Thread: ]"The most damning review of an academic program" ever seen

"The most damning review of an academic program" ever seen
Missouri State University's School of Social Work...

Report on Social Work program 'embarrasses' president
by KY3 News
http://www.ky3.com/news/6891207.html

SPRINGFIELD -- The president of Missouri State University made public a negative review of the school’s School of Social Work on Thursday. President Mike Nietzel says it’s one of the most damning review of an academic program that he’s ever seen.

Nietzel requested the review by an outside panel last fall after MSU settled a lawsuit with a graduate of the School of Social Work. Emily Brooker sued the university because she said faculty members punished her for failing to take part in a class assignment that went against her Christian beliefs. Brooker said the project asked students to draft and sign a letter to state legislators in support of gay people being allowed to be foster parents.

The university quickly settled the lawsuit. It said it would "clear Brooker's official record" and pay damages of $9,000. It also agreed to "waive academic fees at Missouri State University, or in lieu thereof, reimburse an amount equal to two years of degree work toward a Master of Social Work degree" at costs estimated at $12,000, "plus Brooker will receive $3,000 per year in living expense for two years of graduate education."

In addition, the University also reassigned Professor Frank Kauffman to non-classroom duties for the rest of the fall semester and required him to begin weekly consultations with Associate Provost Chris Craig at least until May 2007. Kauffman also gave up his administrative duties as director of the Master of Social Work Program.

Nietzel also ordered a study of MSU’s policy on freedom of expression by a campus committee and a comprehensive study by an outside group of the School of Social Work. On Thursday, in his weekly e-mail message to the campus, Nietzel released the reports from the two groups and added his own comments.

Here’s that e-mail message:

April 2007 Friday Focus
Vol. 2, No. 6
Update: Reports on Social Work Program

This week’s Friday Focus is, in several ways, the most difficult and troubling that I have written since beginning this form of communication with you 18 months ago. It concerns two reports that I requested following the University’s settlement of the Emily Brooker lawsuit back in early November. I trust most of you recall the facts of that case; if not, you can refer to the statement that the University released in connection with it. http://www.news.missouristate.edu/releases/27833.htm

The two reports are now completed and they can be found verbatim and in their entirety using the following links:

Final Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression Policies and Procedures http://www.missouristate.edu/Preside...inalreport.htm

School of Social Work Site Visit Report http://www.missouristate.edu/provost/socialwork.htm

I urge you to read both reports carefully because they require this University to respond in ways that will test our commitment to being a public university of quality.

The charge to the Committee on Freedom of Expression Policies and Procedures, chaired by Howard Cavner, was "to review and evaluate existing University policies and procedures regarding the manner by which Missouri State University provides for freedom of speech and expression on campus." I want to thank the members of this Committee for their hard work and meaningful recommendations.

As you will see, the report by the Cavner Committee on our policies offers a number of good suggestions for how to improve our communication of policies whose substance was found to be sound and consistent with those of other universities. On one hand, I think we should be pleased that our policies appear to be substantial and meet the test of adequate content. At the same time, we need to be sure the policies are available and communicated in ways that help students and all members of the University community understand them and use them. We will begin to act upon those recommendations very promptly.

The second report was commissioned by Provost Belinda McCarthy at my request. She sought a comprehensive, professionally directed evaluation of the Missouri State Social Work Program by an outside group of social work education experts. This review was motivated by our recognition that, in light of the claims by Emily Brooker, it was important for current and prospective students, for potential employers, and for the faculty and staff in the program to have confidence that the policies, procedures, leadership, and delivery of the program are up to par. I want to thank our two-member professional evaluation team for their diligence and candor.

I regret to report what will be obvious to you as you read the evaluation by the external reviewers: Their evaluation of our Social Work program is extraordinarily negative. In fact, it is as negative a review of an academic program as I have ever seen, and I have been involved in University accreditation activities for more than 20 years as a site visitor for the American Psychological Association, an accreditation consultant, a commissioner of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and a reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.

As much as I am embarrassed by the report, I have decided it must be made public. The perceived problems in Social Work are too numerous and too serious to hide or diminish. I believe we owe it to ourselves and to our students to let the sun shine on what is very tempting to keep under the rug.

We have begun meetings with the leadership and the faculty of the Social Work program, as well as the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. I do believe Springfield and the region needs a solid Social Work program; we must decide if Missouri State can provide one. If so, it will be up to the faculty and leadership of the program to offer a plan for building us back to where we need to be. They will be given that chance, but in a fairly short timeframe. I am pleased that Dr. Etta Madden has agreed to remain as the Acting Head of the department for another year.

In the meantime, we are evaluating the steps that should be taken at this time as we plan for what must be a longer term consideration of these issues. Under immediate consideration are 1) a postponement of our external accreditation review, 2) a hold on any tenure decisions for faculty in the program, and 3) a freeze on all hiring in the Social Work Program.

I also believe that these events and the results of the evaluation that they required must return us to one of the first principles of education: Students must be treated fairly and with respect; it is the bare minimum for being a teacher.

Missouri State University will be judged by how it solves the problem that is now squarely before us. I am convinced that, with your guidance and help, the University will ultimately resolve it well.