Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Truth and Reconciliation at FIFSW
We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
Located on Treaty 13 territory, the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work acknowledges its responsibility to learn about the histories of Indigenous peoples, to teach our students about the complicit role social work has played in contributing to harms and intergenerational trauma, and to work together to confront the racism and oppression that persists in our field and in our communities. We are committed to working collectively for and with Indigenous communities towards reconciliation.
Updated September 3, 2024
About this page
This page provides information on FIFSW initiatives, resources and plans related to EDI and Truth and Reconciliation and will be updated as ongoing work in these areas continues to evolve. We have included placeholders for sections where new content is planned and in the process of being developed through FIFSW’s Diversity & Equity Committee and in consultation with our communities. The current iteration of this page represents the first stage in a renewal of the previous Diversity & Equity page, with more information planned to be published this fall. Feedback is welcome!
Our commitment
FIFSW is committed to building a future of social work that is inclusive, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, anti-colonial and culturally contextualized. Together with our students, faculty, alumni, staff and community partners, we aim to cultivate collective thriving and learning and centre social justice through all our work. Our efforts to foster equity, diversity and inclusion is ever-evolving, continuous and collaborative.
FIFSW’s commitments align with the University of Toronto’s statements on Diversity, Equity and Excellence, as well as Freedom of Speech, and Human Rights. As a professional Faculty, FIFSW is also guided by the Canadian Association of Social Work’s Code of Ethics, Values and Guiding Principles, the Council of Social Work Education’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy, and the International Federation of Social Workers Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles.
Established in 1914, the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Social Work must acknowledge the role it has played in a field that has caused undo harm to Indigenous communities. The abuse and violence that Indigenous families have experienced through the child welfare system has contributed to intergenerational trauma that continues to affect Indigenous communities and individuals to this day. Additionally, Canada’s colonial past and present supports systems of oppression and structural violence in ways that we are still working to understand, unlearn and address. Acknowledging these difficult truths is an important step in the Faculty’s work toward reconciliation.
Read the Canadian Association of Social Work (CASW) Statement of Apology and Commitment to Reconciliation. To gain a deeper understanding of issues associated with Truth and Reconciliation, we invite you to view Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux’s reading list.
Our community
The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work is part of an ecosystem that includes the University of Toronto and social work regulatory bodies and professional associations. Internally, our community includes students, faculty, staff, alumni, program partners and supporters. As a Faculty, we work with our internal and external communities to develop initiatives and supports and engage in dialogue about how to infuse equity, diversity, inclusion and Truth and Reconciliation into our work. Find links to information on EDI and Truth and Reconciliation at U of T and beyond in the sidebar on the left side of this page.
FIFSW Diversity & Equity Committee
FIFSW’s Diversity & Equity Committee is comprised of representatives from its staff, students, faculty, alumni and community partners. Committee members meet 4 times a year and are responsible for determining FIFSW’s EDI priorities and advising and participating in working groups. A Core Team of Committee members meets regularly to support broad planning and implementation of the working group priorities. Each fall, faculty who are appointed to the EDI Committee share a “call out” via email and newsletters for committee and working group members from FIFSW’s student, alumni, staff and program partner communities.
All members of FIFSW communities are welcome to attend Committee meetings and/or volunteer to participate in working groups. Upcoming EDI Committee meetings will be shared when the schedule becomes available. Those who are not committee members who wish to attend a meeting are encouraged to contact the chairs of the Diversity and Equity Committee to let them know they will attend and to share any ideas they may wish to bring forward in advance so that the agenda and meeting space can be prepared accordingly.
For more information, please contact FIFSW’s Director of EDI.
Learn more about the EDI Committee and its 2024-2025 goals on the EDI Committee webpage.
Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Shahana Arain joined FIFSW as its inaugural Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in October 2023. As EDI Director, Shahana works collaboratively with academic, administrative and student leaders to develop and implement initiatives aimed at advancing EDI within the Faculty’s learning and working environments. She is a key point of contact and expert resource for staff, faculty and learners across the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and provides strategic guidance and advice related to EDI issues and policy. Learn more about Shahana and her roles and responsibilities as FIFSW’s Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Members of the FIFSW community are welcome to reach out to Shahana with inquiries or to share feedback or creative ideas for leading work in EDI.
How to report an EDI concern
FIFSW is committed to providing safe, welcoming, and inclusive working and learning environments. Academic excellence thrives when belonging for all can be achieved.
Students, staff and faculty who experience discrimination or harassment as outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code and based on the University’s Statement on Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment, are encouraged to contact FIFSW’s Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
One may choose to report an EDI concern based on their experiences of discrimination or harassment, either within or outside of FIFSW. Concerns could be related to one’s experiences within academics, including practicum courses, extracurriculars, their work environment or other settings. Our goal is to support each individual through the resolution process on an individual basis based on their unique needs. We aim to offer resources that are culturally responsive, trauma informed, and restorative in nature.
Learn more about the process for reporting EDI concerns.
Note that all students, staff and faculty at U of T are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that aligns with the Ontario Human Rights Code. The University addresses this expectation in the Code of Student Conduct, and the Human Resource Guideline on Workplace Harassment and Civil conduct [PDF].
Accessibility services
FIFSW believes in inclusive student success. Our staff and faculty work closely with U of T’s Accessibility Services to ensure that our students have access to learning and are supported through services and resources. Visit our webpage: Accessibility at FIFSW: What you need to know to view the steps to receiving support as a student.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
Ensuring an inclusive environment requires that our materials, events and spaces are accessible to our community. The University of Toronto’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Office works to ensure that U of T is meeting AODA standard obligations legislated by the Province of Ontario. FIFSW is working closely with this office to support staff and faculty professional development, build accessible materials and remove barriers for its community. If you have an FIFSW-related accessibility concern, please contact FIFSW’s Director of EDI.
Mental health resources
We all face life challenges but we do not need to address them alone. If you need to talk to someone, services on and off campus are available. Find the resources to make yourself safe and well.
View a list of mental health services, including 24/7 emergency counselling.
Academic considerations: Coursework extensions
Coursework extensions may be requested for medical- or disability-related reasons as well as non-disability, non-medical reasons such as religious observances or extenuating circumstances related to trauma, grief, and other distress stemming from personal or humanitarian crises.
Please visit the page on Coursework Extensions in the Current Students section of FIFSW’s website for clear procedures on how to make an extension request. Please visit Time Management Policies page in the Practicum section of FIFSW’s website for procedures related to practicum courses.
This section will be updated shortly (in the fall 2024 semester). Please visit again!
This section will be updated shortly (in the fall 2024 semester). Please visit again!
Learning opportunities for students, faculty and staff
Understanding the experiences of our diverse communities, the impact of colonialism, and the systems of oppression that people throughout our global communities face is an ongoing process that requires a commitment to lifelong learning. To this end, FIFSW is working to provide opportunities for education and professional development beyond the established curriculum. Staff, faculty and alumni as well as students have options to receive ongoing EDI training.
Training and workshop opportunities are shared with the FIFSW community in our monthly EDI Newsletter and in our online events calendar. Additionally, FIFSW’s EDI director, in collaboration with other administrators, facilitates professional development opportunities for staff, faculty and students. If you have questions about or suggestions for future learning opportunities, please contact FIFSW’s Director of EDI.
Co-curricular EDI learning opportunities are provided to students through FIFSW’s EDI Speaker Series. In addition, Practice Consultation Sessions were created in response to a need to provide students with safe space to speak about their experiences navigating professional spaces and identities as emerging social workers.
Dates of significance
Recognition of religious and cultural observances, heritage months and dates of awareness encourage engagement and learning, and support belonging for members of our diverse communities. Students, staff and faculty will learn about upcoming dates of significance in each edition of FIFSW’s EDI Newsletter. Dates of awareness and religious and cultural observances are also listed in FIFSW’s online calendar. Additionally, the University of Toronto’s Division of People, Strategy, Equity and Culture has a website dedicated to Dates of Institutional Recognition.
Accommodations for religious observances
For students: No student should be disadvantaged because of their religious observances. It is U of T policy to arrange reasonable accommodation to meet the needs of students who observe religious holy days other than those already accommodated by ordinary scheduling and statutory holidays. Students are encouraged to provide instructors,, including practicum instructors,with advanced notice when they will be absent due to religious observances so appropriate accommodations and re-scheduling can be arranged.
Join us in decision making
Part of FIFSW’s commitment to EDI includes working to improve transparency around decision making and governance and sharing opportunities for students, staff, alumni and faculty to have a voice and get involved. FIFSW’s community may contribute to decisions on the future of the Faculty and U of T through both formal and informal mechanisms.
Faculty Council
FIFSW’s Faculty Council is the governing structure that brings together teaching staff, field instructors, students, alumni, social workers, administrative staff and the University. It recommends approval of FIFSW academic policies to U of T’s Governing Council and acts as an advisor to the Faculty. Meetings of Council are open to the public except when matters of a confidential nature may be discussed. There are four regular meetings held each academic year. For information on upcoming meetings email the Dean’s office.
FIFSW Governance Committees
FIFSW committees discuss, investigate, and report on present practices, review and recommend new proposals, and, where appropriate, carry out specific duties. While several committees are comprised of faculty and staff members only (such as those for admissions and awards), others include representatives from our student, alumni and program partner communities. A list of all FIFSW standing committees will be posted here shortly.
Student leadership at FIFSW
FIFSW’s Graduate Student Association (GSA) and PhD Student Association (PhDSA) meet regularly with the Dean, the Associate Dean, Academic and other Faculty and staff to advocate for students and coordinate student activities for the students they represent. Representatives from each group are also members of Faculty Council and some FIFSW committees.
University of Toronto Graduate Student Union
The University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union represents over 18,000 students studying in over 115 departments. The GSW advocates for increased graduate student representation and acts as a voice for students by lobbying national, and provincial issues on their behalf. Learn more about the GSU and how to get involved via its website.
U of T Governing Council
U of T’s Governing Council is the senior body that oversees the academic, business and student affairs of the University of Toronto. Governing Council members are either appointed and elected. Elected members include elected students, alumni, teaching staff and administrative staff.
Non-members may make a request to address Governing Council or one of its Boards, Councils of Committees according to established procedures.
View upcoming meetings, a list of governance bodies, elections, policies and more via the Office of the Governing Council’s website.
Academic freedom and freedom of expression
The University of Toronto’s Statement of Institutional Purpose states that “within the unique university context, the most crucial of all human rights are the rights of freedom of speech, academic freedom, and freedom of research.” It further underscores that these “rights are meaningless unless they entail the right to raise deeply disturbing questions and provocative challenges to the cherished beliefs of society at large and of the university itself.”
FIFSW’s commitments to these values align with that of the University, whose additional Statement on Freedom of Speech also reiterates our community member’s rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the freedom to engage in peaceful assemblies and demonstrations in accordance with U of T policies and U of T rights and responsibilities. (Read the guide to U of T’s policies on protest and use of campus spaces.) Included in U of T’s Statement of Freedom of Speech is the “right to examine, question, investigate, speculate, and comment on any issue without reference to prescribed doctrine, as well as the right to criticize the University and society at large.”
The Statement points to the importance of maintaining an environment of tolerance and mutual respect and of ensuring that every member be able to work, live, teach and learn free from discrimination and harassment. It also acknowledges that the University should not limit debate “by preordaining conclusions or punishing or inhibiting the reasonable exercise of free speech.”
Read U of T’s full Statment on Freedom of Speech
For faculty and librarians: Article 5 of the Memorandum of Agreement between the University of Toronto and the University of Toronto Faculty Association (Amended January 1, 2024) reiterates commitments to academic freedom and responsibilities; Article 9 outlines the agreement on no discrimination.
This section will be updated shortly (in the fall 2024 semester). Please visit again!