Social Work accreditation reaffirmed through 2031, continuing its success

The Social Work BSW program recently received notice of re-affirmation of accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education in July.

The program is one of 541 undergraduate social work programs in the country with this accreditation. CSWE requires each program undergo review every eight years and since receiving initial accreditation in 1979, JMU has continuously maintained its fully accredited status.

The accreditation standards seek to ensure programs are implementing and instructing their core competencies for professional social work. The competencies include areas such as professionalism, ethics, advocacy and diversity, along with key skills related to the profession such as assessment, intervention and evaluation.

The program was assessed through a thorough self-study, a process which engaged faculty, staff, students, and community partners to reflect on the quality and impact of the program.

Simon Funge, academic unit head for social work, explained that drafting the self-study “is typically an intensive two to three-year process analyzing in great depth and detail the program’s syllabi, assessment tools, practices and student outcomes.”  

The self-study is “not just about what happens in the classroom” regarding the CSWE standards, Funge said. “It also showcases the experiential learning students receive in their community-based internships and the affinity groups that promote a sense of belonging for students, among other highlights.”

As interim academic unit head, social work professor Hyong Yeom led and completed the self-study in July 2023. “It’s important to highlight her work as instrumental to our successful reaffirmation,” Funge emphasized.

Following review of the self-study, CSWE’s site visitor met with faculty, staff, students, community field supervisors, the dean of CHBS, and representatives from the provost and president’s offices to discuss the program.

The visit allowed for faculty, staff and students to “reflect on what we’re doing, and really showcased the depth and breadth of the education we provide in our BSW program, the program’s strong reputation in the community, and how incredible our faculty and students are,” stated Funge, adding that, “our site visitor remarked how impressed she was with the program, CHBS and JMU — particularly the college’s focus on interprofessional education. It’s clear we have a top-notch program.”

“Each of us following the site visit had a sense of pride about JMU’s BSW program,” said Funge. “The process reinforced how meaningful and important our work is,” adding, “it’s a privilege and honor to lead JMU’s BSW program.”

The BSW program will transition its curriculum to align with the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards over the next year. Said Funge,” given the program’s strong academic foundation and faculty focus on preparing our graduates to advocate for systemic change to promote greater access for their clients, we’re well positioned to make these changes.”

The program’s accreditation status is affirmed until 2031, when the program will be assessed again under the new EPAS.