and maintain connections with a wide variety <strong>of</strong> community agencies and<br />
members. The Diversity Committee, originally the AMNI Advisory Committee, includes a<br />
cross-section <strong>of</strong> the community sector in the Metropolitan Toronto. The Faculty has established<br />
ties with the Toronto Centre for Excellence in Research on Immigration and Settlement (CERIS),<br />
which is housed at the Faculty <strong>of</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Work</strong> (George, Shera, & Tsang, 1998). Furthermore,<br />
guest speakers from community organizations are frequently invited to lecture at the Faculty.<br />
Part <strong>of</strong> the Diversity Initiative’s ongoing goals is to create partnerships with communities<br />
previously not included in the Faculty’s traditional activities (George, Shera, & Tsang, 1998).<br />
This includes conducting collaborative education and participatory action research projects with<br />
community partners (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Toronto, Factor-Inwentash website, 2012). According to<br />
George, Shera, and Tsang (1998),<br />
[This] involves the faculty reaching out to communities that are relatively new to<br />
Canada. A number <strong>of</strong> issues have emerged in this process including: gaining entry, the