School of Social Work receives high marks
Sept. 13, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- The WMU School of Social Work earned high marks from the Council on Social Work Education in a recent eight-year re-accreditation of both its bachelor's and master's degree programs.
Preparing for the re-accreditation was a major focus for the school's faculty over the past two years and included a thorough and intensive self-study in which both programs' strengths and weaknesses were assessed. The result was a 400-page report submitted to the council in advance of a campus site visit by a team of social work educators experienced in evaluating educational programs.
The site team listed several strengths in the two programs. Among them were the school's supportive administrative structure, faculty responsiveness to students, the high level of involvement by faculty in leadership positions in the community and professional organizations, and the encouragement of student participation in school operations.
"The process of accreditation is both rigorous and renewing," says Dr. Tracey Mabrey, the school's interim director. "We are very pleased that the school was viewed by the visitors and accreditation reviewers as being poised to tackle new challenges in education and for a changing profession."
The two programs were last reviewed in 1992.
Media contact: Mark Schwerin, 616 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu