Diversity Initiative
The Faculty has adopted an organizational change model to become a diversity-inclusive organization. This is a systemic approach to integrating diversity. The Diversity Initiative of the Faculty encompasses all aspects of the Faculty's operation and focuses on five components:
Student Admissions, Recruitment and Retention:
- Engaging in special recruitment initiatives that target under-represented student populations.
- Creating scholarships for students of under-represented ethnic groups and Aboriginal communities.
- Retaining relevant academic support such as the Faculty Advisor program and the Writing Laboratory.
- Collaborating with the Equity Offices at the University of Toronto to provide student support and promote inclusion.
Faculty Recruitment and Development:
- Engaging scholars from Canada and abroad to provide relevant training.
- Developing a more diverse faculty by encouraging applicants from under-represented communities.
Curriculum and Teaching:
- Integrating anti-oppressive theory and practice into the existing course curriculum.
- Encouraging evaluation of courses by students to determine extent of diversity covered.
- Organizing regular events/programs to address the challenge of responding to the needs of diverse clients and communities in conjunction with the Field Practicum Office.
- Facilitating the inclusion of diverse knowledge within the social work curriculum.
Community Building:
- Networking with diverse communities in Toronto.
- Promoting advocacy and representation from diverse communities to support Diversity-related issues.
Research:
- Providing processes by which research is initiated and learning resources are made available to a diverse range of community stakeholders .
- Initiating collaborative education and participatory action research projects with community partners.