University of Nebraska Kearney

Social Work Assessment Plan

Social Work Assessment plan has been revised to comply with assessment requirements specified by Council on Social Work Education accreditation criteria.

Direct Measures

Volunteer Experience Evaluation

Students are required to complete fifty hours of volunteer work as a program requirement that is included in the Human Services Ethics and Experience class (SOWK 170). At end of the fifty hours of volunteer experience, the agency supervisor using a standardized form created by the program evaluates students. This evaluation form assesses student's aptitude and suitability for the profession and is used as one of the criteria for admission into the Social Work Program. Students are also expected to maintain a volunteer experience journal designed to help them integrate the knowledge they gain in the class with the actual experience.

Field placement assessments

Field education in itself represents an assessment process of students' academic and professional preparation for entry-level generalist social work practice. Two critical tools are used in this process, the first is the Field Supervisor's assessment of the student and the second is the student's assessment of field agencies and experience. The Field Supervisor's evaluation assesses the student's practice skills, communication skills, use of supervision, professional performance, and knowledge of agency and community. This evaluation along with student's performance in the Field Seminar class determines the grade for field placement and the student's preparedness for professional practice. The student's evaluation of field placement experience evaluates the agency's receptiveness to students, quality of field placement in the agency, supervision received and learning opportunities that were made available to students. This tool is primarily used to determine the quality of field agencies and whether changes are needed to improve students' placements. Field education assessments are conducted for every student and field agency involved in field education every semester. These instruments assist the program in making curriculum improvements, determining the effectiveness of field education and agencies, and tailoring educational processes to be more responsive to students.

Indirect Measure

Baccalaureate Education Assessment Project (BEAP)

The program has used the series of BEAP instruments for the last eight years for tracking students over time from entrance into the Program to two years after graduation. The BEAP Entrance survey and the Social Work Values Inventory at Entrance are administered each semester in the Human Services Ethics and Experience class (SOWK 172); BEAP Exit Survey and the Social Work Values Inventory at Exit is administered every semester to students completing their field placement and enrolled in the Field Seminar class (SOWK 482); and the BEAP Alumni Survey and BEAP Employer Survey are mailed out to every alumni of the program two years from the date of their graduation.

Supplemental Assessment

Course Syllabi and Grading

Course syllabi are established in relations to program goals and objectives with attention to the knowledge and skills related to the curriculum area for students to achieve by the end of semester. Faculty use quantitative and qualitative methods for evaluating student achievement of course objectives, including research papers, oral presentations, class participation, video tapes, quizzes, and other written assignments. As a condition for admission to the program student must demonstrate satisfactory achievement of the course objectives, specifically a grade of B or better in the Introduction to Social Welfare course (SOWK 170), satisfactory completion of the Human Service Ethics and Experience class (SOWK 172), and a C or better in all other social work courses.

Students must also maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in order to retain their admission status in the Social Work Program. The GPAs of all admitted students are reviewed by the Program Director the beginning of each academic semester, students who hold a GPA lower than 2.5 receive a letter suspending their enrollment in social work classes until the GPA reaches the satisfactory level. In such situations, the advisor works closely with the student to devise a plan of action that would help the student to address the GPA decline. Additionally, the faculty meets at the end of every semester to review the academic and professional performance of social work majors in their courses. Faculty concerns are discussed openly and specifically and may result in a decision to monitor the student's performance or setting a personal visit between the student, advisor, and Program Director to discuss the concerns. The outcome of the visit with the student usually results in a plan of action that the student must follow in order to retain admission status in the program. Students may be referred to counseling for mental health issues that interfere with their academic performance or present concerns for their suitability for the profession. The advisor and the Program Director work with the student to ensure that the plan of action is workable and that progress is being made. Students may be asked to provide a counselor's report that demonstrate progress related to issues of concern.

Student evaluation of faculty

Students are involved in evaluation of faculty and courses. During each semester, students complete student evaluations using a standardized instrument designed by the College of Natural and Social Sciences. The evaluation form includes items asking for assessment of the teaching and course design, including organization, assignments, grading, and stimulation of thinking. Student evaluations of Social Work faculty are conducted every semester in all social work classes. They are reviewed by the Social Work Program Director, Department Chair, and are given to the individual faculty member. The evaluations are used for professional development of the faculty and for developing and modifying courses.

Field Seminar students evaluation of the program

One of the most anticipated evaluation instruments is the qualitative assessment provided by field seminar social work students a week or two prior to their graduation from UNK. The Field Placement Coordinator facilitates discussion related to the curricular content, process, and outcome that students experienced in the program from entry to exit. The outcome of this evaluation is important in that it provides a picture of how the program is perceived by graduating students, its areas of strengths, deficits, and potential for growth. The evaluation is reviewed by the faculty at the end of each semester and reported to the Field Placement Committee, Curriculum Committee, and Advisory Board. Suggestions are considered carefully with attention to overall curriculum structure and content, contribution to students' professional preparation, faculty resources, and timing issues. The newly installed Substance Abuse and Addictions and the Fundamentals of Research in Social Welfare courses were the direct outcome of student assessments.

Previous Plan, Replaced Fall 2005