Board of Governors, State University System of Florida

Transcription

1 Revised January 2015 Board of Governors, State University System of Florida Request to Offer a New Degree Program (Please do not revise this proposal format without prior approval from Board staff) University of North Florida Fall 2017 University Submitting Proposal Proposed Implementation Term Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences Anthropology, and Social Work Name of College(s) or School(s) Name of Department(s)/ Division(s) Social Work Academic Specialty or Field Proposed CIP Code Master of Social Work Complete Name of Degree The submission of this proposal constitutes a commitment by the university that, if the proposal is approved, the necessary financial resources and the criteria for establishing new programs have been met prior to the initiation of the program. Date Approved by the University Board of Trustees President Date Signature of Chair, Board of Trustees Date Vice President for Academic Affairs Date Provide headcount (HC) and full-time equivalent (FTE) student estimates of majors for Years 1 through 5. HC and FTE estimates should be identical to those in Table 1 in Appendix A. Indicate the program costs for the first and the fifth years of implementation as shown in the appropriate columns in Table 2 in Appendix A. Calculate an Educational and General (E&G) cost per FTE for Years 1 and 5 (Total E&G divided by FTE). Implementation Timeframe Projected Enrollment (From Table 1) HC FTE E&G Cost per FTE 1 E&G Funds Projected Program Costs (From Table 2) Contract & Grants Funds Auxiliary Funds Total Cost Year $9,433 $459, $459,606 Year Year Year Year $9,737 $705, $705,937 Note: This outline and the questions pertaining to each section must be reproduced within the body of the proposal to ensure that all sections have been satisfactorily addressed. Tables 1 through 4 are to be included as Appendix A and not reproduced within the body of the proposals because this often causes errors in the automatic calculations.

2 Revised January 2015 INTRODUCTION I. Program Description and Relationship to System-Level Goals A. Briefly describe within a few paragraphs the degree program under consideration, including (a) level; (b) emphases, including concentrations, tracks, or specializations; (c) total number of credit hours; and (d) overall purpose, including examples of employment or education opportunities that may be available to program graduates. The University of North Florida (UNF) Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work proposes to launch an accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) degree during the academic year. This degree will require 60 credit hours for the Traditional Program (for students without a BSW degree from an accredited program), or 38 credit hours for the Advanced Standing Program, which is available to select students entering with a BSW. The curriculum includes 900 hours of field education in accordance with the accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The program will offer a single concentration, in advanced generalist practice. Social workers routinely provide services in the areas of child welfare, housing assistance, disaster relief, mental health, substance abuse, crisis intervention, vocational training, hospice and palliative care, juvenile justice and corrections, and victim advocacy. Demand for social workers is increasing nationally, statewide, and regionally. In 2009, the State of Florida adopted a statute granting title protection to the social work profession, increasing the demand for undergraduate and graduate social work degrees from accredited institutions. Individuals who do not hold a BSW or MSW from an accredited institution are prohibited from calling themselves social workers or working in many social work positions. 1 To pursue licensure in the State of Florida, Social Workers must hold a Master s Degree from a CSWEaccredited program that includes substantial clinical coursework. Graduates of the proposed program will be qualified to meet these conditions for employment and advancement in the field of social work. The UNF MSW program will prepare students with the requisite theoretical knowledge, skills, and ethical framework for advanced social work practice with diverse client systems across practice settings. UNF MSW students will be uniquely trained through an integrated curriculum that merges historically disparate clinical and administrative social work practice roles in a more contemporary and transformative approach to social work practice and social change, emphasizing the social and economic well-being of those who are vulnerable, marginalized or oppressed. All MSW students will demonstrate advanced mastery of ten Core Competencies dictated by the Council on Social Work Education, which will allow them to assume clinical and administrative social work practice roles upon graduation. Students who wish to pursue licensure as clinical social workers after graduation will have the necessary course preparation and field experience to do so. B. Please provide the date when the pre-proposal was presented to CAVP (Council of Academic Vice Presidents) Academic Program Coordination review group. Identify any concerns that the CAVP review group raised with the pre-proposed program and provide a brief narrative explaining how each of these concerns has been or is being addressed. The MSW Program was added to UNF s New Degree Program Master Plan in 2011, prior to the CAVP review process, which began in C. If this is a doctoral level program please include the external consultant s report at the end of the proposal as Appendix D. Please provide a few highlights from the report and describe ways in which the report affected the approval process at the university. 1 Section , F.S. 2 State University System of Florida's Strategic Plan Accessed via State University System of Florida's Strategic Plan , p. 18. Accessed via

3 Revised January 2015 Not applicable; the proposed program is not at the doctoral level. D. Describe how the proposed program is consistent with the current State University System (SUS) Strategic Planning Goals. Identify which specific goals the program will directly support and which goals the program will indirectly support (see link to the SUS Strategic Plan on the resource page for new program proposal). UNF s Master of Social Work Degree program will directly support the State University System s Strategic Planning Goals. 2 In the area of Teaching and Learning, this program will advance Excellence and Productivity, and while Social Work is not listed among the state s Strategic Priorities, trained social workers are in high demand. A high-quality, accredited MSW program will strengthen the quality and reputation of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, and of the University of North Florida. The MSW is an esteemed professional degree that will prepare students for social work practice as well as meeting the coursework requirements for licensure. Regarding degree productivity and program efficiency, an accredited MSW at UNF will allow place-bound students in northeast Florida to complete their social work training expeditiously, and will allow students from elsewhere in the state and the region more options for pursuing an accredited degree. Currently there are 10 accredited Master of Social Work programs in the state of Florida; eight at public (SUS) institutions, and two at private, Catholic universities. The nearest programs to UNF are located at UCF in Orlando, and in Tallahassee at FSU and FAMU, leaving northeast Florida and the Jacksonville metropolitan area without access to a full-time MSW program. Florida State University offers a part-time program in Jacksonville, but students take longer to earn their degrees, and not all students are suited to the weekend and online courses that constitute this program. UNF now has a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. Based on estimates from other programs, we expect that about half of our BSW graduates will continue on to the MSW, and many will qualify for advanced standing and earn the MSW degree in one year (students from other BSW programs will also be eligible for the accelerated Advanced Standing MSW). In addition to advancing the strategic goals associated with teaching and learning, by facilitating graduate degrees in social work, the proposed MSW program will advance Performance Metric 9, Graduate Degrees Awarded Annually. 3 Scholarship, Research and Innovation will also benefit. Our current Social Work faculty are productive scholars, successful in presenting and publishing original research in nationally and internationally recognized peer-reviewed outlets, and in securing funding to support these endeavors. In filling the four additional faculty positions required to support the MSW, we will continue to recruit teacher-scholars with strong commitments to research and to leverage new opportunities for applied social science research that has local, state, and national impact. This will strengthen the quality and reputation of scholarship and research at UNF, as well as increasing research activity. Importantly, much of the scholarship undertaken by our Social Work faculty responds to issues and concerns specific to Florida and the greater Jacksonville community. We anticipate that as the faculty grows, community-engaged research will increase in both quality and quantity, and productivity and excellence in community engagement and research and scholarship will grow in tandem. UNF s MSW program will also broaden and deepen Community and Business Engagement by strengthening the quality of our community engagement (Excellence) and increasing the levels thereof (Productivity) through expansion of our internship program. Our current Bachelor of Social Work program has 19 community partners that place our students in 450-hour internships in the areas of family and child welfare, housing assistance, mental health and substance abuse, homelessness, hospice, and school social work, among others. The MSW will also require substantial field education (900 hours total; Advanced Standing students will complete approximately 450 hours at the graduate level). Because some 2 State University System of Florida's Strategic Plan Accessed via 3 State University System of Florida's Strategic Plan , p. 18. Accessed via 3

4 Revised January 2015 social work internships are available only to graduate students, we will be expanding the list of agencies supporting UNF Social Work student interns. Perhaps foremost among the UNF MSW program s contributions to the State University System Goals is the program s ability to increase the community and business workforce (meeting Strategic Priorities within Community and Business Engagement). In 2009, the State of Florida granted title protection to the social work profession, ensuring that only individuals with degrees in social work could call themselves social workers and that only they can work in some social work positions. UNF s MSW program will increase the number of graduates able to hold this title. In addition, the 2014 Child Welfare bill (CS/SB 1666) granted hiring preference to social workers as child protective investigators, and set a goal that social workers constitute half of all child protective investigators by David Abromowitz, Northeast Regional Managing Director for Florida s Department of Children and Families, has expressed 100% support for development of an MSW program at UNF. Furthermore, the outlook for careers in social work is quite strong at both the state and national level. The U.S. Department of Labor expects that employment in social work will grow faster than other fields through 2022, and the State of Florida anticipates growth in the field at both the state and regional level. 5 This corresponds to our own research on local need and demand. Among the human service agencies that we surveyed, 80% agreed that a UNF MSW program would enrich the pool of eligible applicants for clinical or administrative positions within [the] organization. 6 E. If the program is to be included in a category within the Programs of Strategic Emphasis as described in the SUS Strategic Plan, please indicate the category and the justification for inclusion. The Programs of Strategic Emphasis Categories: 1. Critical Workforce: Education Health Gap Analysis 2. Economic Development: Global Competitiveness 3. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Please see the Programs of Strategic Emphasis (PSE) methodology for additional explanations on program inclusion criteria at the resource page for new program proposal. While Social Work is not included in the current areas of strategic emphasis, we wish to call attention to the projected demand in this field, as well as the complementarity of Social Work and Health Professions. The State of Florida projects that in Workforce Region 8 (Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties), demand for social workers and community and social service specialists will increase by 12.7% a year between 2014 and 2022 (851 new positions). Growth statewide is strong as well: 15.7%, or 13,320 new positions during this period. 7 According to the United States Department of Labor s Bureau of Labor Statistics, Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations (overall growth is projected at 11%). It is anticipated that overall, the U.S. labor market will add 114,100 positions in social work between 2012 and Some 4 CS/SB 1666 Summary, Accessed December 16, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. accessed November 19, 2014; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. accessed November 19, Department of Sociology & Anthropology Student Survey and Agency Survey, November 21, Retrieved from Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Accessed November 19,

5 Revised January 2015 specialties, including health and mental health/substance abuse, will grow even faster: by 27% and 23% respectively. 8 We also wish to call attention to the overlap between Social Work and Health Professions, identified by the Board of Governors as an area of Strategic Emphasis. Social workers are routinely employed in health care organizations and work alongside medical professionals, particularly in the areas of child welfare, gerontological care, public health, substance abuse, and mental health. F. Identify any established or planned educational sites at which the program is expected to be offered and indicate whether it will be offered only at sites other than the main campus. This program will be offered on the University of North Florida campus in Jacksonville, Florida. INSTITUTIONAL AND STATE LEVEL ACCOUNTABILITY II. Need and Demand A. Need: Describe national, state, and/or local data that support the need for more people to be prepared in this program at this level. Reference national, state, and/or local plans or reports that support the need for this program and requests for the proposed program which have emanated from a perceived need by agencies or industries in your service area. Cite any specific need for research and service that the program would fulfill. Need for the UNF MSW program is grounded in the increasing labor market demand for trained social workers, as indicated by state and federal data. In addition, local survey data and statements from area human services agencies suggest that a UNF MSW program is needed to serve the region and community. Opportunities in the field of social work are increasing faster than overall employment growth nationally, statewide, and in the northeast Florida region. This is most pronounced nationally, where employment in social work is projected to grow 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations (overall growth is projected at 11%). 9 The State of Florida projects that demand for social workers and community and social service specialists will increase 15.7% from 2014 through 2022, or 13,320 new positions. This is more robust growth than for all occupations, at 12.4%. In northeast Florida, or Workforce Region 8 (Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties), demand for social workers and community and social service specialists will increase by 12.7% (851 new positions; 2,019 total openings) between 2014 and This slightly outpaces demand for all occupations, which are projected to grow by 12.1%% in Region The UNF Public Opinion Research Laboratory s UNF Graduate School Study, conducted in and surveying 2,996 UNF alumni, found that the Master of Social Work was the most desired social science degree among respondents with a bachelor s degree (21.4% of 117 respondents to this item indicated a preference for the MSW). 11 Of the businesses surveyed, the MSW was overwhelmingly preferred as a degree that would help the organization s needs (52.2% of 23 respondents to this item indicated a preference for the MSW). 8 Retrieved from U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed November 19, U Retrieved from U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed November 19, Retrieved from Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Accessed November 19, Harwood, Paul, Mark Swanhart and Nicholas Seaton UNF Graduate School Study. Report by the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Laboratory. Jacksonville, FL. 5

6 Revised January 2015 In our preparations for the BSW program in fall 2011, we surveyed current UNF Social Welfare students and local human services agencies about demand for the BSW and MSW degrees. 12 Of the 25 agencies responding, 20 reported employing staff with the MSW, or BSW and MSW. Table 1 reports agency responses to items regarding the value of an MSW at UNF. Table 1: Human Services Agency Survey Results on Need for UNF MSW Program (N=25) The Jacksonville area would benefit from a fulltime MSW program at UNF. Having a full-time MSW program at UNF would enrich the pool of eligible applicants for clinical or administrative positions within my organization. For most clinical and administrative positions, my organization would be more likely to hire a candidate with the MSW vs. another degree. My organization has difficulty locating enough applicants with MSW degrees. Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know % % % % Finally, in fall 2014, we asked area human services agencies that hire large number of social workers to speak to the impact that a UNF MSW program might have on their ability to recruit qualified staff and serve their client populations. We received letters of support from agencies that employ substantial numbers of social workers, including Florida s Department of Children and Families (DCF), Children s Home Society, Jewish Family and Community Services, Daniel, and United Way. These organizations expressed unanimous support for development of an MSW at UNF, citing the ability of the program and its graduates to better serve the organizations missions and clients. David Abromowitz, Regional Managing Director of DCF, called attention to the state mandate to increase the number of staff with degrees in Social Work from CSWE-accredited programs. Tracy McDade, Director of Program Operations of Children s Home Society (which has over 100 staff), noted that her agency has struggled to find qualified applicants for master s level positions. Colleen Rodriguez of Jewish Family and Community Services called attention to the importance of the MSW degree in training professionals to assist vulnerable populations. James Clark, President and CEO of Daniel (which provides a variety of children s services), stated that, We need credentialed MSWs who have the expertise to work with our population, and often have difficulties finding qualified candidates. He also added that with a larger qualified workforce, Daniel could consider expanding programs. Finally, Connie Hodges of United Way of Northeast Florida offered that, Developing more professionals with this critical degree would create a robust workforce as well as improve the hiring needs that already exist. But most importantly, I firmly believe that it would increase organizational capacity and greatly enhance service delivery to clients throughout our region. The full letters are included as Appendix C. B. Demand: Describe data that support the assumption that students will enroll in the proposed program. Include descriptions of surveys or other communications with prospective students. We anticipate strong demand for an MSW program at UNF. We routinely receive queries from individuals who are not UNF students regarding whether UNF has such a program, and whether one is 12 Department of Sociology & Anthropology Survey, November 21, We ed a link to an online survey to 35 area human service agencies and received 25 responses, a response rate of 71.5%. We also invited all UNF students minoring in Social Welfare or enrolled in the Social Welfare Concentration within Sociology (204 students) to complete an online survey. We received 70 completed student surveys, a response rate of 34.3%. 6

7 Revised January 2015 in development. Moreover, UNF has multiple undergraduate degree programs that produce potential candidates for the MSW, including Social Work, Sociology (particularly the Social Welfare concentration), Psychology, and Criminal Justice. Students are often drawn to these majors based on their desire to work in human services professions, and each provides students with training relevant to the MSW. In fall 2014, these programs had a combined total of 1,616 majors at UNF, and graduated 656 students with bachelor s degrees in Development of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at UNF introduces a very promising pipeline of students for the proposed MSW. Students who earn a BSW from an accredited program, and do so with a satisfactory record in academics and performance in the field, would be eligible for admission to the Advanced Standing version of the MSW program. This program accelerates the time to the MSW by approximately one year, allowing students to earn the BSW and MSW in about five years. The UNF BSW Program currently serves up to 40 students per year. Based on the rate at which BSW graduates at other institutions remain for the MSW, we anticipate about half of our BSW graduates will remain at UNF for the MSW (up to 20 per year, which is our proposed capacity for the Advanced Standing MSW program). In 2011, we surveyed students in UNF s Social Welfare Program (the precursor to the BSW) regarding interest in earning the MSW. Sixty-four of 70 respondents indicated they had considered pursuing an MSW degree, and a strong majority expressed a preference for earning the MSW in northeast Florida. Over 80% stated that if UNF had an MSW program, they would apply. Most of these students also planned to continue working in the region following their studies. Table 2 presents their responses to items about a possible MSW at UNF. Table 2: Social Welfare Student Survey Results on Demand for a UNF MSW Program (N=70) Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Don't Know I will need to relocate to find the right graduate program. 74.3% I would prefer to attend graduate school in Jacksonville/Northeast Florida. 81.4% The lack of a full time MSW program in Jacksonville could keep me from pursuing this 61.4% degree. If UNF had a MSW program, I would apply % I plan to work in the Jacksonville/ Northeast Florida region after I receive my graduate degree. 67.1% C. If substantially similar programs (generally at the four-digit CIP Code or 60 percent similar in core courses), either private or public exist in the state, identify the institution(s) and geographic location(s). Summarize the outcome(s) of communication with such programs with regard to the potential impact on their enrollment and opportunities for possible collaboration (instruction and research). In Appendix C, provide data that support the need for an additional program. There are ten accredited Master of Social Work programs within the state of Florida: two at private institutions, and eight in the SUS. On November 10, 2014, we contacted the MSW Program Directors at each and invited any comments or concerns they might have regarding development of an MSW 13 UNF College of Arts and Sciences Data Book, pp Data generated June 24 and October 23,

8 Revised January 2015 program at UNF in Jacksonville. We asked that they respond by December 15. Programs that did not respond by December 2 were queried again, and the two that had not responded by December 15 (University of South Florida and St. Leo University) were asked to do so by December 18. Full responses are included in Appendix E, and summarized below in Table 3. Table 3: Responses from Florida MSW Programs Institution Location Summary of Response FAMU Tallahassee Program Director Jenny Jones: Northern Florida region is already well served by UWF and FSU; another program not feasible. Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida International University Florida State University University of Central Florida University of South Florida University of West Florida Boca Raton Fort Meyers Miami Tallahassee Orlando Tampa Pensacola Director John Graham had communicated our plans to faculty and pledged to convey any concerns by 12/5/14; none received by that date. Chair Mary Hart: I see no negative impact on our MSW program with the introduction of the degree at North Florida. Also acknowledged many opportunities for field placements in our region. Director Jennifer Abeloff: We draw from Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties in terms of students and placement opportunities so the overlap would be extremely minimal. Dean Nicholas Mazza: I am in support of your proposal and do not anticipate any sort of negative impact on FSU. I do look forward to our continued work together in advancing social work education and welcome opportunities for further collaboration. Director Bonnie Yegidis, I do not believe a new MSW program in Jacksonville would have an adverse impact upon UCF s social work enrollment. Good luck as you go forward with this process. Program Chair Marion Becker: For myself my only concern is the sheer number of new programs in the state. Dr. Becker also asked USF faculty to respond directly; no other comments received. Department Head Daniel Durkin: [W]e don't foresee any issues with your program having a negative effect on our program. He did convey some difficulty placing graduates in jobs in the Panhandle area, but they were finding jobs elsewhere in the state. Barry University Miami Shores Dean Phyllis Scott: Barry University is opening a Jacksonville program in Fall 2016; interested in collaborating/coexisting. Saint Leo University St. Leo MSW Director Cindy Lee: We have no concerns regarding your proposed MSW program. We wish you the best. Of the eight programs responding, only one expressed concern that our proposed program was not feasible. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University MSW Director Jenny Jones expressed concern that the Northern Florida region is already well served by MSW programs at FAMU, FSU, and UWF, as well as FSU s satellite programs in Panama City and Jacksonville. 14 She also noted the explosion of MSW programs across the country. The other seven responses were supportive or neutral. The two largest, and nearest, programs those at the University of Central Florida and Florida State University foresaw no conflict, and expressed support for the proposal. Other programs foreseeing no conflict included Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, and the University of West Florida. Florida Atlantic University s MSW Director had no responses to convey, despite sharing word of our proposed program with his colleagues. Private Barry University did not see a conflict despite noting plans to launch a Jacksonville satellite program in Fall Dean Phyllis Scott expressed a desire for our proposed programs to collaborate. We 14 With the exception of FSU s Jacksonville satellite program, the nearest of these (UCF) is 140 miles away. 8

9 Revised January 2015 will be communicating with Barry University leadership regarding their proposed program. D. Use Table 1 in Appendix A (1-A for undergraduate and 1-B for graduate) to categorize projected student headcount (HC) and Full Time Equivalents (FTE) according to primary sources. Generally undergraduate FTE will be calculated as 40 credit hours per year and graduate FTE will be calculated as 32 credit hours per year. Describe the rationale underlying enrollment projections. If students within the institution are expected to change majors to enroll in the proposed program at its inception, describe the shifts from disciplines that will likely occur. Because Social Work is a relatively new area of study for UNF, projecting enrollments presents a number of challenges. For this reason, we have used program capacity in our calculations of cost per FTE on page 1 of this document and in Appendix A Table 2. The usual estimating methods employed by our Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, which project enrollment in master s programs largely based on enrollment in related bachelors programs, could not accurately forecast enrollments for the proposed MSW (they did provide an estimate, but acknowledged that it was likely inaccurate, so we have excluded that from this proposal). The UNF BSW will graduate its first cohort of students in spring 2015, and this inaugural cohort is smaller the program s capacity (the spring 2016 graduating class is on track to be larger). Moreover, students enter MSW programs from a variety of undergraduate majors, and many enter an MSW program only after working in social services for a number of years. As a result, estimating MSW enrollments solely based on BSW enrollments misses a substantial segment of the market for this degree. We can make some projections based on the composition of other SUS MSW programs. Among the Florida SUS MSW programs for which enrollment data is easily available (FAMU, FAU, FIU, UCF, USF, and UWF), the relative sizes of BSW and MSW programs vary a great deal. On the low end, FAMU has about one MSW student for every five in the BSW program (headcounts of 47 and 206 in fall 2014). At the high end, based on fall 2014 headcounts, UCF has 1.47 MSW students for every BSW student (192 and 279 in fall 2014). The MSW programs at FAU, FIU, USF and UWF are about half the size of their BSW programs. Mean headcount across these six MSW programs is 176 students (fall 2014). 15 We anticipate that students enrolling in the UNF MSW will come from a variety of undergraduate majors beyond the BSW. These include Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice, and others. Graduates from these majors at UNF currently pursue the MSW at FSU, UCF, and other SUS institutions. Based on conversations with other MSW programs, we anticipate that about half of our BSW graduates will continue on to the Advanced Standing MSW (up to 20 per year). We anticipate that many more MSW students will be individuals working in human services who wish to advance their careers. We do not expect that many students will change majors to enroll in the proposed program (the proposed curriculum will not allow more than one course from outside of Social Work to count toward the program of study). The MSW may attract some students who would otherwise pursue the Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, offered through UNF s Brooks College of Health. This program currently receives far more applications than the 30 it can accept: 110 in 2012, and 139 in UCF: FIU: Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Department Indicators accessed via FAU: USF: MAJS; FAMU: UWF: All accessed January 30, UNF Institutional Research Graduate School Program Dashboard. 9

10 Revised January 2015 Given the minimum faculty size required by the accrediting body (Council on Social Work Education, or CSWE), and the faculty-student ratios that CSWE specifies, the proposed program could serve a total of 72 students at a given time. We anticipate that in a given year (following Year 1), these would include 26 first year Traditional MSW students, 26 second year Traditional MSW students, and 20 Advanced Standing MSW Students. If students are enrolled full time in the prescribed program of study, which includes 15 credit hours in fall and spring terms, and six to eight in summer (36-38 hours total, or over 1 FTE per student), and the program is operating at capacity, this generates 72.5 FTE. At our current graduate tuition, this level of enrollment would more than support the total expenses associated with the proposed program in Year 5. In fact, expenses would be met with an enrollment of only 51.5 graduate FTE, which would allow for any part-time students lower credit hour enrollments. E. Indicate what steps will be taken to achieve a diverse student body in this program. If the proposed program substantially duplicates a program at FAMU or FIU, provide, (in consultation with the affected university), an analysis of how the program might have an impact upon that university s ability to attract students of races different from that which is predominant on their campus in the subject program. The university s Equal Opportunity Officer shall review this section of the proposal and then sign and date Appendix B to indicate that the analysis required by this subsection has been completed. To satisfy requirements of the proposed program s accreditation through the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE), we will need to maintain a learning environment that honors many forms of diversity ( age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation 17 ). Our accreditation application will demand compliance with the following standards: The program describes the specific and continuous efforts it makes to provide a learning environment in which respect for all persons and understanding of diversity and difference are practiced The program describes how its learning environment models affirmation and respect for diversity and difference The program discusses specific plans to improve the learning environment to affirm and support persons with diverse identities. 18 UNF s BSW program has made satisfactory progress to date in complying with these standards. Our admissions process affirms the experiences of diverse students, and aims to ensure that students admitted to the program are aware of and comfortable with social workers commitment to serving diverse populations. Once admitted, students in the BSW program must complete two courses that explicitly cultivate understanding of diversity, and all social work courses address issues of diversity whether in theory or practice. For example, our Human Behavior in the Social Environment II course includes theories that apply specifically to vulnerable populations, including anti-oppressive theory, conflict theory, empowerment theory, and feminist theory; and in Social Work Communication, students learn to identify and replace discriminatory language with person-centered language. In our survey of the BSW Program Learning Environment, conducted in spring 2014, most BSW students agreed or strongly agreed with the items related to diversity, such as The UNF BSW Program provides a learning environment in which all persons are welcomed and respected, BSW Faculty demonstrate respect for diversity and difference, and My fellow BSW students demonstrate respect for diversity and difference (100% agreed or strongly agreed with each). The weakest item in this survey concerned accessibility of classes to persons with disabilities: 76% agreed or strongly agreed that classes were accessible, 4% disagreed, and 20% chose Don t Know/Not Applicable Council on Social Work Education 2008 Educational and Policy Accreditation Standards, Educational Policy 3.1, Diversity. 18 Ibid. 19 University of North Florida Bachelor of Social Work Program Benchmark III Accreditation Materials. 10

11 Revised January 2015 Respect for diversity and the capacity to work with diverse populations are also among the core competencies required by CSWE for all accredited social work program graduates. A course in diversity and inequality is among the requirements in the first year of the MSW program of study (see section VII. D.). We anticipate that by foregrounding these issues in the curriculum, our program will attract and retain students from differing backgrounds and who harbor respect for all persons regardless of background or status. We are also strongly committed to these efforts, as well as to the University s mission, goals and policies regarding diversity and equal opportunity. We anticipate that with effort on the part of administration, faculty, and staff, the proposed MSW program will cultivate diverse student body. The new BSW program s enrollment does not as yet reflect the diversity of the UNF Social Welfare Minor and Concentration that predated it. As of fall 2014, the BSW program was slightly less diverse than UNF as a whole in terms of the race/ethnicity of students: 71.8% of students in the Social Work major were white, compared to 69.9% of UNF students overall; 20 in contrast, the Social Welfare Minor and Concentration had been only about 60% white. The program is also overwhelmingly female (87.2%, compared to 56% for the University). BSW Program leadership will continue to recruit diverse students through broadened outreach in relevant lower division courses at UNF and contact with area state and community colleges. We are also developing a part-time program of study that will better serve working students. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) collects and publishes data on social work education, including the composition of baccalaureate and master s programs. The most recent statistics (2012) report that 56.6% of MSW students in full-time programs are non-hispanic whites, 16.4% are black or African American, and the remaining 27% Hispanic, Asian, of multiple racial/ethnic backgrounds or unknown. Part-time programs are slightly more diverse: 53.9% non-hispanic whites and 19.6% black, with similar distributions in the remaining categories. Both types of programs are predominantly female (85%). 21 These data are an appropriate benchmark for the proposed MSW s composition, and will be one measure used to evaluate our success in recruiting diverse students. CSWE does not provide data on whether those programs that offer both the MSW and BSW are more diverse than those with only one or the other, so we cannot anticipate how adding the MSW might affect the composition of our BSW program. Should the proposed MSW program be approved, we recognize the need to assess what types of students are, and are not, applying to the MSW, to ensure that standards neither create barriers nor inhibit degree completion. We have considered issues of access and equity in our admissions criteria. For example, upon the advice of our consultant, students who demonstrate academic preparation through a strong cumulative undergraduate GPA (above 3.0) will be excused from the GRE (see Section VIII. B.). As we develop the program, we will continue to research and consider best practices in the recruitment and retention of diverse students. Regarding other Florida institutions, the responses we received from program leadership at FAMU and FIU did not raise concerns regarding our proposed program s impact on their ability to attract students of varied races. The response from Jennifer Abeloff, of FIU, noted that their MSW program draws students primarily from Monroe, Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. We anticipate relatively little competition for the same student population as FIU. The response from Dr. Jenny Jones at FAMU noted that their program draws mostly African-American students from across the state, and that many FAMU MSW students progress from the FAMU BSW program. Her major concern regarding our proposed program was competition from programs at UWF and the part-time program at FSU, which she believed could adequately cover the northern Florida region. However, neither UWF nor FSU expressed this March 12, Section 1, page UNF Institutional Research Interactive Query data, accessed November 29, 2014 via Note: this data includes intended majors as well as those admitted to the program (N=78, whereas active admitted students = 59). 21 Council on Social Work Education Statistics on Social Work Education in the United States. Available via: 11

12 Revised January 2015 concern. III. Budget A. Use Table 2 in Appendix A to display projected costs and associated funding sources for Year 1 and Year 5 of program operation. Use Table 3 in Appendix A to show how existing Education & General funds will be shifted to support the new program in Year 1. In narrative form, summarize the contents of both tables, identifying the source of both current and new resources to be devoted to the proposed program. (Data for Year 1 and Year 5 reflect snapshots in time rather than cumulative costs.) The Council on Social Work Education stipulates that MSW Programs must have no fewer than six fulltime faculty who are primarily assigned to the MSW program, and that these faculty must include a Program Director and Field Education Director. Because the two Director positions require compensation for administrative tasks completed during summer months, and anticipating the volume of administrative work associated with these roles (particularly in the program s first five years), we have specified the Directors as 12-month positions. Due to the need for six full-time faculty, and the relative lack of need for other types of expenditures, salaries and benefits are largest expense associated with the proposed MSW: $361,270 in Year 1, and $603,653 in Year 5. These figures include the salaries for the current faculty who will be reassigned to the MSW, estimated salaries for the remaining four faculty positions, and a 28.8% benefit rate for both. A 3% annual cost of living adjustment is added each year, and the cumulative effect of this reflected in the Year 5 figures. We have also budgeted $19,981 in Year 1, and $22,489 in Year 5 (inclusive of a 43.7% benefit rate, and 3% annual cost of living adjustment) for a half-time USPS Program Assistant. This position will be charged with the unique administrative tasks associated with the program, including communications and record keeping associated with admissions, accreditation, and field education. UNF s current BSW program has a half-time Program Assistant; the remaining half of this position involves providing administrative assistance on an as-needed basis to other departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. We anticipate that this second half of the position would be assigned to support the MSW, and that one Program Assistant will be serving the Social Work program full time. Other expenses associated with the proposed program are modest. The category of Expenses ($23,786 in Year 1, and $25,282 in Year 5) includes office supplies and services (copier, phones, computers, and the like), faculty and staff travel (including travel associated with supervision of students in field education sites), costs associated with training field liaisons and agency instructors, and a budget for marketing the new program to prospective students. We have budgeted $3,000 in year 1, and $3,866 in Year 5 (reflecting a 3% increase annually), for new library resources (see Section X. B.). We have also included funds for two research assistant positions, at $21,000 each (see X. H.). Finally, we have budgeted for accreditation expenses (see Section, X. G.), including $9,569 in Year 1, and $3,866 in Year 5. During Year 1, we anticipate that the bulk of these funds will be reallocated from existing programs. These include the UNF BSW program and to-be-determined vacant lines elsewhere in the University. By Year 5, we anticipate that continuing base, supported by graduate tuition, will cover program expenses. At the proposed capacity tuition would far exceed program expenses: $659,312 in revenue and $459,607 in expenses for Year 1; in Year 5, $993,250 in revenue, and $705,939 in expenses (this assumes revenue at $13,400 per graduate FTE across the five years; expenses include a 3% annual increase). 12

13 Revised January 2015 B. Please explain whether the university intends to operate the program through continuing education on a cost-recovery basis, seek approval for market tuition rate, or establish differentiated graduate-level tuition. Provide a rationale for doing so and a timeline for seeking Board of Governors approval, if appropriate. Please include the expected rate of tuition that the university plans to charge for this program and use this amount when calculating cost entries in Table 2. The UNF MSW program will charge standard graduate tuition rates, currently $ per credit hour for in-state students, and $ per credit hour for out of state students. 22 This tuition rate is not only adequate to cover program expenses, at full enrollment (72.5 graduate FTE), will more than cover new and existing resources dedicated to the MSW program. UNF will not be operating the program under a cost-recovery basis, seeking approval for market tuition rate, or establishing differentiated graduate-level tuition. C. If other programs will be impacted by a reallocation of resources for the proposed program, identify the impacted programs and provide a justification for reallocating resources. Specifically address the potential negative impacts that implementation of the proposed program will have on related undergraduate programs (i.e., shift in faculty effort, reallocation of instructional resources, reduced enrollment rates, greater use of adjunct faculty and teaching assistants). Explain what steps will be taken to mitigate any such impacts. Also, discuss the potential positive impacts that the proposed program might have on related undergraduate programs (i.e., increased undergraduate research opportunities, improved quality of instruction associated with cutting-edge research, improved labs and library resources). The program most impacted by reallocation of resources to the MSW would be UNF s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program and the Social Welfare Minor and Concentration within the Sociology Major, offered through the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work. Depending on program enrollments, some faculty assigned 100% to the BSW program or to the BSW and Social Welfare programs would be reassigned to the MSW program. For instance, a faculty member currently teaching three courses per term for the BSW might be reassigned to teach two courses per term for the MSW and one per term for the BSW. However, we also anticipate that most of the faculty hired to serve the MSW program could also have a partial assignment to the BSW and/or Social Welfare program. This mitigates any negative impact on the BSW and Social Welfare programs. In fact, we anticipate that the BSW and Social Welfare programs will be enriched as students in these programs have access to more full-time faculty, with a broader range of expertise. In particular, we anticipate being able to offer more diverse elective courses for the BSW and Social Welfare programs, which will prepare students to work in varied agency settings and with a variety of client populations. Due to their assignments in both the BSW and MSW programs, faculty added through this proposed program will be available to mentor undergraduate students in research. Undergraduate students may also benefit from participation in professional development events sponsored by the MSW program and its community partners. D. Describe other potential impacts on related programs or departments (e.g., increased need for general education or common prerequisite courses, or increased need for required or elective courses outside of the proposed major). Impacts on other programs are minimal. We anticipate that all required and elective courses for the MSW will be offered within the MSW program. Students may take elective courses in other programs or departments, but only with permission of those programs and the course instructors, as well as permission of the MSW Program Director. Courses from other departments or programs will not be 22 UNF Tuition and Fee schedule, 13

14 Revised January 2015 required. The proposed MSW s program s prerequisite requirements include only widely available lower division courses in statistics, social and behavioral sciences, and biology, which many students complete as part of their general education course sequence. E. Describe what steps have been taken to obtain information regarding resources (financial and in-kind) available outside the institution (businesses, industrial organizations, governmental entities, etc.). Describe the external resources that appear to be available to support the proposed program. The primary external resources available for this program are those associated with the internship placement sites required for field education. Each MSW student must complete 900 hours of field education, supervised by a qualified social worker (Advanced Standing students would complete about 450 hours, having already completed 450 hours as part of their BSW training). The agencies and organizations that host MSW student interns are vitally important to the program, and contribute substantial time and energy to training students. UNF has a strong reputation in the community, and has cultivated positive relationships with local human services agencies through its bachelor-level Social Welfare and Social Work programs. Nineteen area human services agencies currently support UNF s Bachelor of Social Work Program by hosting student interns, and we anticipate that many of these will also host MSW students. Several of these have provided letters of support for this application (see Appendix C). In addition, several other agencies that do not accept BSW-level interns accept MSW students. This would include but not be limited to the Veteran s Administration, hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic, community mental health agencies such as the Child Guidance Center, and other institutions with the primary focus of delivering clinical social work and psychotherapy. As discussed in Section X. J., below, recruitment of a Field Education Director, and the development of practicum sites for MSW students will be among the first orders of business should the program be approved. IV. Projected Benefit of the Program to the University, Local Community, and State Use information from Tables 1 and 2 in Appendix A, and the supporting narrative for Need and Demand to prepare a concise statement that describes the projected benefit to the university, local community, and the state if the program is implemented. The projected benefits can be both quantitative and qualitative in nature, but there needs to be a clear distinction made between the two in the narrative. The proposed Master of Social Work Program will advance the mission of the University of North Florida and prepare graduates for employment in the growing Social Work profession. Demand for Social Workers in growing nationally and statewide, and in Florida, employment in Social Work is limited to graduates holding Social Work degrees from accredited programs. Our graduates will be well prepared to serve the state s most vulnerable populations in areas such as child welfare, mental health, substance abuse, crisis intervention, disaster relief, hospice and palliative care, and victim advocacy. The proposed program is highly responsive to the needs of our region, and as a highly marketable professional degree, we anticipate substantial demand for the proposed program. The local human services agencies that support this program anticipate employing its graduates, and many foresee increasing their service capacity as more qualified social workers enter the local labor market. The proposed program also holds great promise for the University of North Florida, in terms of both advancing its mission, and attracting tuition and other financial support. As our students are placed in area human services agencies, the proposed MSW will strengthen UNF s connections to the community and its residents. We anticipate that the program will elevate the institution s stature and reputation within the region. In financial terms, the program promises to more than support itself. The main costs associated with the program are faculty salaries which are low relative to many other disciplines and expenses associated with field education and accreditation. These can be more than offset by graduate tuition. Thus the program has the potential to not only sustain itself, but to enrich programs in related fields including Sociology, Psychology, Counseling, Criminal Justice, and Public Health as faculty and students have opportunities to work with Social Work faculty. 14

15 Revised January 2015 V. Access and Articulation Bachelor s Degrees Only A. If the total number of credit hours to earn a degree exceeds 120, provide a justification for an exception to the policy of a 120 maximum and submit a separate request to the Board of Governors for an exception along with notification of the program s approval. (See criteria in Board of Governors Regulation 6C-8.014) This section is not applicable; the MSW is a graduate degree. B. List program prerequisites and provide assurance that they are the same as the approved common prerequisites for other such degree programs within the SUS (see link to the Common Prerequisite Manual on the resource page for new program proposal). The courses in the Common Prerequisite Counseling Manual are intended to be those that are required of both native and transfer students prior to entrance to the major program, not simply lower-level courses that are required prior to graduation. The common prerequisites and substitute courses are mandatory for all institution programs listed, and must be approved by the Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC). This requirement includes those programs designated as limited access. If the proposed prerequisites are not listed in the Manual, provide a rationale for a request for exception to the policy of common prerequisites. NOTE: Typically, all lower-division courses required for admission into the major will be considered prerequisites. The curriculum can require lower-division courses that are not prerequisites for admission into the major, as long as those courses are built into the curriculum for the upper-level 60 credit hours. If there are already common prerequisites for other degree programs with the same proposed CIP, every effort must be made to utilize the previously approved prerequisites instead of recommending an additional track of prerequisites for that CIP. Additional tracks may not be approved by the ACC, thereby holding up the full approval of the degree program. Programs will not be entered into the State University System Inventory until any exceptions to the approved common prerequisites are approved by the ACC. This section is not applicable; the MSW is a graduate degree. C. If the university intends to seek formal Limited Access status for the proposed program, provide a rationale that includes an analysis of diversity issues with respect to such a designation. Explain how the university will ensure that Florida College System transfer students are not disadvantaged by the Limited Access status. NOTE: The policy and criteria for Limited Access are identified in Board of Governors Regulation 6C Submit the Limited Access Program Request form along with this document. This section is not applicable; the MSW is a graduate degree. D. If the proposed program is an AS-to-BS capstone, ensure that it adheres to the guidelines approved by the Articulation Coordinating Committee for such programs, as set forth in Rule 6A (see link to the Statewide Articulation Manual on the resource page for new program proposal). List the prerequisites, if any, including the specific AS degrees which may transfer into the program. This section is not applicable; the MSW is a graduate degree. 15

16 Revised January 2015 INSTITUTIONAL READINESS VI. Related Institutional Mission and Strength A. Describe how the goals of the proposed program relate to the institutional mission statement as contained in the SUS Strategic Plan and the University Strategic Plan (see link to the SUS Strategic Plan on the resource page for new program proposal). The Master of Social Work program will directly advance four of the five goals articulated in the University of North Florida s Strategic Plan ( ). First, it will advance the cultivation of a learning environment that supports intellectual curiosity, academic achievement, and personal growth (Goal 1). Strategies associated with this goal include development of programs that, meet student career aspirations and community needs, provide diverse opportunities for fostering interaction among students, faculty, and staff, and prepare students for lifelong learning and professional success. 23 We base this upon the strong student and employer demand for this program, the program s requirement that students complete 900 hours (450 for advanced standing students) in a supervised field placement, and the emphasis of accredited MSW programs on development of core competencies required for successful social work practice. The Strategic Plan s second goal is to Recruit and support a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, in part through providing opportunities for intercultural and educational experiences that improve the climate for less represented groups, and ultimately prepare all members of the UNF community to be global citizens of our diverse world. 24 The MSW program will explicitly aim to foster a climate that affirms diverse persons as well as cultivating in students the skills necessary to work with and advocate for diverse populations. Third, UNF seeks to, Support and recognize research, community-based inquiry, and creative endeavors. 25 Based on our experience with the Bachelor of Social Work program, we anticipate that the MSW program will facilitate and strengthen relationships between faculty, students, and community partners, and that these relationships will provide rich opportunities for collaboration and research. Our current Social Work faculty model community-based research and teaching in their scholarship and their work with undergraduate students, and we will recruit faculty to the MSW who can further contribute to this goal. Goal Four seeks to Affirm the university s public responsibility through civic and community engagement. This is to be achieved through increased capacity for community-based learning, and advancement of UNF as a resource in the local, regional, and global communities. 26 Through their required field placements, MSW students will make active contributions to communities of Jacksonville and the northeast Florida region. As they do so, local human service and nonprofit agencies will increasingly look to UNF as a source of well-qualified interns and employees, and as resource for research expertise. B. Describe how the proposed program specifically relates to existing institutional strengths, such as programs of emphasis, other academic programs, and/or institutes and centers. The new MSW program will be housed in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work accessed November 26, ibid 25 ibid 26 ibid 16

17 Revised January 2015 This department has a number of strengths that will facilitate development of the MSW. First, the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work began offering a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree in fall In developing this program, Department and Program leadership have become very familiar with the requirements and processes associated with accreditation through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Accreditation of the BSW program has proceeded successfully to date, and the program has undergone three successful accreditation visits. Second, based on the Department s experience with the BSW program, we anticipate that the MSW program and its faculty and students will benefit from collaboration with the existing programs in Sociology and Anthropology. For instance, the BSW program of study requires six credit hours of coursework directly related to social diversity; this requirement can be met through a number of courses offered in Sociology and Anthropology. Faculty in Sociology and Anthropology are also working with Social Work faculty to develop additional courses that will serve students across the disciplines. Evaluation Research and Program Analysis (SYA4654), a new course developed in spring 2013 and which is included in the programs of study for Sociology, Social Welfare, and Social Work, is one example of this type of collaboration. We anticipate that faculty in Sociology or Anthropology might offer elective courses for the MSW, or might work with students as research mentors. We also anticipate that faculty and students in the MSW program would contribute to research projects carried out through the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives, a research center housed in the Department. This center routinely conducts applied research projects in the area of social welfare, such as evaluation of programs designed to improve public health or assist persons with disabilities, and an annual survey of homeless persons in the county. Third, development of the BSW program has demanded that program faculty locate and evaluate sites for practicum placements that will meet our own curricular demands as well as those of the accrediting body CSWE. Through this work we have developed relationships with a number of area human services agencies that may also be appropriate sites for MSW practicum placements. C. Provide a narrative of the planning process leading up to submission of this proposal. Include a chronology in table format of the activities, listing both university personnel directly involved and external individuals who participated in planning. Provide a timetable of events necessary for the implementation of the proposed program. The planning process began in September 2009 with a discussion with the (then) Department of Sociology & Anthropology faculty regarding their collective interest in moving forward with the development of a social work program. With the support of the faculty, during the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters, Department Chair Adam Shapiro and (then) Social Welfare Program Director Jennifer Spaulding-Givens explored the feasibility of developing and implementing a social work program by examining existing programs throughout the state, obtaining information regarding the accreditation process, and informally assessing student and community demand as well as institutional readiness. This process culminated in the preparation of a proposal for adding Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs to the UNF New Degree Master Plan. This proposal was approved by Provost Mark Workman on December 7, 2010, and added to the New Degree Master Plan on January 6, The Department then proceeded with development of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, which admitted its first class of students in fall With the BSW in hand, planning for a potential MSW program began by examining the possibility of collaboration between UNF and Florida State University, which operates one of its part-time MSW programs on UNF s campus. This culminated with a conversation at Florida State University during which potential program structures and administrative arrangements were discussed. FSU is open to allowing graduate-level Social Work courses taken at UNF on a transient basis toward students programs of study at FSU, and we are continuing to refine this proposed process. We have identified several elective courses that would complement the FSU curriculum, and are in the process of developing these. 17

18 Revised January 2015 Concurrent with conversations with FSU, Department Chair Krista Paulsen began outlining the costs associated with an accredited program, examining the accreditation requirements, and, with the assistance of BSW Program Director Jennifer Spaulding-Givens and the UNF Social Work faculty, discussing the curriculum. To assist with the latter, in summer 2014 we retained a consultant, Dr. Kia Bentley, of Virginia Commonwealth University, who met with Drs. Paulsen and Spaulding-Givens to help draft the framework of an accredited MSW curriculum responsive to UNF s region and potential student population. In fall 2014, the UNF Social Work faculty worked in earnest to refine this curriculum and develop the course descriptions included in this application. Table 4: UNF MSW Planning Process Date Participants Planning Activity September, 2009 Sociology & Anthropology Faculty; Department Chair Adam Shapiro Faculty discuss interest in moving forward with development of BSW and MSW programs at regular faculty meeting Fall 2009-Spring 2010 Spring 2010 Summer-Fall, 2010 Fall 2011 Fall 2011-Spring 2012 May 14, 2013 Summer 2013 August 2013 Department Chair Adam Shapiro & Social Welfare Program Director Jennifer Spaulding-Givens Department Chair Adam Shapiro, Social Welfare Program Director Jennifer Spaulding-Givens, & CSWE Accreditation Specialist Joyce White Department Chair Adam Shapiro & Social Welfare Program Director Jennifer Spaulding-Givens Department Chair Krista Paulsen, Department of Sociology & Anthropology BSW Advisory Committee Department Chair Krista Paulsen; FSU MSW Director Craig Stanley UNF College of Arts & Sciences Dean Barbara Hetrick, Department Chair Krista Paulsen, BSW Director Jennifer Spaulding-Givens; FSU College of Social Work Dean Nicholas Mazza, Associate Dean Dina Wilke, MSW Program Director Craig Stanley Department Chair Krista Paulsen; College of Arts & Sciences Dean Barbara Hetrick and Associate Deans Samuel Kimball and David Fenner; Provost Earle Traynham Department Chair Krista Paulsen; Department of Sociology & Anthropology faculty Conducted preliminary research regarding Social Work curriculum and CSWE accreditation process and informal assessment of demand for program among students and community partners Initiated conversation with CSWE regarding accreditation process and requirements Preparation of BSW and MSW Proposals for consideration for addition to New Degree Master Plan Review of joint or collaborative MSW programs in the US; review of UNF courses and resources that could contribute to a joint or collaborative program Initial conversations regarding possible FSU-UNF collaborative MSW program Discussion of possible UNF-FSU collaboration to develop a full-time Advanced Standing MSW program in Jacksonville Preparation and review of detailed report on process and resources for development of a UNF Master of Social Work program Department of Sociology & Anthropology faculty are briefed on the ongoing planning of the MSW program, and the above report is distributed to faculty who request it 18

19 Revised January 2015 Date Participants Planning Activity June 10-11, 2014 Department Chair Krista Paulsen and BSW Director Jennifer Spaulding Givens and Dr. Kia Bentley, of Virginia Commonwealth University Dr. Bentley serves as a consultant to assist in developing the MSW curriculum; Dr. Bentley shares her expertise as a graduate faculty member as well as a CSWE Accreditation Site Visitor Fall 2014 October 14, 2014 November, 2014 January 9, 2015 Social Work Faculty (Jennifer Spaulding-Givens, Ross McDonough, Suzie Weng, and Paul Clark) and Department Chair Krista Paulsen Department Chair Krista Paulsen and Dr. John Kantner, AVP for Research and Dean of the UNF Graduate School Department Chair Krista Paulsen; MSW leadership at other programs in the state UNF Dean of the Library Dr. Elizabeth Curry, Director of Public Services Lisandra Carmichael, and Department Chair Krista Paulsen Regular meetings to develop MSW curriculum Met to discuss process for approval of new graduate programs and review criteria /mail contact regarding proposed program and solicitation of concerns Met to discuss library resources needed to support the propose MSW program Table 5: Events Leading to UNF MSW Implementation Date Implementation Activity October, 2010 Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees proposed by Department of Sociology and Anthropology to UNF Academic Affairs Fall 2010 Search commences for Assistant Professor of Social Work; second faculty position added to search in December 2010 December 7, 2010 BSW and MSW degrees approved by Provost Mark Workman for addition to New Degree Master Plan January 6, 2011 BSW and MSW degrees added to Degree Program Master Plan with the CIP by Director of Academic Support Services Shawn Brayton August 2013 Dr. Suzie Weng hired as Assistant Professor of Social Work Summer and fall Development of MSW curriculum with input from Dr. Kia Bentley of Virginia 2014 Commonwealth University (retained as a consultant; Dr. Bentley shared her expertise as a graduate faculty member as well as a CSWE Accreditation Site Visitor) and UNF Social Work faculty August 2014 Dr. Paul Clark hired as Assistant Professor of Social Work January 2015 Completion of New Degree Program Application materials 19

20 Revised January 2015 VII. Program Quality Indicators - Reviews and Accreditation Identify program reviews, accreditation visits, or internal reviews for any university degree programs related to the proposed program, especially any within the same academic unit. List all recommendations and summarize the institution's progress in implementing the recommendations. The University degree program most closely related to the MSW is the BSW (Bachelor of Social Work). To date, the BSW accreditation process through the Council on Social Work Education has proceeded successfully and on schedule. Below is a summary of the BSW accreditation process, including requests made or questions raised by the accrediting body and our responses. UNF s BSW program initiated its accreditation process through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in May At this time the University submitted a Letter of Intent and Candidacy Eligibility Application, which were subsequently approved by CSWE. The Program then submitted its initial accreditation document, Benchmark I (in August, 2011), which was reviewed by CSWE, and hosted its first accreditation visit by a CSWE Commissioner the following spring (March 28-29, 2012). We anticipated a vote on Candidacy at CSWE s October Commission on Accreditation meeting. However, CSWE deferred their vote pending receipt of additional information (see Table 6 below). We submitted this information in November 2012, and were subsequently granted Candidacy in at the next Commission on Accreditation Meeting in February In March 2013, we also submitted our second accreditation document, Benchmark II. This was reviewed by CSWE, and a Commissioner conducted an accreditation visit in May Based on the review and visit, in June 2013 we responded to nine questions or issues raised by the Commissioner (see Table 6). In October 2013, CSWE s Commission on Accreditation voted to continue our Candidacy, which was the desired outcome for this vote. We submitted the third accreditation document, Benchmark III, in November 2013, and had our third accreditation visit in spring This was a very positive visit, and the Commission on Accreditation voted in November 2014 to continue our candidacy for an additional year (the desired outcome). Our final accreditation visit will take place on April 7, 2015, following submission of our self-study materials by March 1, Table 6 includes the requests made by our Commissioners following visits and by CSWE s Commission on Accreditation, and our responses all of which were found satisfactory. 20