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

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UBC school of social work equity and diversity strategic plan: A compilation of case studies 67 difference, and inclusion for students. For example, the School of Social Work at Dalhousie University has demonstrated exemplary practices in equitable student admission through their affirmative action policy, established in 1982. The School’s affirmative action policy applies to applicants who are Acadian, Aboriginal, African Canadian, members of other racially visible groups, persons with (dis)Abilities, and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Two Spirited, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTTQI) students. Candidates applying under the affirmative action policy at the School are “considered individually on the basis of her/his qualifications, rather than in relation to other applicants” (Dalhousie University, Faculty of Health Professions, School of Social Work, 2012). Thomas Bernard, MacDonald, and Wien (2005) describe this policy further, by describing how students applying under the affirmative action policy: Are given special treatment in the sense that their application is considered according to its individual merits, not as part of a competitive pool of applicants. If the individual application meets the minimum entrance requirements of the school, and if (based on letters of reference, the student’s personal statement and the like) the person is deemed to be likely to succeed in the academic program and in the social work career, then the person is likely to be accepted. (p. v) In addition to the affirmative action policy, the School has a Bachelor of Social Work program for students who identify as Mi’kmaq/Maliseet, which specifically addresses the challenges and needs of these students. The Mi’kmaq/Maliseet Bachelor of Social Work (MMBSW) program teaches with culturally relevant frameworks and pedagogical practices. The rationale behind the development of the MMBSW program was the reality that mainstream Social Work education programs frequently have been unable to attract and retain Aboriginal students resulting in an insufficient number of professionally trained Aboriginal Social Workers. Students in the
UBC school of social work equity and diversity strategic plan: A compilation of case studies 68 MMBSW program are able to earn their BSW degree in a flexible format on a part-time basis over a three-year period. Students who wish to study on a full-time basis can also access the mainstream programs. The creation of the MMBSW program has strengthened the School’s ability to remove barriers and provide opportunities for a larger number of Aboriginal students. The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Social Work has also developed concrete strategies for student access and admissions. As outlined in the U of M case study, the Faculty of Social Work has several programs offered at different campuses, two of which are Access programs. These programs are designed to support minoritized students who have traditionally faced systemic barriers, such as poverty, racism, marginalization, English as a second language, the effects of colonization, a history of being a child in foster care, and being a single parent. As such, the Access programs have educational equity admission criteria, with which students can apply and be admitted with a GPA lower than the standard admission criteria, which is 3.0. They can be admitted with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99, with relevant work experience and a commitment to Social Work. The UBC School of Social Work can increase educational equity by establishing and implementing policies that better acknowledge systemic barriers that potential applicants face, such as creating designated student spaces in the program for applicants from minoritized group and accepting students with lower GPA’s who fit an equity admission criteria. The Faculty of Social Work at U of C is not included in the individual case studies. However, the university-wide student admissions policies also provide exemplary practices, which can provide further suggestions for the UBC School of Social Work in developing equitable admissions policies. U of C has an Aboriginal admissions policy and a diverse
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