Education

11 SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2023 EDUCATION GUIDE "For the BSW, placements are really import- ant and practical work is a very significant part of every social work program in Canada," says Jonathan Dueck, vice president academic and academic dean. "When we spoke to faculty members, community members and social workers, one thing that they observed that's going to amplify the quality of this program is CMU's interdisciplinary environment," he says. "Social work means dealing with a whole lot of volume of workplace registers; different rhetorics, different capacities, different things that will move the needle that you need to [be able to] understand," Dueck explains. "Be- cause CMU is really intentional with program design, we're categorically going to build stu- dents who have experience moving between those contexts." INTENTIONALLY INTERDISCIPLINARY The idea that students learn to be flexible and understand different points of view and contexts is a fundamental principle of pro- gram design at CMU. All programs include work integrated learning or service learning and are "designed around interlopers, de- signed to move you between contexts," ac- cording to Dueck. "We have a set of things that all the programs share called 'the commons'. It starts with a big seminar that every freshman will take. It's co- taught by some of our most amazing profes- sors, from six different disciplines. This is a way to immerse you in what the university is; a place where you ask big questions, where you open up to new things, and where you make new knowledge together. Because you're go- ing to meet students from outside your disci- pline, you're going to think about things from different standpoints," Dueck illustrates. "The coursework is designed to expose stu- dents to possibilities. So if you don't know what you want to do, you [can] explore a number of different things," adds Sandy Koop Harder, vice president external. "We also have a Center for Career and Vocation. That center is part of what manages and administers our work integrated learning program, but they're also there to work, one to one with students in vocational discernment and career explora- tion. There are structures in place to help stu- dents figure out what they want to do, and how they want to move forward in their careers. We have supports for them both academically, in terms of exposure to a range of opportunities educationally, and practically - students can try work in a certain area, in practicum, to ex- periment and build their skills in those partic- ular areas in a structured way," she says. "What our grads tell us made a difference in terms of getting their leg up, are things like critical thinking skills, analysis skills. The de- sign of all of our degree programs draws in- tentionally on interdisciplinary engagement in ways that are different from some of the big universities and some of the other faith based universities. Students are not just left to make those connections on their own, they come out accustomed to connecting across the dis- ciplines and collaborating on projects. Our students are ready for work in the 21st centu- ry, and the requirements of the flexibility and adaptability - our grads are ready to find their place, because of the way that education has been designed," explains Koop Harder. ALL ARE WELCOME While CMU is affiliated with the Mennonite Church of Canada and the Mennonite Breth- ren Church of Manitoba, CMU welcomes stu- dents of all faiths or no faith. Over 40 different faith communities are currently represented in the student body. Dueck emphasizes that all are welcome and that plurality of different worldviews are a point of pride for CMU and one that makes them better and stronger. "We draw on the traditions of the Menno- nite faith and culture in ways that are ground- ed in social justice, community development and community building. That is the fabric of who we are, but it is not an exclusive un- derstanding. We have a really diverse student body, you don't have to be a Mennonite, or even a Christian to come to our institution," says Koop Harder. "Some of the values, and the mission of this place, in terms of equipping students for lives of leadership and reconcilia- tion, is something that that connects to peace, to community, and to the importance of this groundedness, in relationship with others that really informs our co-curricular activities and makes it different than other institutions." LOOKING TO THE FUTURE "We have moved into an era of program re- vision, reimagination and development, both of our existing programs - looking hard at how we continue to push into the next era of rele- vance for our students and our grads - and, also our new programs. With our MA in spir- itual care and BSW, and exploring other new programs, with the intention of positioning our grads to be ready for the workplace that's coming in the next 25 years, we've got lots of exciting things coming down the pike in terms of ideas for new program development. So stay tuned - there will be things that we will have to talk about in the coming months and in the next five to six years. A lot is going to happen," says Koop Harder. e design of all of our degree programs draws intentionally on interdisciplinary engagement in ways that are different from some of the big universities and some of the other faith based universities." — Sandy Koop Harder, vice president external We have a really diverse student body, you don't have to be a Mennonite, or even a Christian to come to our institution." — Sandy Koop Harder, vice president external SUPPLIED PHOTOS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 NEW Bachelor of Social Work Small university Big opportunities Accepting applications for Fall 2023 cmu.ca/admissions

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