JACKSON, Tenn. — March 4, 2009 — 51社区鈥檚 new Master of Social Work program has been granted candidacy status by the Council on Social Work Education, moving the degree program one step closer to accreditation.
The CSWE is the national accrediting body for social work education. A commissioner from the group鈥檚 Commission on Accreditation visited Union in September to review the progress of the MSW degree, and the announcement on candidacy status was made in February.
In January, Janet Furness began as director of the MSW program. Furness came to Union from Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, N.Y.
The program began in the fall 2008 semester. About 70 full-time, part-time and advanced standing students registered in the first year, and the first graduating class will be May 2010. Once attained, accreditation will be retroactive to all who have graduated.
The next step in the accreditation process is another site visit by CSWE during the fall 2009 semester. Next February the CSWE will review the program鈥檚 candidacy status again.
Union continues to accept applications for the MSW program. For more information, contact Union鈥檚 social work department at (731) 661-5554 or e-mail kmcneil@uu.edu.