Fall 2006 Semester Assessment Report Form

Directions: Please complete a form for each of the programs within your department. This form was designed to provide a format for assessment reporting and should not be used to limit the amount of information provided. Each box that is attached to each of the sections is designed to adjust to varying lengths. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Bea Babbitt at x51506 or via email at: .

1. Program Information:

Program / MSW Program
Department / School of Social Work
College / Urban Affairs
Program Assessment Coordinator / An-Pyng Sun
Semester Data Collected / Fall 2006
Report Submitted by / An-Pyng Sun
Phone/email / (702) 895-4349/
Date Submitted / Summer 2007

2. According to the Assessment Plan for this program, what were the planned assessments to be conducted during the 2005-2006 Academic Year? You may want to copy and paste from this program’s assessment plan.

Which outcomes for this program were measured? / How did you measure the outcomes? / What results did you expect? If the students performed well what would their performance look like, i.e. percentages, means, or comparisons to a national standard?
____outcomes out of a total of ____ outcomes evaluated this semester.
MSW Program goals and objectives
MSW Concentration objectives / MSW Alumni Survey
Employer Survey

3. Results, conclusions, and discoveries. What are the results of the planned assessments listed above? What conclusions or discoveries were made from these results? Describe below or attach to the form.

Results, conclusions, and discoveries
MSW Alumni Survey Results (Fall 2006; N = 16)
There were 24 learning outcome objectives for the MSW program, and the Alumni Survey results showed that MSW alumni’s ratings of the objectives range from a mean of 3.13/5.00 to 4.31/5.00 (1 being “exceptionally poorly; 2, not well; 3 satisfactory; 4, very well; and 5, exceptionally well). The specific outcomes follow.
Mean SD
Obj. 1: To apply the values and ethics of social work to practice
with diverse populations within human service organizations
and their broader communities. 4.31 0.79
Obj. 2: To apply knowledge of human development in relation to the
broader environment, including families, organizations, and
communities, and within the context of oppression,
discrimination, and poverty. 4.00 0.73
Obj. 3: To apply knowledge of theories of various practice
Approaches. 3.44 0.73
Obj. 4: To apply and evaluate a variety of practice skills within and
across various systems levels. 3.94 0.57
Obj. 5: To apply skills in an ecological approach to understanding
the circumstances of individuals, families, groups, and applying
problem solving strategies to address client’s needs. 3.94 0.77
Obj. 6: To apply strategies for change that promote justice on
behalf of oppressed groups. 3.63 0.62
Obj. 7: To practice approaches which are sensitive to the economic,
social, and political forces impacting clients. 4.06 0.57
Obj. 8: To apply skills in understanding the history and practice of
institutional oppression. 3.69 0.70
Obj. 9: To develop and implement policies that serve to strengthen
individuals, groups, families, organizations, and
communities. 3.88 1.15
Mean SD
Obj. 10: To apply ethical principles throughout the
research process. 4.31 1.08
Obj. 11: To apply research principles in micro and macro practice. 4.13 1.20
Obj. 12: To apply knowledge and skills of research design
and data analysis. 3.25 1.24
Obj. 13: To critically evaluate existing studies and their findings
regarding research methodology soundness to and use the
evaluative process to improve on existing policy or
practice knowledge. 3.36 1.15
Obj. 14: To conduct research projects to generate new practice
or policy knowledge. 3.31 1.30
Obj. 15: To apply research tools to evaluate practice with all
client systems. 3.13 1.06
Obj. 16: To provide assistance to local and state agencies in
evaluating agency operations and outcomes. 3.20 0.78
Obj. 17: To apply professional use of self. 4.31 0.70
Obj. 18: To apply critical thinking skills in a variety of
agency/professional settings. 4.25 0.58
Obj. 19: To evaluate and apply various theoretical perspectives and
approaches and their interventions across a variety of
practice/professional settings. 3.63 0.62
Obj. 20: To apply the roles of biological, social, physical, and
situational factors and their interaction, and apply such
knowledge to the development of effective social work
interventions. 4.00 0.82
Obj. 21: To apply the skills to analyze social welfare policies and
their impact on client systems, organizations, and the
broader community while at the same time demonstrating
ability to influence the policy making process. 3.69 0.79
Obj. 22: To establish and build upon a professional identity
congruent with social work values and ethics. 4.31 0.70
Obj. 23: To engage in continuing professional development. 4.31 0.60
Mean SD
Obj. 24: To enter practice roles having specialized expertise in
Direct Practice, Administrative Practice and Planning,
or Child Welfare. 4.13 0.72
Employer Survey Results (Fall 2006; N = 3)
Only three employers responded to the Employer Survey during Fall 2006. The 3 employers rated the MSW graduates’ overall performance (among the five alternatives: Unsatisfactory Satisfactory, Good, Excellent, and Superior) as “Superior” (n=1),“Excellent” (n=1), and “Good” (n=1). Since the sample is small, we focused on the analysis of the qualitative data obtained.
The 3 employers indicated 6 areas in which the MSW graduates performed well:
Ø  Clinical practice in assessment (n = 2)
Ø  Theory (n = 1)
Ø  Locating resources (n = 1)
Ø  Ethics (n = 1)
Ø  Psychosocial/bio-psycho-social (n=2)
Ø  Casework (n = 1)
The 3 employers also indicated 7areas in which the MSW graduates need to improve:
Ø  Diagnosis/Diagnostic assessment using DSM-IV (n = 2)
Ø  Therapeutic techniques (n= 1)
Ø  Developing treatment plan for each diagnosis (n = 1)
Ø  Transference (n = 1)
Ø  Court document ( n = 1)
Ø  Resources location (n = 1)
Ø  Report writing (n = 1)
The respondents provided 4 suggestions for preparing students:
Ø  “Diagnostic and assessment course should be a required course for all students” ( n = 1)
Ø  “Treatment plan needs to be created as a new course for all direct practice students” (n = 1)
Ø  “Writing skills” (n = 1)
Ø  “Court reporting” (n = 1)

4. Use of Results. What program changes are indicated? How will they be implemented? If none, describe why changes were not needed.

Although overall both the alumni and employer surveys showed positive outcomes, there is still room for program improvement and refinement. Following are five suggestions, which will be discussed in Fall 2007 faculty meetings and MSW Curriculum Committee meetings.
1.  The DSM course is critical and should be a required course for all students (employer survey results). Currently, it is an elective course.
2.  Students’ writing and “court reporting” skills should be enhanced (employer
survey results). Perhaps this element can be incorporated into the Practice
Methods classes.
3.  “Knowledge of theories of various practice approaches” should be enhanced.
This outcome result has been mentioned in the previous outcomes data from
other surveys; the MSW Curriculum Committee, the Practice Sequence
Committee, and the School have been informed of this suggestion and are
working on it.
4.  Skills related to research design, implementation, data analysis, evaluation of the soundness of the existing studies, and evaluation of practice effectiveness with all client levels should be enhanced. This outcome result has also been mentioned in the previous outcomes data from other surveys; the MSW Curriculum Committee, the Research Sequence Committee, and the School have been informed of this suggestion and are working on it.
Social work students (and practitioners) have traditionally deemphasized the
learning and application of research methods. They tend to perceive research
methods as difficult and irrelevant to their daily practice with clients. Perhaps this
issue can be improved by first facilitating students’ interest in research and by
changing the faulty assumption that research is difficult and irrelevant.
5.  The ability of students and graduates to “provide assistance to local and state
agencies in evaluating agency operations and outcomes” should be enhanced.

5. Dissemination of results, conclusions, and discoveries. How and with whom were the results shared?

The 2006 Fall outcomes results will be combined with the 2007 Spring outcomes results to be distributed to School Director, MSW Coordinator, and the School faculty via emails. The same data will further be presented to the School faculty in Fall 2007 faculty meetings for discussions.