Savannah State University Academic Program Strategic & Operational Plan October 2009 Academic Program: Faculty Leader: Bachelor of Social Work and Masters of Social Work Programs Roenia Deloach Mission Statement: The Mission of the department of social work is to prepare students to excel in social work practice. The BSW program prepares students for generalist practice and the MSW program builds on the generalist foundation and prepares students for advanced practice in Clinical and Social Administration. The Department promotes student focused learning, incorporates an Afrocentric perspective and graduates students who are culturally competent to practice social work in rural, urban, and global settings. Vision Statement: The Department of Social Work will become the preeminent social work program of choice for the Southeast Georgia region, committed to preparing students who will embrace ethical and culturally competent practice at the micro, mezzo, macro and global levels. The Department will continue to infuse the international social work content in the curriculum and will expand its experiential activities by offering internships, service learning and faculty exchange opportunities abroad. Professional Values & Beliefs: Item Critical professional values, assumptions, beliefs for success in completing unit s functions: 1 Service 2 Social justice 3 Dignity and worth of the person 4 Importance of human relationships 5 Integrity Competence 6 Ethical Decision Making; Ethical Practice Positioning Statement: Our BSW and MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Our comparative advantage lies in the fact that students may obtain both an undergraduate and graduate degree at one location. The BSW program offers a generalist perspective, while the MSW program offer three concentration tracks at the MSW level, Clinical, Social Administration and Dual Concentration. We also offer a weekend only traditional MSW program and given our proximity to several military installments, we have created a mutually beneficial relationship with military personnel and their families through course offerings and military field placements.
Groups Served: 1. Traditional Students 2. Non-traditional Students 3. Human Service Professionals 4. Human Service Organizations 5. Governmental and Non governmental Institutions 6. Community at Large Competitors: 1. Savannah State University Behavioral Analysis program 2. Savannah State University Sociology program 3. Albany State University (BSW, upcoming MSW) 4. Dalton State University (BSW) 5. Georgia State University (BSW, MSW) 6. Kennesaw State University (MSW) 7. Thomas University (BSW) 8. University of Georgia (BSW, MSW, Ph.D.) 9. Valdosta State University (MSW) 10. University of South Carolina (BSW, MSW, Ph.D.) 11. Clark Atlanta University (BSW, MSW, Ph.D.) 12. South College ( Counseling Program)
Functional Tasks: Task Functional Tasks/Regular Activities of Academic Program Who delegated or mandated? 1 BSW and MSW Program and Field Orientation Department/SACS 2 Service Learning Department Homeless Stand Down Day, every year in September Make a Difference Day, every year in October World Food Day, every year in October Empty Stocking fund December 3 Lobby Day at the State Capital, Organized by NASW Department/Profession- NASW 4 Policy, Practice, Research Posters/Projects Department/Profession - CSWE 5 Field Instructor s Quarterly Training and annual Luncheon Department/Profession 6 Experiential Learning Department/Profession Gullah/ Geechee Gerontology field visits: Agencies that serve Elderly Child Advocacy Field Visits: Agencies that serve Children 7 Title IV- E workshops; one time each semester. Department/Title IV-E Grant
Learning Plan: Item Learning Outcome Effectiveness Measure Courses where introduced, practiced, & certified 1 Will be culturally competent and able to work at the Micro, Mezzo, and Macro levels 2 Be able to work in the field of Social Work and advance professionally 3 Be able to conduct assessment, use critical thinking and analyze information to help the client 4 Be able to understand and implement the policy Completion of these courses provides evidence of mastery of the learning outcomes. All contents are measured through course assignments and experiential learning. BSW/MSWCapstone poster presentation, BSW exit exam, BSW/MSW Field Evaluation, MSW Integrative Seminar Reflective Paper Process recording, Biopsychosocial, Field Practicum and Field Seminar Policy Poster presentations, Lobby Day, Policy Analysis Papers, Program Evaluation Research projects MSWK 6650, 6651, 6652 SOWK 3220, 3201,3202, 3340,3341,3342 MSWK 6690, 6790,6791, 6805 SOWK 4701,4702, 4901,4902 MSWK 6660, 6661, 6750,6751 SOWK 3340,3341, 3342, 3342, 4410, 4701,4702, 4901,4902 MSWK 6680, 6675, 6685,7000 SOWK 4410, 4301, 4201, 4510 Frequency Learning outcomes are infused throughout the curriculum. Annually Annually Annually
Long Range (Strategic) Planning Goals: Goal Long-Range Strategic Planning Goals: 1 Increase the enrollment in BSW and MSW Programs What evidence shows need? Unit Function: SSU Goal: Increase need for Social Workers across all fields Work Goal 1.1 2 Develop interdisciplinary courses and certificate programs Need for more specialized training to meet demands of limited budget and staffing. Work and other divisions in CLASS Goal 2.8 3 Expand opportunities for study abroad experiences 4 Develop hybrid teaching model unique to social work 5 Develop recruitment and retention strategies for undergraduate and graduate 6 Increase scholarship activities to include stipends and paid internships To be in line with other social work programs across the state which offer international internships and service learning opportunities To be in line with the University objectives and our competitors in meeting the diverse needs of our student body To increase university wide enrollment and program specific enrollment To maintain competitive advantage and meet the needs of our students Work Work Work in conjunction with graduate school and the University at large Work and Federal, State and community partners Goal 1.6 Goal 2.8 & 3.4 Goal 3.3 & 3.6 Goal 3.7
Immediate Planning Objectives: Objective Immediate Planning Objective: Evaluation plan: Unit Function: Unit Goal: 1 Successful reaffirmation of the BSW and MSW Programs Develop marketing strategies 2 Create an interdisciplinary course committee in CLASS 3 Actively seek opportunities through partnerships with Universities and International Organizations to increase social work focused study abroad programs and internships Work closely with the Office of International Studies Completion of self study document and review of program by CSWE Record attendance at recruitment functions, web page hits and direct contacts to the department Conduct a needs assessment Assess and evaluate the opportunities to determine accessibility, feasibility and relevance to social work practice Department of Social Work and CSWE Department of Social Work & SSU Graduate School Department of Social Work and CLASS Department of Social Work in conjunction with CLASS and the Office of International Studies Department Goal 1 Increase Enrollment & SSU Goal 1.1 Department Goal 2 Develop interdisciplinary courses and certificate programs & SSU Goal 2.8 Goal 3 Expand opportunities for study abroad experiences & SSU Goal 1.6 4 Ensure that all faculty obtain on going training in the development of hybrid courses Review the curriculum to determine the best possible fit for the hybrid model 5 Recruitment Increase our presence at recruitment events Evaluate course development and progress and the increase in the number of hybrid course offerings per year Track the number of recruitment fair opportunities and the number attended. Track the number of participants and their feedback The Department in conjunction with tech support The Department in conjunction with the grad and undergrad admissions office Goal 4 Develop hybrid teaching model unique to social work Goal 5 Develop recruitment and retention strategies for undergraduate and graduate
Retention Improve the advisement process Review our program outcomes Create a student-centered program 6 Maintain all current scholarship opportunities Increase the number of partnerships with state and local organizations Increase stipend based field practica Review graduation rates, employment and post graduate work Review standards and procedures in the implementation of our social work program Assess current scholarships to ensure continued funding Develop a tracking system that will monitor the number of scholarship opportunities Develop stipend-based agency partnership. The Department in conjunction with the Advisory Board and community partners Goal 6 Increase scholarship activities to include stipends and paid internships
Planning Objective Evaluation Details: Objective Citation Evaluation Plan What will be collected? How will it collected? Successful reaffirmation of the BSW and MSW Programs Develop marketing strategies Have a functional interdisciplinary course committee in CLASS Completion of self study document and review of program by CSWE Measure the number of attendance at recruitment functions, web page hits and direct contacts to the department Conduct a needs assessment Number of courses developed by the committee and implemented All documents pertaining to the self study. Attendance records, advisement contacts, telephone inquiries Faculty input Faculty perspective Faculty will submit all relevant documents to the Chair. Database system Minutes of meetings Focus group discussions Actively seek opportunities through partnerships with Universities and International Organizations to increase social work focused study abroad programs and internships Assess and evaluate the opportunities to determine accessibility, feasibility and relevance to social work practice Study abroad program evaluations Social Work program feedback Internet Surveys Guest speaking Work closely with the Office of International Studies Ensure that all faculty obtain on going training in the development of hybrid courses Review the curriculum to determine the best possible fit for the hybrid model Evaluate course development and progress and the increase in the number of hybrid course offerings per year Information on faculty training and hybrid courses implemented by the faculty Training certificates and continuing education credits Hybrid Course Syllabi and scheduling Recruitment Increase our presence Track the number of recruitment fair Statistics on recruitment fair participants Recruitment database
at recruitment events Retention Improve the advisement process Review our program outcomes Create a studentcentered program Maintain all current scholarship opportunities opportunities and the number attended. Track the number of participants and their feedback Review graduation rates, employment and post graduate work Review standards and procedures in the implementation of our social work program Assess current scholarships to ensure continued funding Statistics on graduation and employment. rates, and student, alumni and employer surveys The number of available scholarships on a yearly basis student, alumni and employer surveys Scholarship and Field Practica database Increase the number of partnerships with state and local organizations Increase stipend based field practica Develop a tracking system that will monitor the number of scholarship opportunities Develop stipend-based agency partnership. The number of available practicum sites which offer stipends Implications Across Campus: Increasing our program enrollment will increase the number of students taking course in other academic departments and will also increase graduate program enrollment specifically MPA, Urban Studies and MBA. Creating an interdisciplinary focus will provide opportunities for interdisciplinary faculty research and scholarships, enhance CLASS curriculum and encourage interdepartmental collaborative. Increasing social work study abroad programs will enhance our presence at both national and international forums, and will also provide opportunities for students from other disciplines to participate in international experiences relevant to their field of study. Increasing our presence at local, state, national and international recruitment events may also encourage interest in other SSU academic programs. Increasing our hybrid or online course offerings will ensure that we are in line with other academic programs on campus Ensuring ongoing CSWE accreditation will provide SSU students with options to enter a nationally accredited professional undergraduate program and/or a Masters level graduate program Increasing our scholarship offerings will ensure greater retention of our students, particularly those experiencing extreme financial hardship