Social Work department earns accreditation

The Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work (CASSW) granted the St. Thomas department a seven-year accreditation. It extends to 2006.

In its bid for accreditation, the Social Work Department learned that the national review committee considers it “a well developed program, highly regarded in the community, in the university, in the profession and by students and alumni.”

The CASSW Board of Accreditation’s letter recognises the department’s “strong commitment to the needs of its BSW students and the communities it serves as evidenced by [sic] its level of commitment to social work education, by program development and by its developing scholarship.”

Dr. John Coates, Chair of Social Work, says, “The review is certainly a good procedure. As much as it is a lot of work, it encourages the members of the department to assess where we are and where we are going.” Accreditation requires an extensive self-study by the department, a review and response from two members of the Board of Accreditation, and a site visit by two other members of the Board.

The two-person ‘site-team’ visited St. Thomas last October, thoroughly interviewing students, instructors, employers and field supervisors. “It was a very intensive two-day period,” Dr. Coates says.

Their final reports, Dr. Coates explains, “show that they admired our programme’s integrity (its goals and objectives) and our admissions process.”

The Social Work department’s admissions process is intensive and involves a personal statement from the applicant, a social problems analysis, and group interview. The criteria include self-awareness, problem solving skills, socio-political awareness and commitment to social work values.

“There have been several big changes since the last accreditation in 1993,” Dr. Coates says, commenting that the University implemented its Post-Degree Bachelor of Social Work programme on June 1, 1999, and two new faculty positions were approved. As well, there was a substantial shift in the timetable as courses and field placements switched from a concurrent system to a block format. Instead of juggling class and work each week, in a block format students essentially spend the fall semester in class and most of the winter semester in the field. “That’s a significant shift in design that allows students to become fully immersed in the field placement.” Dr. Coates says. “That definitely has advantages.”

The site team indicated they were “impressed by the level of interest and critical thought demonstrated by students.”

“Many excellent candidates apply to the social work program,” Dr. Coates explains, “and this provides us with a solid foundation upon which to prepare students for professional social work practice.”