Master of Social Work Third Year Review Report - May 2008

Evaluation Rubric

IUSB Annual Assessment Report
April 17, 2008

To:      The Assessment Committee
            Linda Fisher  lfisher@iusb.edu
            Rhonda Culbertson rculbert@iusb.edu

Assessment contact person: Dr. Marilynne Ramsey
Person preparing the report: Same.
 Attach 2005, 2006 and 2007 annual reports
I will attach the two reports I have available. This is my first year in the position of Program Director, and previous records are spotty. Both my administrative assistant and I searched both hard copy and computer files. One previous assessment document was undated, so I have inserted the date 2006 based on the date on the computer document filing date.

Attach an updated departmental assessment plan. The MSW Program is part of a system school, and as such we are subject to the Outcome and Process Assessment Schedule as formulated by the IUPUI administration. I have attached that document, the MSW Program Evaluation Plan.

 Describe any changes to the program’s educational goals since the last third year review, and the rationale for those changes. Last spring, 2007, we had an outside party conduct a qualitative study on the South Bend campus. This was a focus group that requested feedback from the students about the strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for the program. Consistent with previous complaints made verbally to the program, our students expressed dissatisfaction with the existing Field Coordinator’s performance. As a result of this both the IUPUI Dean and the Vice Chancellor of academic affairs replaced the Program Director. As the new Program Director I worked on improving the Field aspect of our program, ultimately replacing the current Coordinator with an Interim Coordinator, and launching a search for a new Field Coordinator. That search is in process. These changes were the result of the student feedback received from the focus group.

Describe any assessment techniques used for measuring the Educational Goals that have been added or discontinued since the last Third Year review, and also the rationale for those changes. The focus group was a new, but one-time assessment method used to address student dissatisfaction with aspects of the program. As part of the IUPUI Assessment committee, I am part of a current effort to expand the alumni survey to graduates from years previous to last year. The rational is that we would like to be able to know about student outcomes further into their social work careers.

Attach any assessment instruments that have been used during the past three years, and the data collected. We continue to collect an Exit Survey from our graduating third year students. I will attach a copy of the report for 2007.

How did this assessment data and analysis support these changes? The exit survey indicated dissatisfaction with applying theory to practice, consistent with the discontent regarding the field placement segment of this program. Additionally, the exit survey indicated that students expressed a desire for enhanced content for the treatment of children and families. We added an elective course to the spring 2008 schedule, Social Work Practice with Children and Youth in response to that feedback.

What changes does the department plan to make in the coming years to the program and to assessment techniques and why? The overall plans are established in Indianapolis and passed down to us. The only change that I am aware of at this time is the inclusion of graduates further on in their careers, to assess later outcomes.

How were faculty, students, administration, alumni and other groups involved in assessment?
Faculty was informed of the results of the local qualitative study and exit survey in faculty meetings. Students provided us with feedback on both levels, South Bend and Indianapolis. I share outcomes with my Community Advisory Board twice yearly. We do provide an annual alumni news letter in the spring of every year. Our students participated in the focus group that provided the data for the qualitative assessment.

How were assessment data and results shared with faculty, students, administration and alumni?
Primarily we share the in written summaries of outcomes to faculty and administrators.

In one paragraph, please summarize the most important impacts of the assessment of student learning on the program. The most important impact of last year’s assessment efforts is the emphasis on improvements in the field experience for students. We are in the process of implementing changes that will substantially improve student learning in the field and the application and integration of course content on actual practice situations. We also added a course on Children and Families, in response to student requests for more content in that area. That class is currently being taught this spring semester.