Social work education strengthened in North as School of Social Work at Nipissing University granted First Accreditation

North Bay, ON – Nipissing University’s School of Social Work has reached a new milestone, becoming the most recent program in Canada to be accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education’s (CASWE) Commission on Accreditation.

“Achieving First Accreditation with CASWE is a major accomplishment for our program,” stated Dr. Douglas Gosse, Associate Dean of Education and Professional Studies and Director (Interim) of the School of Social Work. “Being accredited by CASWE signifies a level of excellence, not only in social work education, but also in practice, research, and other scholarly activities.”

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Nipissing University began offering courses in 2017 and graduated its inaugural cohort in 2018. Since then, the School has seen a substantial increase in enrollment, with the most recent graduating class being twice the size of that in 2018.

“The School of Social Work prides itself on its small class sizes and strong connections between students and faculty which ensures students enter the field feeling prepared, supported, and connected to the professors who helped them hone their skills,” said Gosse.

Nipissing’s School of Social Work was granted Pre-Accreditation status in 2018. Since that time, the School has worked tirelessly with its students, the university, and community partners to build a social work program that meets the needs of North Bay and surrounding areas. Partnering with the community included regular consultations with local practitioners to help inform the program and to allow Nipissing’s Social Work program to develop in North Bay with Indigenous, rural, Francophone, and the broader Northern communities in mind.

Achieving First Accreditation culminated in a rigorous and thorough review of the program, conducted by two independent CASWE assessors. The assessors visited Nipissing’s campus for two full days in November 2022 before bringing their recommendations to CASWE’s Commission on Accreditation. The university was informed earlier this month that it had indeed been granted First Accreditation.

“First Accreditation demonstrates to our students, including past and future, as well as our community, that Nipissing University offers a first-rate social work education,” says Gosse. “With innovative courses, an extensive field education component, and small class sizes, our program is the perfect fit for any student looking to learn how to work with people in need and our most vulnerable populations.”

Nipissing University will celebrate the School of Social Work’s First Accreditation during its World Social Work Day festivities on Tuesday, March 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. The celebration, that is open to the public, is being held in the Nipissing Theatre, but will also be available via Zoom for those who cannot attend in person.

“It is the North Bay community that helped build our program. What better way to celebrate this amazing accomplishment than with that community,” Gosse offers.

For more information on social work education at Nipissing University, visit https://www.nipissingu.ca/socialwork or contact socialwork@nipissingu.ca.

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Contact:

Carly Johnston
Communications Officer
Nipissing University
705-474-3450 ext. 4035
communications@nipissingu.ca