Outcomes Assessment

The B.S.W. program at Plymouth State University is engaged in ongoing assessment of its outcomes. Students, faculty, field supervisors, members of the program’s Advisory Board, community practitioners, graduates of the program and employers of our graduates all play a role in this process.

A number of different quantitative and qualitative tools for assessing student performance and program outcomes are used. These include the Baccalaureate Education Assessment Project (BEAP): an alumni survey, an employer survey, course evaluations, feedback from the Advisory Board and mid-semester field education evaluations conducted by the faculty with students and field supervisors. The department’s student portfolio is another method used to collect information about the students. At various intervals in the program, the students choose samples of their work to document and assess their learning.

The use of portfolios gives students the opportunity to reflect on their learning and to share these insights with the faculty. In turn, the faculty gains insight into what students are learning and how they learn best. The portfolios also help the faculty assess the degree to which the program is meeting its objectives and to identify areas of strength and weakness in the curriculum.