The Association Blog

The President of Rhode Island SPCA shares a simple tweak you can make to your hiring practices that opens the doors to candidates who might not have applied otherwise

In the animal welfare sector, we’ve been talking about removing formal education requirements, particularly for entry-level positions, for a while. There’s even been research to support the practice, which perpetuates inequity.

According to Diane Gayeski, PhD., “Due to the expense of attending college, earning a bachelor’s degree is generally more difficult for people from traditionally marginalized groups and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds….Eliminating a bachelor’s degree can open jobs up to individuals who weren’t able to attend college.”

Todd Cramer, CAWA, President of Rhode Island SPCA, was an early proponent of removing formal educational requirements from jobs in the animal welfare sector, and has seen its impact across several organizations. “We removed educational requirements from job descriptions and job postings and replaced them with a list of success factors,” shares Cramer. “The first success factor is that the person will embrace their own uniqueness and the individuality of others. I’ve had applicants comment that when they read that, they felt like they’d be welcome, and this is a place that they’d want to work.”

He first advocated for the practice while at Potter League for Animals, and is now encouraging the field to do the same. “When we remove educational requirements, we are we are telling the reader that we see and value them and the many experiences they bring with them,“ Cramer explains. “Although important, being educated is not the same thing as being experienced or even capable. Someone who has utilized social service programs and had to personally navigate those systems could be a much better candidate for a community outreach/pet retention specialist role than someone who has accomplished an MS in Social Work, because they’ve utilized those services AND have personally experienced the situations that led to the need for those services in the first place.”

This shift can also have an impact on your organization beyond building a richly expanded pool of talent. “Remember, too,” says Cramer, “that the language we use reflects the attitudes we take and the potential candidate, even if they don’t apply for the position, could be a future user of our services, volunteer, or donor.” For those uncomfortable removing the requirement altogether, you may wish to consider something like: “Required: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education or experience.”

You can download Cramer’s sample JD with the suggested languaging here. Let us know if you’ve already made this change at your organization or are still  working on it. You never know—you just may be opening the door to future executive leadership at your org. Cramer concurs, “I am fortunate to be the President and General Agent for Rhode Island’s oldest animal welfare organization, the fourth oldest SPCA in the country, and I DO NOT hold a bachelor’s degree.”