University being anti-social.
Plans are in the works that would see the Social Work and Community Development department merged with the departments of Sociology and Women's Studies to create a new department in the University’s Humanities Division.
A recent $300 000 operating deficit for the department, which has required internal funds transfers to stay afloat, has prompted the move.
Postgraduate social work student Brian Rathbone raised the student group's concerns in a recent letter to Humanities acting Pro Vice Chancellor Associate Professor Sue Court. The letter, signed by Mr. Rathbone on behalf of himself and ten other Otago social work students, said the proposed changes might realise only "a relatively small financial saving". Rathbone, speaking to the Otago Daily Times, said that any cuts could "severely curtail" the department's effectiveness in delivering education, and could contribute to the country's social work needs not being met.
Departmental head Margaret McKenzie confirmed that the proposed restructuring of the Social Work department would go ahead. From next year, the combined department would be known as the Sociology, Social Work, and Gender department.
McKenzie told the ODT that “Brian's letter was brilliant. There is a real danger that if we close down programmes there won't be enough social workers around. There is an increasing need for social workers. We are concerned that our distance learning programme may not be continued, as it is costly. This is a crucial part of the social work programme.”
For students worried about the possibility of not being able to complete their degrees, McKenzie was reassuring, saying “From what we know at the moment, there will be no change to the degree we offer. There will still be a major in social work ... We understand that it is University policy that students who are partially through degrees are always able to complete these degrees.”
However she noted that “unfortunately, there will be staff reductions, and as you can imagine everyone is very concerned about that. It has placed quite some stress on both staff and students, but overall we are very pleased to be retained as a discipline within the University.”