An access-to-information request reveals that on February 19, 2025, Associate Professor Stephen Ellenbogen emailed Interim Dean of Memorial University’s School of Social Work, Sulaimon Abiodun Olawale Giwa, requesting a meeting regarding the school’s 2010 course equivalency document.
Ellenbogen said faculty were concerned about recent increases in student enrolment per course block and how those increases align with the 2010 course equivalency document.
He said a meeting was necessary to ensure clarity and consistency in course enrolments.
A meeting was held on April 16, 2025, and Giwa sent a follow-up memo to academic staff members on May 5, 2025.
To address workload and class-size pressures, the leadership team proposed reducing undergraduate admissions from 100 to 80 students beginning in Fall 2025. The team also proposed reducing admissions to the Master of Social Work (MSW) program from 40 to 30 students beginning in Fall 2026.
The memo noted that the third- and fourth-year cohorts will remain large over the next one or two years because of recent increases in admissions. However, it stated that the effects of the reduced intake will be felt immediately at the second-year level, with noticeable changes in upper-year enrolment by the 2026-2027 academic year.
View the ATIPP files below:
Matt Barter is a graduate of the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, holding a degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, taking walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.
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