Social Work
Assessment Report, 1999

PROGRAM EVALUATION MODEL REPORT

The following is the Social Work Deportment's 1999-2000 Institutional Assessment Report Os required by Moorhead State University's larger departmental and student learner assessment initiative. This report itemizes changes considered, as well as actual programmatic modifications that have been implemented since our 1998-1999 report. All items are in response to analyses of qualitative and quantitative data generated from PEM's multidimensional evaluative efforts.

• Faculty now hold annual retreats to discuss current curricula and explore avenues for improvement. Our second retreat is scheduled for 20 October, 1999.
• The department is reconsidering several prerequisites that are currently required for core social work classes.
• The department has implemented. as outlined in the PEC/PEM. a standardized course evaluation that will be used by all social work instructors in all core and elective social work classes.
• The faculty are considering the addition of a new prerequisite for majors, and are working with the Paralegal Program in this regard. This new prerequisite will be piloted during the fall, 2000 term.
• The faculty are considering requiring two social work electives rather than just one.
• The faculty are moving forward toward implementation of a comprehensive senior examination. The faculty explored a standardized test used by other social work programs nationwide, but decided to develop an exam tailored to our program, and one to be provided in a pretest-posttest format.
• Aggregate data on state licensing results from the American Association of State Social Work Boards show that MSU graduates have a 96.5% pass rate as compared to 84 percent nationally. Of those who failed their initial test. 53% passed on the second try.

• The faculty purchased individual answering machines to protect the confidentiality of student messages and free office staff for other tasks rather than taking Phone messages (which are numerous).
• The department continues to employ a faculty assistant.

• The faculty encouraged. and the student organization is developing a buddy system whereby senior students mentor newer students as they assimilate into our program.
• A tutoring infrastructure is now in place and is being expanded to include several classes.
• The faculty have significantly revised the Student Handbook for new applicants.
• The faculty now require a picture to be provided with all new applications for posting in the department in a hope to further build a sense of community among students and faculty. The faculty are exploring the purchase of a display case to post student pictures.

• The faculty now perform an admissions survey in the class during which students apply to the program to assess and encourage students to apply for the major.
• One faculty member attended the National College Fair in Minneapolis.
• Two other faculty members participated in MSU's Family Day by organizing and presenting on Academic Service Learning to parents and prospective students.
• Faculty are working on transfer agreements with regional colleges and universities to make student transfers more seamless.

• The department continues to sponsor the field instructors appreciation luncheon to express the faculty's gratitude for the pivotal role of the field faculty.
• Recently a field instructor recommended that a formal student intern job description format be developed to assist new interns in understanding internship expectations. This has been added to the internship structure, and both field instructors and students have responded positively to this change.
• Faculty have strengthened the department's Internship manual to reflect minor concerns that some field instructors had regarding student expectations.
• The field coordinator has completed the first part of a multistage research effort that explores field instructors and their motivation to continue working with MSU social work students. and students' perceptions of their field Instructors.

• The department now conducts a pre- and post-admission survey to understand the potential pool of applicants to the program and reasons why some may change their minds and decide not to apply to the program.
• The faculty have now implemented a standardized course evaluation as noted above. All core and elective social work courses will conduct this standardized evaluation. and data will be processed by the secretarial staff.
• The department now administers the Student Self Assessment Survey (SSAS).
• The department continues to work toward implementation of the Social Work Comprehensive Achievement Test (SWCAT). This exam will be adapted to our particular curriculum.
• The department continues to work toward implementation of the various skills assessment tests.
• State licensing results are no longer outlined under "Student Leaner Outcomes" nut have been put into a category by itself for annual review.

NOTE: Copies of data can be obtained from the assessment coordinator or the Social Work Department.

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