Every aspect of the School's educational program is conducted without discrimination on the basis of the following diversity dimensions: ability, age, class, color, culture, ethnicity, family structure, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation. The School's goal is that every student will be exposed and encouraged to become competent with regard to privilege, oppression, diversity, and social justice (PODS). These competencies are very interrelated and represent multidimensional matrices. The University of Michigan School of Social Work certifies that it will agree to comply with all state and federal laws on discrimination and specifically agree not to discriminate in acceptance of students and against any student in field placement based on diversity. It is the expectation that all fieldwork sites will agree to comply as well, as documented in the U-M SSW Affiliation Agreement.
The faculty, staff, and student body of the School of Social Work will reflect the diversity of our society. The School will maintain an atmosphere in which there is an appreciation of human diversity and where people of varied backgrounds and characteristics feel supported, valued, and empowered to pursue their individual professional development.