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The benchmark model (as described in section 4) is a systematic, incremental approach to developing a social work program and writing a comprehensive self-study. The term self-study refers to the program’s process of self-examination during the creation of the self-study, as well as the self-study document itself.
Benchmark IV contains the final group of accreditation standards the program must be in compliance with to receive initial accreditation. These standards were submitted, in draft form, in the Benchmark III document.
Like the previous benchmarks, Volume I contains a series of narratives that demonstrate the program’s compliance with EPAS. In the Benchmark IV document however, the program assembles the narratives from the compliance sections of Benchmarks I, II, III, and IV to create the appearance of a self-study.
The commission visitor’s primary task is to discuss the Benchmark IV document and identify areas of compliance and noncompliance with Benchmark IV. The commissioner also reviews the self-study with the program, discussing any program changes and their affect on compliance with the standards that were covered in Commissioner Visits I, II, and III.
In deciding whether a program should receive initial accreditation COA reviews the