The OSU COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK
William (Bill) Meezan
Dean and Professor
Presentation to the Council of Deans
March 25, 2008
Increasing Demand for Social Workers
The demand for professional social work practitioners is great
– The majority of mental health, child welfare, and family services in the US are
provided by social workers
– Social workers are an integral component of interdisciplinary teams in education,
health care, and gerontology
– One finds trained social workers in the fields of substance abuse, corrections,
juvenile justice, economic security, and employee assistance
– Substantial numbers of social workers provide counseling and psychotherapy
through private practices
Data from national studies indicate that the demand for masters-level
prepared social workers will increase significantly in the coming years
– The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an 18 to 26 percent increase in the demand
for new social workers by the year 2014
– The Wall Street Journal named social work a “best career” for the future
Barriers to Meeting Demand/
Recruitment to the Profession
Salaries, both starting and ongoing
– For early career social workers
BSSW median salaries -- $32,115
MSW median salaries -- $43,241
Debt load of students
Need for better match between providers with those who utilize service
– Issues of minority recruitment and diversity
Difficulty of work
– Nature of presenting problems and available, proven, evidence-based
interventions
– Nature of the work environment leading to high turnover
– Lack of commitment to the welfare state and institutional supports
Barriers to Meeting Demand/
Recruitment to the Profession
Graying of professionals
Despite number of educational programs, educational pipeline is
insufficient to meet demand
– Large number of small programs
– 12% of faculty positions go unfilled; small programs still hiring MSWs
Social Work is a female-dominated profession
– Significant salary gap between men and women (>$7000 controlling for other vars.)
– Differential working patterns of women (child rearing; work patterns in later years)
Image (welfare; child protective services, etc.)
– Social Work Image Campaign currently under way
– Social Work Reinvestment Act just introduced into Congress
– Patterning our efforts on the successful transition of nursing
Context of Social Work Education
Nationally
– 482 Bachelors Programs
– 212 Masters Programs
– 81 Doctoral Program
In Ohio
– 25 Bachelors Programs
– 8 Masters Programs
– 2 Doctoral Programs
Few “national” programs
Bifurcation of Professional Education
Education at the bachelors and masters levels is focused on training
practitioners
Education at the doctoral level is (usually) focused on training for
knowledge development
Bachelors and masters programs are accredited by the Council on
Social Work Education; no doctoral program accreditation
Doctoral programs in social work vary tremendously one from
another
– Most require students who have been trained for professional practice to make
a number of transitions to become scholars who will have the dual roles of
advancing social work knowledge and training professional practitioners.
The OSU College of Social Work
First accredited in 1929, The College of Social Work at OSU is the nation's
oldest continuingly accredited social work program in a public university.
USNWR ranked 15th among publics; 24th among all programs
Rankings are reputational; not part of the NRC; Professional organization of
deans is attempting to benchmark schools based on objective criteria since
NRC refused our request to be included
– Ranked only every four years; next rankings are due out shortly
– Rankings are supposedly of MSW programs, but in reality are not; dominated by large
programs; oldest programs in private universities; and “free standing” schools/colleges
– Mix in rankings between “research” schools and “practice” schools
– In last 12 years, few changes in reputational rankings among top 15 programs
– Small changes in reputational scores make for large gains/losses in rankings
Vision/Mission
VISION
Embrace Difference. Seek Justice. Be the Change.
MISSION (pending final approval)
The College of Social Work, through excellence in teaching, research,
and service, prepares leaders who enhance individual and community
well-being, celebrate difference, and promote social and economic justice
for vulnerable populations. The College fosters social change through
collaboration with individuals, families, communities, and other change
agents to build strengths and resolve complex individual and social
problems. As an internationally recognized College, we build and apply
knowledge that positively impacts Ohio, the nation, and the world.
CORE VALUES
Dignity and worth of the person.
Importance of human relationships.
Building knowledge through open inquiry.
Competence.
Integrity.
Social Justice.
Service.
(Derived from the NASW Code of Ethics)
COLLEGE IS MODERATE SIZE FOR SOCIAL WORK
PROGRAM BUT A SMALL UNIT FOR CAMPUS
250 Undergraduates
– 100 freshmen and sophomores (pre-social work majors); 150 majors
– 27% non-white; 87% women
450 Masters’ students -- full-, part-time, and advanced standing program
– 23% non-white; 85% women
45 Doctoral students
– 35% non-white; 80% women
29 Tenure Line Faculty
– 24% non-white; 69% women
5 Field Faculty (Soon move to clinical)
– 20% non-white; 100% women
Four Strategic Areas
Renew the College’s educational programs
Enhance the research infrastructure of the
college and the research productivity of the
faculty
Review and enhance the administrative
infrastructure at the college
Enhance the diversity of students, faculty,
and staff at the college
Educational Programs: The BSSW
Offers a generalist curriculum that prepares graduates to work in any social
welfare agencies or institution.
The Career Acceleration Plan (CAP) permits a limited number of students to
complete the BSSW in one year (four quarters)
Newly revitalized Honors Program
Future Plans
– Revitalization of the curriculum in preparation for CSWE accreditation in 2010
– Increase pre-social work program to 150; increase undergraduate majors to 200 on
Columbus Campus
– Potentially bring undergraduate major to three regional campuses (Mansfield, Lima,
Marion)
– Develop and offer minors
Addictions Studies
Social Justice
– Offer additional undergraduate courses available to all undergraduates
Educational Programs
The MSW
Offers specializations in direct social work practice and social
administration.
Has significant course offerings in the fields of health, mental health,
behavioral health, child welfare, developmental disabilities, aging, and
corrections
Offers MSW program at three regional campuses (Mansfield, Newark and
Lima
Offers two additional off campus programs (FCCS and Wright State)
– Potential program with ADAMH Board and its agencies
Offers dual degrees with Public Policy and Management; City and
Regional Planning; Public Health
The MSW
Other Significant Program Features
One of two programs in the state that trains and certifies school social
workers
Participates the interdisciplinary graduate programs in aging, women’s
studies, disability studies, sexuality studies, interprofessional practice
Allows minor in African American studies
Offers certificate in AIDS care
– Additional certificates under consideration: Non-profit management; The addictions;
Jewish Communal Services
Emerging Commitment to Internationalization
– New course in Comparative Social Welfare (2008)
– Study abroad programs for students in Poland and India (current)
– Plans for study abroad programs to Ghana (2009),
and Mexico (2010).
MSW – Plans for Future
Revitalization/renewal of the curriculum in preparation for CSWE
accreditation in 2010
Determine multiple measures for assessment of student competencies
and program performance.
Develop benchmarks for student and program performance.
Establish protocol for using data to review and enhance curriculum
Initiate annual performance reports to the college community.
BSSW and MSW Field Education
The College, through its office of field education, places over 600
students per year in over 500 social service agencies.
Total number of volunteer hours provided to social service agencies
through internships is approximately 251,200 hours.
Directions
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Define and implement “best practices” in field education
Certify students on standardized field competencies
Certify field instructors beyond basic requirements
Assess possibility for international field placements
Assess possibility of alternative (including block) field placements
The Ph.D. Program
Only Ph.D. program in a public university in the state
Interdisciplinary in nature
Currently provides full- and part-time options
Very selectively admits students to the combined MSW-Ph.D.
Admits a very select group of students without the MSW
Future
– Total curriculum renewal to prepare students to be placed in the best of the social
work programs
– Continued conversion of GAA to GRA positions; Increased number of College
funded GRA positions
– Develop paid research internships in community
– Provide additional mechanisms for Ph.D. student publications
– Potential partnership with Ohio University
Build Research Agenda and Productivity
Concentrate in three broad areas
– Families and children
– Health and behavioral health
– Aging
To date:
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Appointed an Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development
Provided support staff to research office
Reduced teaching load
Established Research Advisory Committee
Instituted “seed grant” competition for faculty
Submitted capital budget proposal, which is now being costed, for funds to (among
other things) remodel the second floor of old Stillman Hall to create a Research
Center.
Build Research Agenda and Productivity
To Date
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Instituted a monthly research brown bag series.
Instituted “statistics/technical assistance” brown bags.
Four College-supported GAAs, have redeployed for faculty use as GRAs
Contracted for statistical consultation for faculty
Contracted for ongoing consultation from an outside experts to help with issues
regarding research infrastructure development, proposal review, and federal grant
submissions.
– Increased formal interaction with leading scholars dealing with cutting edge issues
such as translational research and the development, implementation, and evaluation
of evidence based interventions
The Future
– Greater exploration/achievement of interdisciplinary work
– Partnerships with more established units on campus
Research Accomplishments
Current research portfolio is @$2 million; >100% increase
in three years; most from state and other social service
agencies
More funded research projects this year than in any
previous years
50% of faculty now have funded research; goal is 75%
More IDC recovery now than in past; not “steady” and
therefore not included in budgeting PBA
Many more submissions in response to Federal RFA/RFPs
than ever before in the College’s history.
Staffing
Currently undergoing HR position audit
Must meet demands for staffing in:
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Alumni Affairs
Communications
Recruitment
IT Helpdesk
Grants coordination
Enhancing Diversity
While one of the most diverse units on campus, there is a need to
continue to improve in this area given the field and those it serves.
– Students
Increase student recruitment efforts
Move toward offering evening/weekend courses
Development of articulation agreements with junior/technical colleges
Develop mentoring network at the college
Establish “immersion” course dealing with minority groups and
perspectives
– Faculty
Appointed racial minority faculty member to lead searches for faculty
Establish “pipeline” to minority students in high quality PhD programs
QUESTIONS?