June 2018 COA Decisions

June 2018 COA Decisions

Council on Social Work Education - Commission on Accreditation

Notice of Accreditation Actions

Accrediting agencies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation are required to notify the public of the basis for final accreditation decisions. The Commission on Accreditation (COA) meets this requirement by publishing a notice of accreditation actions on its website after each Commission meeting. COA meetings take place three times a year, in February, June, and October.

The Commission on Accreditation (COA) took the following actions at its June 2018 meeting regarding the social work programs sponsored by the institutions listed below. Actions taken below are listed by decision category. Standards referenced in this report can be reviewed in our 2008 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards and 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

Reaffirm Accreditation for 8 Years

The COA finds the program in compliance with all educational policy and accreditation standards and the program was granted continued accreditation for 8 years.

Baccalaureate

  • Bowie State University (MD)
  • Briar Cliff University (IA)
  • Cairn University (PA)
  • California State University, San Bernadino (CA)
  • California University of Pennsylvania (PA)
  • Cedarville University (OH)
  • Concordia College (MN)
  • Concordia University Wisconsin (WI)
  • Lewis University (IL)
  • State University of New York at Stony Brook (NY)
  • University of Alaska, Anchorage (AK)
  • University of Detroit, Mercy (MI)
  • University of Hawai'i at Manoa (HI)
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County (MD)
  • University of Kansas (KS)

Master's

  • California State University, Stanislaus (CA)
  • Saint Leo University (FL)
  • Salisbury University (MD)
  • State University of New York at Stony Brook (NY)
  • University of Alaska, Anchorage (AK)
  • University of Hawai'i at Manoa (HI)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
  • Yeshiva University (NY)

Reaffirm Accreditation for 8 Years with a Progress Report

The COA finds the program in compliance with all educational policy and accreditation standards, but identifies one or more areas of concern that must be addressed in a progress report. The program was granted continued accreditation for 8 years, with a progress report to be submitted within 1 year.

Baccalaureate

  • Alabama State  University (AL), based on Faculty
  • George Mason University (VA), based on Generalist Practice; Field Education; Advisement, retention, and termination; and Administrative Structure
  • Judson College (AL), based on Field Education and Assessment
  • Rhode Island College  (RI),  based on Administrative Structure
  • Saint Francis University (PA), based on Admissions
  • Saint Louis University (MO), based on Assessment
  • Salisbury University (MD), based on Administrative Structure
  • Shippensburg University (PA), based on Admissions
  • Simmons College (MA), based on Faculty and Advisement, retention, and termination
  • Southeastern University (FL), based on Administrative Structure
  • Winston Salem State University (NC), based on Assessment

Master’s

  • George Mason University (VA), based on Specialized Practice; Field Education; Advisement, retention, and termination; and Administrative Structure
  • Rhode Island College (RI), based on Administrative Structure
  • Saint Louis University (MO), based on Assessment
  • University of Kansas (KS), based on Faculty
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore (MD), based on Assessment
  • Valdosta State University (GA), based on Field  Education

Defer a Decision on Reaffirmation of Accreditation to the Next Meeting and Request Clarifying Information

The COA decides to defer a decision when the program’s documentation is insufficient to make a decision. A deferral is for one meeting only. Before the next commission meeting the program is expected to submit the documentation or clarification necessary for the COA to make a decision.

Baccalaureate

  • College of Saint Scholastica (MN), based on Generalist Practice; Field Education; Diversity; Admissions; Advisement, retention, and termination; Student participation; Faculty; Administrative Structure; Resources; and Assessment
  • Ferrum College (VA), based on Faculty and Assessment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University (MN), based on Generalist Practice, Field Education, and Assessment
  • Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Arecibo (PR), based on Field Education, Admissions, Faculty, Administrative Structure, Resources, and Assessment
  • University of Michigan-Flint (MI), based on Assessment
  • University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus (PR), based on Field Education; Advisement, retention, and termination; Faculty; Administrative Structure; Resources; and Assessment

Master's

  • California University of Pennsylvania (PA), based on Faculty

Grant Candidacy Status

The COA finds that the program is in compliance with Benchmark I and grants the program Candidacy status. The decision letter instructs the program to prepare Benchmark II in preparation for its Commissioner Visit II.

Baccalaureate

  • Grove City College (PA)
  • Louisiana State University (LA)
  • Methodist College (IL)
  • St. Catherine University (MN)
  • University of Saint Thomas (MN)

Master's

  • Carlow University (PA)
  • College at Brockport, State University of New York (NY)
  • College of Saint Rose (NY)
  • Jacksonville State University (AL)
  • Louisiana College (LA)
  • Nazareth College of Rochester (NY)
  • St. Catherine University (MN)
  • TWU-UNT Joint MSW Program (TX)
  • University of Saint Thomas (MN)
  • Utah Valley University (UT)

Grant a Second Year of Candidacy

The COA finds that the program is in compliance with Benchmark II and grants the program a second year in candidacy. The decision letter instructs the program to prepare its Initial Accreditation Self-Study in preparation for its Commissioner Visit III.

Baccalaureate

  • Fort Valley State University (GA)
  • Jarvis Christian College (TX)
  • Purdue University Northwest (IN)

Master's

  • California Baptist University (CA)
  • Indiana Wesleyan University (IN)
  • Marshall University (WV)
  • Seattle University (WA)
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (AL)
  • University of Indianapoli

Defer a Decision on Second Year of Candidacy

The COA decides to defer a decision when the program’s documentation is insufficient to make a decision. A deferral is for one meeting only. Before the next commission meeting the program is expected to submit the documentation or clarification necessary for the COA to make a decision.

Baccalaureate

  • College of Saint Elizabeth (NY), based on Advisement, retention, and termination and Assessment
  • Saint Joseph's College (ME), based on Field Education
  • University of New England (ME), based on Generalist Practice

Grant Initial Accreditation for 4 Years

The COA finds the program in compliance with all accreditation standards and educational policy and grants accreditation for 4 years.

Baccalaureate

  • Fresno Pacific University (CA)


Master's

  • Keuka College (NY)

Grant Initial Accreditation for 4 Years with a Progress Report

The COA finds the program in compliance with all educational policy and accreditation standards, but identifies one or more areas of concern that must be addressed in a progress report that the COA will review. The COA’s letter identifies specific areas of concern and a due date for the progress report.

Master's

  • Alabama State University (AL), based on Assessment
  • Nyack College (NY), based on Administrative Structure, Resources, and Assessment

Accept First Progress Report

All areas of concern were addressed in the progress report, and no further action by the program is required.

Baccalaureate

  • Asbury University (KY)
  • Champlain College (VT)
  • Greenville College (IL)
  • Harding University (AR)
  • Methodist University (NC)
  • Northwest Nazarene University (ID)
  • Regis College (IL)
  • Roberts Wesleyan College (NY)
  • University of Louisiana at Monroe (LA)

Master's

  • Northwest Nazarene University (ID)
  • Roberts Wesleyan College (NY)
  • Western New Mexico University (NM)

Receive First Progress Report and Request a Second Progress Report

The COA finds that one or more of the concerns in the first progress report are still areas of concern and requests a second progress report to be submitted within 1 year. The COA’ s letter identifies specific areas of concern and a due date for the progress report. If the second progress report is not accepted, the program is automatically placed on conditional accreditation.

Baccalaureate

  • Central State University (OH), based on Assessment
  • Columbia College (SC), based on Field  Education
  • Mississippi Valley State University (MS), based on Assessment
  • Siena Heights University (MI), based on Advisement, retention, and  termination
  • Western Illinois University (IL), based on Faculty

Master's

  • University of South Dakota (SD), based on Assessment

Accept Second Progress Report

All areas of concern were addressed in the progress report, and no further action by the program is required.

Baccalaureate

  • California State University, Fresno (CA)

Issue a Letter of Instructions to the Site Visitor

A Letter of Instructions is provided to the site visitor(s) and program specifying Accreditation Standards which the visitor is instructed to address.

Baccalaureate

  • Belmont University (TN)
  • Bethel College (KS)
  • Boise State University (ID)
  • Brigham Young University-Idaho (ID)
  • Capital University (OH)
  • Cleveland State University (OH)
  • Concord University (WV)
  • George Fox University (OR)
  • Grand Valley State University (MI)
  • Jackson State University (MS)
  • Kansas State University (KS)
  • McDaniel College (MD)
  • Medgar Evers College, City University of New York (NY)
  • Messiah College (PA)
  • Park University (MO)
  • San Diego State University (CA)
  • Stockton University (NJ)
  • Troy University (AL)
  • Union College (NE)
  • University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (AR)
  • University of Indianapolis (IN)
  • University of Kentucky (KY)
  • University of North Texas (TX)
  • University of Sioux Falls (SD)
  • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (WI)
  • Wright State University (OH)

Master’s

  • Boise State University (ID)
  • Cleveland State University (OH)
  • Grand Valley State University (MI)
  • Jackson State University (MS)
  • Northern Kentucky University (KY)
  • Park University (MO)
  • San Diego State University (CA)
  • University of Kentucky (KY)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (MO)

Accept Program-Requested Withdrawal

The program has requested to withdraw its accredited status and the COA has approved this request.

Baccalaureate

  • Marygrove College (MI)
  • Wheelock College (MA)

Master's

  • Cleveland State University and University of Akron Collaborative (OH)
  • Wheelock College (MA)