X. Assessment
CSWE Accreditation Evaluation Standard 1 requires social work programs to have goals and objectives. These objectives are to be evaluated on a regular, on-going basis. As stated previously in several sections, you and your work are part of this Assessment. You may be asking your self why me/us? The immediate answer seems simple. Our mission is to educate you to become professional social workers and we need to develop ways to objectively measure whether we have done this. But the answer is also more complex. Assessment is a means through which we can find our strengths and weaknesses. It provides us with information to make change in our curriculum and program planning. It helps us rethink our courses and assignments to make them more relevant to you. Objective measures challenge our assumptions and observations. The process stops us from being complacent.
The above only scratches the surface of the benefits of assessment. But at this point, it is more important to tell you what we will be measuring because you are the integral part of assessment. The goal of the SUNY Fredonia Social Work program is the:
Preparation of high-functioning generalist social workers who integrate knowledge, values, and skills for competent entry-level professional practice and/or graduate education
To meet this goal, we have adopted the CSWE Curriculum Policy Statements B5.7.1 -B5.7.12 as our specific learning objectives. All the course objectives in the social work program help us to meet one or more of the following learning objectives. These are the objectives your work and participation in assessment will help us measure (they also serve as good reminders of what you are working toward and the purposes behind faculty actions):
Graduates of the SUNY Fredonia Social Work Program will
1. apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
2. practice within the values and ethics of the social work profession and with an understanding of and respect for the positive value of diversity.
3. demonstrate the professional use of self.
4. understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and the strategies of change that advance social and economic justice.
5. understand the history of the social work profession and its current structures and issues.
6. apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work to practice with systems of all sizes.
7. apply knowledge of bio-psycho-social variables that affect individual development and behavior, and use theoretical frameworks to understand the interactions among individuals and social systems (i.e. families, groups, organizations, and communities).
evaluate research studies and apply findings to practice, and, under supervision,
to evaluate their own practice interventions and those of other relevant systems.
9. use communication skills differentially with a variety of client populations, colleagues, and members of the community.
10. use supervision appropriate to generalist practice.
11. function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems, and under supervision, seek necessary organizational change.
and,
12. will utilize the knowledge base as successful preparation for graduate work and/or continued education for competence.
How you, as a group, do in individual courses helps us measure these larger objectives. In addition, when we assess your portfolios, we will be looking to see evidence of each of these objectives both in terms of actual exercises as well as continuing growth. We will also use Field Practicum evaluations, a survey given to Seniors, Standardized assessment instruments created by social work faculty and used nationally, pre-test/post-test questions, alumni surveys, and focus groups to help us assess the program.
As you see, we will want your feedback when you are an alum too! It is the responsibility of all of us to make sure that social work education, locally and nationally, remains strong, relevant and responsive. During the self-study process, we will ask and expect your participation. Thank you ahead of time for your help and please ask questions and offer constructive criticism about this process.