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 71
applicants admissions policies, UBC’s School of Social Work may be able to attract and admit
candidates who otherwise would not apply or be admitted, and who may be positive additions to
the School and to the Social Work profession. It is important to note, however, that there are
challenges that can follow affirmative action and other equity-related criteria in admission
policies. As MacDonald et al. (2003) discuss, there were instances at Dalhousie’s School of
Social Work where students in the Mi’kmaq/Maliseet BSW program experienced backlash from
“mainstream” students due to stigma connected to affirmative action policies. Similar accounts
were addressed in several of the individual case study interviews. As such, another
recommendation for the UBC School of Social Work as they progress in developing equitable
admission policies for students is to be mindful of the reality of these issues, and to learn from
other Schools and Faculties who already have such admission policies in places and who have
faced these challenges.
In addition to equitable admissions policies, the case studies have included various
strategies to increase student outreach, as to attract a more diverse student body and to encourage
people from underrepresented groups who show an interest in pursuing Social Work education to
apply. Policies such as affirmative action and equity admission criteria are more effective when
potential applicants are aware of such policies and of what the School has to offer. Strategies
from several of the universities used in the case studies have included advertising in community
newspapers; sending brochures to community organizations; hiring students as research
assistants to go into communities to provide information about the School/Faculty of Social
Work; having students from minoritized groups to go into their own communities to talk about
the School/Faculty of Social Work; increasing participation in regional and national graduate
student recruiting fairs with access to larger numbers of underrepresented students;