Statement on Events at the Smith College School for Social Work:
In recent weeks, a series of attributed and unattributed letters have circulated in the Smith College School for Social Work community. The letters make various assertions about admissions, diversity and equity at the School.
The Smith College School for Social Work is distinguished by a strong, public commitment to anti-racism. This commitment is actively and affirmatively shared by our community—students, staff and faculty—as it has been since the anti-racism pledge was instituted in 1995. Anonymous letters do not represent our school. They do not advance—in fact they undermine—our work as a community. As you know, I’ve been meeting with students. Going forward, President McCartney and I, and other members of the senior leadership team, have offered further meetings with students to address their concerns.
The Smith College School for Social Work is one of the most selective social work programs in the country. Our standards are exceptionally high for those we admit, and we take pride in each of our highly intelligent, capable and compassionate students, particularly throughout the recent campus involvement they have encouraged.
For the past year, prompted by these students, we as a community have been engaged in important, productive and collaborative work to continually evolve as an anti-racism organization. Social work is not a profession that effectively operates within the status quo. We are clinical professionals specifically committed to social justice and systemic change. The determination brought by our students, the courage they have shown and the accountability they have demanded will challenge us to fulfill our commitment alongside the next generation of social workers.
As we approach graduation, we are focused on supporting all members of our community in their educational pursuits as well as in the broader work of achieving the School’s mission to advance clinical social work. This is work that takes time, resolve, honest communication and mutual respect. Even in the context of urgency, it requires a commitment to deliberative due process. On behalf of the faculty and administration, I commit us to moving forward together.
Marianne Yoshioka, Ph.D, MSW
Dean
Smith College School for Social Work
For more information, visit https://www.smith.edu/ssw/about_news.php#aug17statement
Sponsored by: Dean's Office