Social Work Program undergoes CSWE Reaffirmation
Bennett College’s Social Work Department awaits the results of its reaffirmation visit. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) visited the campus Jan. 28 to see if the department still meets the standards of the organization.
“So far we feel good, but the final word will come from the council,” says Yamurania Kurewa, social work field education coordinator.
Kurewa says that the department began reassessing their program a few years ago to prepare for the reaffirmation process. The program used the 2008 educational policy and accreditation standards as a guide.
Bennett’s social work program dates back to 1988, and that’s when they applied for candidacy to the CSWE. The program received accreditation in 1991. The council is a nonprofit national association representing more than 3,000 individual members, as well as graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. It is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States.
“The social work program is one of only two accredited programs on campus,” says Kurewa. The department of curriculum and instruction (education) is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
The Commission on Accreditation (COA) meets in February, June and October of each year and determines the status of an institutions’ accreditation. The council administers a multi-step accreditation process that involves program self-studies, site visits, and COA reviews.
In October the program submitted a self study that included the mission statement, curriculum, field education, learning environment and diversity make up of the program.
“If you look at our curriculum you will see that it is close to other institutions,” Kurewa says.
“We want to make sure that we are following the [CSWE] standards.”
Last month, a site visitor met with the college’s president, senior staff, academic provost, division and department chairs, social work students and faculty.
“We were well prepared. We are proud of our program,” Kurewa says.
The visit assessed the function of the program and how students felt about the program.
“The discussion is on how our experiences have been with the social work program,” says senior Brittney Smith-Anderson from Detroit, Michigan. Smith-Anderson is a student representative that met with the site visitor.
The program’s expenses were also under review. According to the commission, the program’s budget development and administration should help the program to achieve its mission and goals. The program’s budget should demonstrate sufficient and stable financial support that permits program planning and faculty development. The commission factors in faculty and staff support, student financial aid, and supplies and services from past years, the current year, and future years.
The council also visited the library. ”We live in the library, researching topics relevant to social work,” Smith-Anderson says.
“It is important that we have the resources needed.”
The visit was to see if the library provides the proper resources for students to learn and research issues in social work such as journals, electronic catalogs, and books. They also look for technology, library staff, and informational sessions on research that assist students in studying social work.
The site visitor will submit its suggestions between Feb. 10-12.
With out accreditation, the college would not be able to grant a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree, meaning that graduates would not be considered social work professionals.
“We are really proud to say that our students will be social work professionals when they graduate,” Kurewa says.
“Our students really make the program.”
The program will receive note about reaffirmation in June.
By: Carmen Smith
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