Diversity at Dalhousie

November 23, 2004

Diversity at Dalhousie

New program a success

	Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, of the Dalhousie School of Social Work, provided leadership in developing the new program for staff and administrators.

Dalhousie University is committed to equity and to taking steps to reverse the historic under-representation of specific groups that are present in society.          

This fall, Human Resource Development, the Employment Equity Office and the Dalhousie School of Social Work teamed up to offer a diversity education program.        

As part of this unique program, 13 Dalhousie administrators and staff attended a "Train the Trainer" session where they developed the skills to then facilitate the 1.5-day workshop titled "Diversity at Dalhousie: What part will you play?"        

Approximately 85 employees participated in the first set of workshops and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!

• "I have learned a lot and have become more aware."
• "Learning, and then teaching by example, is important for our families and in our workplace."
• "This course far exceeded my expectations and I think it is a program long overdue."
• "This is an excellent training program which should be mandatory for all employees at Dalhousie University. It has impacted both my professional and personal lives in my awareness of diversity. It has also provided some suggestions as to how I can make a difference in other people's lives. Change will not come quickly but 'if it is to be, it is up to me.'"       

"Thank you to all of the participants who attended the workshops and to the facilitators who will continue to play an important role in diversity education at Dalhousie. This initiative is about making the Dalhousie community a more inclusive place to work and study and, from the enthusiasm of the facilitators, the commitment on the part of their supervisors, and the response of the participants, Dalhousie has taken its place as a proactive organization that values difference," said President Tom Traves.       

Special acknowledgement and thanks are due to Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, from the Dalhousie School of Social Work, who developed the Diversity program. "We look forward to its continued growth and success!" says Traves.