Overview

Waterloo Lutheran University/ Wilfrid Laurier University

Timeline
1961 – William J. Villaume named President of Waterloo Lutheran University

1966 – March 1: Sheldon L. Rahn named Dean of the Graduate School of Social Work at WLU; begins the organization of the School in office space provided by the Seminary

1966 – September 6: first day of classes of the GSSW – 28 students enter the first M.S.W. Class of ‘68

1968 – September: M.S.W. /M.Div. program introduced for the first time

1968 – October: First degrees granted by the GSSW, Emily Dolbeer received the first M.S.W. degree.

1968 – June 26: Telegram from council on Social Work Education arrives at GSSW bearing the good news that the School is accredited.

1971 – September: First students to participate in the School’s international field placements travel to the United Kingdom

1973 – June: Waterloo Lutheran University obtains provincial status and changes its name to Wilfrid Laurier University

1973 - GSSW reaccredited by Council on Social Work Education until June 1983

1974 - GSSW accredited by newly created Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work for five years    

1974 – September: Part-time MSW program begins

1974 – November 5: Name of Graduate School of Social Work changed to Faculty of Social Work    

1976 – November 19: Tenth Anniversary Celebration of the Faculty of Social Work; Senator David A. Croll was the keynote speaker, and addressed the gathering on the topic, “Poverty in Canada – Ten Years Later”
1978 – MSW Program was found to be in good standing by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies

1980 – FSW was accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work for five years

1980 – January: The Faculty of Social Work and the School of Business and Economics move to its new location in the Frank C. Peters Professional Building.

1981 – May: first Alumni chapter gathering

1981 – October: Alumni chapter recognized by the WLU Alumni Association

1983 – October 30: 1000th M.S.W. student graduates – Rainford Jackson

1986 – FSW accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work for five years

1986 – MSW Program was found to be in good standing by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies

1986 – Ontario Council of Graduate Studies approves the doctoral program

1987 – Doctoral program admitted first six students September 14th and a seventh student is admitted on January 2, 1988

1988 – Faculty of Social Work moves to its new location in the John Black Aird Building

1990 – October 28: Elizabeth Pittaway receives the first DSW (Doctor of Social Work) degree awarded by Wilfrid Laurier University

1991 – The Faculty of Social Work is accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work for seven years

1991 –The Faculty of Social Work celebrates its 25th Anniversary

1991 – The MSW Program was found to be in good standing by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies

1991 – The Faculty decides to suspend admission to the part-time studies program

1997 – First students are admitted to a new four year part-time program

1998 – The Faculty of Social Work is accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work for seven years

2000 – The Doctoral Program is approved as a PhD program by the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies

2000 – Equity Forum established

2003 – Lyle S. Hallman Chair established

2003 – September: A revised MSW curriculum introduces the “integrated” concentrations

2003 – November: WLU announces plans to relocate the Faculty of Social Work to buildings on College and Duke Streets

2003 – November 30th: fire destroys St. Jerome’s College Street building built in 1909

2004 – WLU announces purchase of St. Jerome’s Duke Street building built in 1907

2004 – WLU embarks on an $11.5 million dollar renovation and program expansion campaign

2005 – WLU & Ball Construction begin interior demolition and renovation of Duke St. building

2005 – First students are admitted to the new Advanced Standing part-time program