School of Social Work DEI Plan
- Social Work DEI Plan (pdf, 12/15/2021)
Past 5 Years of Accomplishments (2017-2021)
For the past 20 years, the School of Social Work was initially 1 of only 2 departments across campus with a faculty Diversity Committee. Past 5 years:
Spring 2017: A schoolwide student survey revealed students wanted more cultural diversity issues integrated into the school and curriculum.
Fall 2017: Faculty/administration held focus groups with students to gather specific feedback and suggestions about how to improve the curriculum and school climate regarding diversity issues.
Outcome: Courses adopted new textbooks and other course material (e.g., videos, PowerPoints) on Cultural Humility and Historical Community Trauma. We presented at new student orientations and townhall meetings. New course approved: Decolonizing Social Work.
Spring 2018: Invited distinguished speakers on campus to train on diversity topics at faculty meetings, e.g. on Intersectionality and LGBTQI terms to better equip faculty to address diversity issues in the classroom. OUTreach and Indigenous Social Work Alliance student groups holds programs campus-wide.
Fall 2018: Conducted faculty retreat workshop on “Sustaining Classroom Conversations on Racism, Identity, and Our Mutual Humanity” including exercises and resource book. Present annually at the MSW student orientation and townhall meetings on diversity/cultural humility/historical community trauma.
Spring 2019-2021: Following events in New Zealand and San Diego of hate crimes against Muslim and Jewish populations, we held the first candlelight vigil co-sponsored by our School of Social Work and Graduate Social Work Association. Held subsequent vigils with themes “Community” and “Healing, Community, Resiliency.”
Outcome: Students/alumni have now formed SWEL (Social Workers for Equity and Leadership) in the community, working with San Diego’s Racial Justice Coalition.
Fall 2019: Our Director created a video on Diversity/Cultural Responsiveness for incoming MSW students. At the new student orientation, we facilitated group discussions around case studies related to the video. The College of Health and Human Services expressed interest in using the video college-wide.
Fall 2020: Equity minded hiring: Tenure track and lecturers, based on meeting 3 BIE criteria.
Spring 2020: Decolonizing Social Work Webinar Series funded by Student Success Fee awarded to the Student President of the Indigenous Social Work Alliance which included a virtual fire ceremony conducted via Zoom by SDSU Alumni Ivan Sam, Navajo Nation for our virtual Candlelight Vigil.
Summer 2020-Fall 2021:
- School’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan is a “model for others” in the College and University.
- Underwent a monumental revision to our Admissions Review Policy, which enhances our ability to reduce the equity gap in our admissions process.
- Racial Justice Club for students/faculty/staff/alumni by Dr. Annie Keeney.
Outcome: Implicit Curriculum List & Description
Outcome: Required BLM memoir book by Patrisse Cullors for all SW632 Organizations and Communities MSW foundation course sections in Spring 2021 - Critical Race Theory by Dr. Lauren Willner- launched a series of workshops and panels for faculty/staff/students.
- Field Education: City Heights Initiative—Professor Silvia Barragan and Field Director Amanda Lee secured Price Philanthropies scholarships for MSW student interns to address the mental health service gaps in refugee/immigrant communities in City Heights. Also, with Field Faculty Paul Brazzel- 10 school-based Social Emotional Learning scholarships.
- Research initiatives: Drs. Maria Luisa Zuniga and Eileen Pitpitan’s newly awarded NIDA R25DA050724 grant: ASSET: Addiction Scientists Strengthened through Education and Training for Black and Latinx junior faculty who aspire to become independent researchers in substance use science. Also, $15 million FUERTE to bolster Latinx health disparities research and strengthen the pipeline of scientists focused on the subject.
- Faculty lead NIMHD funded HLINK pilot projects (e.g., Dr. Lianne Urada develops a measure for historical community trauma for U.S. East Africans; Dr. Dianne Ciro examines how maternal trauma is related to Latino(a) youth depression, anxiety, and cigarette use, and the moderating effect of risk and protective factors.
- Tijuana and Mexicali (30 years collaboration with SDSU School of Social Work); the UABC-SDSU partnership expanded through its virtual series and development of an UABC undergraduate social work program.
- SERVE Indigenous Social Workers for Change Project Coordinator & Field Faculty Tamara Strohauer facilitated trainings for all incoming MSW students on California Indian History, Historical Trauma, ACEs and ICWA. (Fall 2017-Present).
