June 5, 2010
Mr. Thomas H. Shortbull
President
Oglala Lakota College
Box 490
Kyle, SD 57752
Dear President Shortbull:
At its June 2010 meeting, the Commission on Accreditation (COA) reviewed the self-study, the Accreditation Review Brief, and the program's response to the Brief as the initial accreditation application for the baccalaureate social work program. The COA voted to grant initial accreditation for four years, ending June 2014, with a progress report to be reviewed by the COA.
In taking this action, the Commission identified eight areas of concern.
Accreditation Standard 2.0: Curriculum is grounded in liberal arts and contains a coherent integrated foundation.
The Program is asked to provide detailed narrative explaining how this college-wide requirement in which 100 credit hours are required, 48 of which are in social work, impact the program’s curriculum plan and program goals and objectives.
Education Policy 4.2: Social work education programs integrate content on populations-at-risk, examining the factors that contribute to and constitute being at risk. Programs educate students to identify how group membership influences access to resources, and present content on the dynamics of such risk factors and responsive and productive strategies to redress them. Programs integrate social and economic justice content grounded in an understanding of distributive justice, human and civil rights, and the global interconnections of oppression. Programs provide content related to implementing strategies to combat discrimination, oppression, and economic deprivation, and to promote social and economic justice. Programs prepare students to advocate for nondiscriminatory social and economic systems.
Mr. Thomas H. Shortbull
President, Oglala Lakota College
June 5, 2010
Page 2
The program is asked to provide narrative and revised course syllabi documenting specifically where and how this content are covered in the curriculum.
Education Policy 4.4: Programs provide content about the history of social work, the history and current structures of social welfare services, and the role of policy in service delivery, social work practice, and attainment of individual and social well-being. Course content provides students with knowledge and skills to understand
major policies that form the foundation of social welfare; analyze organizational, local, state, national, and international issues in social welfare policy and social service delivery; analyze and apply the results of policy research relevant to social service delivery; understand and demonstrate policy practice skills in regard to economic, political, and organizational systems, and use them to influence, formulate, and advocate for policy consistent with social work values; and identify financial, organizational, administrative, and planning processes required to deliver social services.
The program is asked to integrate more content on international issues in the social welfare policy & services curriculum content area. The program is also asked to submit detailed narrative and revised course syllabi documenting how and where knowledge and skills to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities is incorporated in the curriculum.
Education Policy 4.6: Qualitative and quantitative research content provides understanding of a scientific, analytic, and ethnical approach to building knowledge for practice. The content prepares students to develop, use, and effectively communicate empirically based knowledge, including evidence-based interventions. Research knowledge is used by students to provide high quality services; to initiate change; to improve practice, policy, and social service delivery; and to evaluate their own practice.
The program is asked to submit a syllabus that includes assignments and assigned readings for the new research class to be offered in fall 2010. Additionally narrative describing this new course and how it supplements and strengthens the research curriculum content area should be submitted.
Education Policy 4.7: Field education is an integral component of social work education anchored in the mission, goals, and educational level of the program. It occurs in settings that reinforce students’ identification with the purposes, values, and ethics of the profession; fosters the integration of empirical and practice-based knowledge; and promotes the development of professional competence. Field
Mr. Thomas H. Shortbull
President, Oglala Lakota College
June 5, 2010
Page 3
education is systematically designed, supervised, coordinated, and evaluated on the basis of criteria by which students demonstrate the achievement of program objectives.
The program is asked to develop an orientation for field instructors and measures for assessing the effectiveness of these sessions and provide a narrative describing the steps taken. The program is asked to provide a progress report documenting evidence of efforts to strengthen the field education curriculum to ensure that students are receiving sufficient direct experience. The program is asked to develop and implement a formal plan for evaluating field education sites on a regular and ongoing basis.
Accreditation Standard 3.1.3: The Program has comprehensive library holdings and electronic access, as well as other informational and educational resources necessary for achieving the program’s goals and objectives.
The program is asked to provide a progress report documenting an increase in library holdings that support the social work program and increasing student access to library and technology resources
Accreditation Standard 5.5: The program has policies and procedures specifying students’ rights & responsibilities to participate in formulating and modifying policies affecting academic and student affairs. It provides opportunities and encourages students to organize in their interests.
The program is asked to specifically articulate student rights and responsibilities and publish these in the Student Handbook and Field Education Manual and provide a copy of these with the progress report.
Accreditation Standard 8.1: The program implements its plan to evaluate the outcome of each program objective and shows evidence that the analysis is used continuously to affirm and improve the educational program.
With the anticipated number of graduates, the program is asked to provide a progress report documenting how analysis of the data is used to affirm and improve the program.
Submit three copies of the Progress Report no later than April 1, 2011 for review during the June 2011 COA Meeting.
Mr. Thomas H. Shortbull
President, Oglala Lakota College
June 5, 2010
Page 4
Procedures regarding the process of Reaffirmation are included with this letter. Please be in touch with Anna R. Holster, Accreditation Associate in the Office of Social Work Accreditation and Educational Excellence, if there are any questions about this letter or the procedures and actions of the Commission on Accreditation.
Sincerely,
Wynne Sandra Korr, Ph.D., Chair
Commission on Accreditation
WSK/ARH
CC:Jeffrey Olson, M.S.W., Ph.D.
Chairperson, Department of Social Work
Enclosures:Procedures for Reaffirmation
PROCEDURES FOR REAFFIRMATION
PROGRAM NAME:Baccalaureate Social Work at [INSTITUTION]
NEXT REVIEW:June 2014
DATE: June 2010
The social work program should prepare the following:
- Site Visit Planning form. One year before the program’s Reaffirmation review date, it receives a Site Visit Planning form. The program returns the form to the Site Visit Coordinator within two weeks of its receipt.
- Eligibility Application. By July 1, 2013, the program submits its eligibility application for Reaffirmation, Authorization of Program Review form, and Baccalaureate or Master’s Reaffirmation Eligibility Application form, to its Accreditation Associate or Specialist.
- Reaffirmation Fee. The program will be invoiced by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Office of Finance and Human Resource Management.
- Self-Study. One month prior to the site visit, the program mails one (1) copy of the full self-study to each site team member and three (3) paper copies and one (1) electronic copy on a CD or flash drive of the full self-study to the Office of Social Work Accreditation and Educational Excellence (OSWAEE).
- Site Visit. The program's site visit will occur between November 1, 2013 and February 28, 2014.
- Program Response to the Site Team’s Accreditation Review Brief. No later than two weeks after the visit, the site team Chair submits one (1) electronic and one (1) paper copy of the team’s Accreditation Review Brief to the program’s Accreditation Specialist. A copy of the team’s Accreditation Review Brief is sent to the chief administrators of the institution and the social work program. No later than two weeks after the receipt of the team’s Accreditation Review Brief, the program submits one (1) electronic and three (3) paper copies of its response to its Accreditation Specialist.
- File Complete. The program’s file is complete with the submission of the program’s response.
- COA Review for Reaffirmation. The program is reviewed for reaffirmation at the June 2014 COA Meeting.