Faculty of Social Work. 2017/2018 MSW Degree based in Indigenous Knowledges. Application Information Guide

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1 Faculty of Social Work 2017/2018 MSW Degree based in Indigenous Knowledges Deadline Dates for Application: Application Information Guide For persons residing outside of Canada at point of application: October 15, For persons residing in Canada at point of application: December 1, Please Note: Applications submitted after the above mentioned deadline will not be considered. Where deadline dates fall on a weekend or statutory holiday, the normal office closing time (4:30 p.m.) of the next working day will be used. Official transcripts must be mailed directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies by the institution issuing the transcripts. They may be mailed to: GRADUATE ADMISSIONS FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES 500 UNIVERSITY CENTRE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA WINNIPEG, MB CANADA R3T 2N2 The Faculty of Social Work has adopted an Educational Equity Initiative (EE) for the following priority groups who are residents in Canada: Canadian Aboriginal peoples, LGBTTQ, people with disabilities, visible minorities, immigrants and refugees. The details are enclosed in this package. The Faculty of Social Work offers admission to Master of Social Work based in Indigenous Knowledges (MSW-IK) students for Fall (September) start only. Please indicate this start date on the Faculty of Graduate Studies Application for Graduate Admission form. This application information guide is intended to assist you through the application process. The link for the on-line application is included on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website (called UMGradConnect ). It also may be accessed through the Faculty of Social Work website. For information about scholarships and awards available to social work students, please refer to the Faculty s website. In , priority will be given to applicants applying for full-time study.

2 I. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICANTS TO MSW BASED IN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGES A. Possession of a BSW degree (by June 30th of the application year) from an accredited university which is recognized by the University of Manitoba. B. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) is required in the last 60 credit hours of university study at the point of application. C. If courses have been taken subsequent to the degree as a Special Student and/or Occasional Student and/or in a subsequent degree or Pre- Master s program, they will be calculated into the grade point average as part of the last 60 credit hours. D. Relevant social work experience in Indigenous communities and/or with Indigenous peoples (paid / volunteer) is a requirement to apply to the MSW program. As a requirement to apply, the MSW-IK Admissions Committee does assess any experience and points are assigned to all relevant social work experience. Courses not completed by January 15th of the application year will not be considered. Only grades submitted in the form of official transcripts from all attended post-secondary educational institutions at the point of application will be included in the calculation of GPA. Failure to disclose relevant facts and/or submission of false information or documentation may result in acceptance and registration being withdrawn. If discovered in a subsequent session it may result in dismissal from the University. The Faculty of Social Work Educational Equity Initiative: The purpose of this Educational Equity Initiative is to achieve equality in professional education so that no person shall be denied educational opportunities or benefits for reasons unrelated to ability. In fulfillment of this goal, the aim is to correct the conditions of disadvantage in professional education experienced by Canadian Aboriginal peoples, LGBTTQ, persons with disabilities, immigrants and refugees to Canada and persons who are, because of their race or color, a visible minority in Canada. Giving effect to the principle of educational equity means more than treating persons in the same way, but also requires special measures and the accommodation of difference. (Adapted from the Canadian Employment Equity Act.) To qualify under this initiative, applicants must identify themselves at point of application on form M5 using the definitions below.

3 Definitions of Educational Equity Priority Groups: Canadian Aboriginal Peoples Aboriginal peoples are all indigenous people of Canada including: First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. LGBTTQ LGBTTQ are persons who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, two-spirited, queer or questioning. Visible Minorities Persons other than Aboriginal Peoples who are, because of their colour, a visible minority in Canada. Immigrants Immigrants are those who do not record Canadian citizenship by birth, and whose native tongue is not English. Refugees A refugee is an individual who has left his/her country of residence because of persecution for belonging to a particular social, cultural, religious and/or national group, and/or for holding particular political beliefs and has been accepted for residence in Canada. Persons with Disabilities Persons with disabilities are those who would consider themselves disadvantaged by reason of any physical, intellectual, mental, sensory or learning impairment. Eligibility consideration under the Educational Equity Initiative for applicants with less than a 3.0 grade point average: A. If you have identified yourself at point of application as a member of one or more of the Educational Equity priority groups, and have a grade point average between 2.50 to 2.99, you will be required to submit an additional form and your application will be reviewed for special consideration. Applicants with grade point averages below 2.50 will not be considered. B. Special consideration applications, as any other applications, will be scored on their non-academic components: paid and unpaid work experience (see section III for more information) C. The MSW-IK Admissions Committee refers all Educational Equity Initiative applications to the Educational Equity (EE) Committee, which may request additional information from applicants. The EE committee reviews each EE application and makes a recommendation to the MSW Admissions Committee. The MSW-IK Admissions Committee will make a

4 recommendation to the Dean of the Faculty of Social Work. The final decision on admission rests with the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. II. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICANTS Please note that the application is online ONLY. The Social Work supplemental forms have been incorporated into the on-line application. A. A completed application for graduate admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. B. The application fee. The Faculty of Graduate Studies WILL NOT process ANY application without the application fee also being submitted. C. Official transcripts and complete academic records of all post-secondary attendance. Official transcripts MUST be forwarded directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. A transcript which is stamped Student Copy or Issued to Student is not considered an official transcript, but can be accepted for assessment purposes only. D. Completed Paid Work/Volunteer History forms. Part of the on-line application. E. Three recommendations (references) related to paid work and/or voluntary experience: One reference must be completed by the applicant s most recent employer or supervisor of paid work experience One must be from a present employee of an Indigenous organization One must be an academic reference from an individual in the applicant s previous post-secondary institution who can speak to the applicant s academic performance The recommendation forms are part of the on-line application. Where an applicant does not have work or volunteer experience, an additional reference must be submitted by persons who the applicant feels can address the questions asked on the recommendation form. F. An interview is required by the Faculty of Social Work for those individuals who are shortlisted. G. Identification with an Educational Equity Initiative priority group, if applicable (optional). H. Area of Specialization Statement (as part of the on-line application).

5 I. Notarized copy of marriage certificate, or other official evidence indicating name change (applicable only to those students who have had a change of name which differs from that on the academic record or birth certificate). J. English Language Test Score (new applicants whose native language is not English may be required to successfully complete an English test approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies). NOTE: Applicants convocating in February, or later, of the year of application must submit a special letter from their home university and/or faculty indicating that the applicant will meet the degree requirements by June 30 of the application year. NOTE: The above documentation is required as part of the application. It is the applicant s responsibility to ensure that ALL the required documentation is received by the Faculty of Graduate Studies no later than the deadline date. Receipt of any of the above documentation after the deadline date constitutes a late application and will not be considered. Because there are a limited number of places available in the MSW Based in Indigenous Knowledges program, the possession of minimum qualifications does not guarantee admission. III. SELECTION PROCESS A. The following is assessed in the selection process: 1. Grade point average. Maximum 45 points 2. Duration and relevance of work experience with an Indigenous organization and Indigenous peoples, paid and/or unpaid. Maximum 55 points Relevance and duration of work experience will be determined by the MSW-IK Admissions Committee from the information provided in the work and/or volunteer history statements and confirmed during the interview of shortlisted candidates. Please Note: In , priority will be given to applicants applying for full-time study. Points for the duration of work experience will be scored using the following chart:

6 Years - Points 5 or more years - 55 points 3 or 4 years of work experience - 40 points 1 or 2 years of work experience - 25 points some work experience but less than one year of work experience - 10 points Relevant experience, whether paid or unpaid, is defined by the Faculty for the purposes of admission as: The involvement in programs and activities designed to enhance people s development and well being. This includes the planning, organization, development, and administration of programs for, and the provision of direct service to, people. The human service field includes, but is not limited to, the following seven areas: 1) personal social services, 2) health, 3) education, 4) housing, 5) income and economic development, 6) justice and public safety, 7) community organization and/or community development and/or advocacy work. The relevance of all work experience with Indigenous organizations and people will be assessed according to the process described below. Tier I Working in the capacity and having the responsibilities of a social worker including a range of professional functions including assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation within an organization with the primary mandate to serve First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada, or Indigenous peoples outside of Canada. The mandate will be identified by government statute or policy, the organization s mission statement, or similar organizational documentation. Work experience assessed as Tier I will be scored at 100% of its duration. Tier II Working in the capacity and having the responsibilities of a social worker including a range of professional functions including assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation within a non-indigenous organization that is primarily serving (easily identified as more than half) First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada, or Indigenous peoples outside of Canada. Work experience assessed as Tier II will be scored at 50% of its duration. Tier III Working in the capacity and having the responsibilities of a social worker including a range of professional functions including assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation within a non-indigenous organization that serves some First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people in Canada or Indigenous peoples outside of Canada, but with less than half of the service recipients being First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada, or Indigenous peoples outside

7 of Canada. Work experience assessed as Tier III will be scored at 25% of its duration. Tier IV Working in a social service setting fulfilling a more limited range of responsibilities than Tier I, including, but not limited to: residential case worker, Child and Family Services support worker, case aide and research interviewer. Work experience assessed as Tier IV will be scored at 50% of its duration. Tier V Working in a social service setting fulfilling a more limited range of responsibilities than Tier II, including, but not limited to: residential case worker, Child and Family Services support worker, case aide and research interviewer. Work experience assessed as Tier V will be scored at 25% of its duration. Tier VI Working in a human service capacity as defined by relevant work experience that falls in Tier III. Work experience assessed as Tier VI will be scored at 25% of its duration. 3. Educational Equity Initiative - (if identified at point of application). 10 points will be assigned to each EE applicant Total: Maximum 110 points The following items are required but not scored: 4. Area of Specialization Statement. 5. Three letters of recommendation. 6. Interview. The purpose of the interview is to confirm the following: a. The candidate s personal experience in First Nations, Métis, Inuit communities in Canada, and/or Indigenous community outside of Canada b. The candidate s paid and volunteer work experiences with Indigenous peoples and organizations c. Preparation for participation in the program, including experiential learning about any ceremonies that are included (such as sweat lodge ceremony) and the use of the wholistic evaluation d. The candidate s commitment to their statement of intent for their major

8 project or thesis e. The overall fit between the candidate and the program. The interviews are not competitive. Based on consensus, the committee will confirm the fit between the program and the applicant and whether the candidate is not suitable for the program. If the committee unanimously agrees that a candidate is not suitable, the candidate will be informed they were not selected. B. Applications are reviewed and scored by Faculty members. C. Applicants will be advised if a Faculty Advisor is not available in the applicant s area of interest. The Faculty also reserves the right to reject an application when an advisor cannot be assigned. Faculty Areas of Interest may be found on the Faculty s website. D. Applicants will be notified by mail regarding the status of their application. E. Once accepted, Educational Equity priority group applicants can request an interview to articulate needs and supports, and to assist the Faculty in advance planning with reference to these needs. F. In addition, the Faculty undertakes to ensure that persons admitted to the Faculty, and the profession, have not engaged in behaviour that is regarded as physically and mentally harmful to others. In this regard, all applicants offered admission will be required to submit a Criminal Record Statement and a Child Abuse Registry (CAR) check/ Vulnerable Sector Search (for a record of those registered as an offender). The Faculty reserves the right, based on its findings, to interview all applicants selected for admission with an assurance of confidentially regarding same. The existence of such a record will not automatically exclude the applicant, but the Admissions Committee may declare a candidate ineligible based on its findings. Supplementary information is not accepted, and will NOT be used in the committee s decision (e.g. CV, resume, certificates, etc.) IV. RECONSIDERATION Applicants who believe that a procedural error has been made may request reconsideration of the decision by submitting a written request to the Chairperson of the MSW-IK Admissions Committee. Requests for reconsideration must be made within 10 working days of mailing of the committee decision.