2015 EPAS

2015 EPAS Accreditation Toolkit 

CSWE’s Board of Accreditation (BOA) and Commission on Educational Policy (COEP) are responsible for developing the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). The educational policy was developed by COEP and approved by the CSWE Board of Directors on March 20, 2015. The accreditation standards were developed and approved by BOA on June 11, 2015.

This toolkit encompasses the accreditation materials for the 2015 EPAS for baccalaureate and master's programs. Resources for the newer set of standards, the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), can be found here.  All programs are encouraged to review the 2022 EPAS Implementation Timeline to determine when the program must operate using the 2022 EPAS.

Resources:

• 2015 EPAS and Glossary: The EPAS describes four features of an integrated curriculum design: (1) program mission and goals, (2) explicit curriculum, (3) implicit curriculum, and (4) assessment.
• 2015 EPAS Interpretation Guide: Guide for interpreting the 2015 EPAS
• Policy 4.7 Document Formatting & Submission Requirements
• 2015 EPAS Accreditation Team Approach Grid (Optional Tool) 
• Guidance to Programs for Regional Accreditation

For Accredited Programs:

• Reaffirmation Eligibility Application

• Reaffirmation Review Brief (2015 EPAS) - Formerly Called Accreditation Review Brief: The baccalaureate or master's program is to download and complete its portion of the review brief and send it to the accreditation specialist along with the program’s self-study. The Reaffirmation Review Brief is used by the CSWE Board of Accreditation reader to report their evaluation of the program reviewed for reaffirmation of accreditation.

• Self-Study Volume I Template: This optional formatted template includes all standards and their components. Baccalaureate and master's programs choosing to use this template should incorporate their response to each standard directly into the Word document. When complete, the document will comprise Volume I of the full self-study.

• Substantive Change Proposal Template

For Candidacy Programs:

• Candidacy Eligibility Application

• Candidacy Fees and Related Expenses

• Faculty Hiring Grid

• Candidacy Benchmark Grid

• Benchmark 1 Volume 1 Template: This optional formatted template includes all standards and their components.  Programs choosing to use this template should incorporate their response to each standard directly into the Word document. When complete, the document will comprise Volume I of the full Benchmark I. This will be submitted along with Volume II (syllabi); Volume III (student handbook and field manual); and the Benchmark I Review Brief.

• Benchmark 1 Review Brief (2015 EPAS): The baccalaureate or master's program is to download and complete its portion of the Benchmark I Review Brief and send it to the Accreditation Specialist along with the Benchmark I document. The Benchmark I Review Brief is used by the BOA reader to report their evaluation of the program reviewed for candidacy status.

• Benchmark 2 Volume 1 Template: This optional formatted template includes all standards and their components.  Programs choosing to use this template should incorporate their response to each standard directly into the Word document.  When complete, the document will comprise Volume I of the full Benchmark II.  This will be submitted along with Volume II (syllabi); Volume III (student handbook and field manual); and the Benchmark II Review Brief.

• Benchmark 2 Review Brief (2015 EPAS):  The baccalaureate or master's program is to download and complete its portion of the Benchmark II Review Brief and send it to the Accreditation Specialist along with the Benchmark II document. The Benchmark II Review Brief is used by the BOA reader to report their evaluation of the program reviewed for a second year of Candidacy status. 

• Initial Accreditation Eligibility Application

• Benchmark 3/Initial Accreditation Self-Study Volume 1 Template: This optional formatted template includes all standards and their components. Baccalaureate and master's programs choosing to use this template should incorporate their response to each standard directly into the Word document. When complete, the document will comprise Volume I of the full self-study.

• Initial Accreditation Review Brief: The baccalaureate or master's program is to download and complete its portion of the Initial Accreditation Review Brief and send it to the accreditation specialist along with the Initial Accreditation Self-Study. The Initial Accreditation Review Brief is used by the BOA reader to report their evaluation of the program reviewed for initial accreditation.

• Timetables for retroactive accreditation Fall 2024
  • Timetable for Candidate Programs October 2024-2026
  • Timetable for Candidate Programs February 2025-2027
  • Timetable for Candidate Programs June 2025-2027 
• Timetables for retroactive accreditation Fall 2025
  • Timetable for Candidate Programs October 2025-2027
  • Timetable for Candidate Programs February 2026-2028
  • Timetable for Candidate Programs June 2026-2028

Required Forms and Samples:

• Assessment Reporting Form: Baccalaureate (2015 EPAS): Programs use this form to report student learning outcomes to the public. Programs are required to post this form on their website, updating the form minimally every 2 years. Please note that this form is used for reporting findings for AS 4.0.3, but more detailed findings are necessary for AS 4.0.2.
  • Sample AS4 B Form
• Assessment Reporting Form: Master's (2015 EPAS): Programs use this form to report student learning outcomes to the public. Programs are required to post this form on their website, updating the form minimally every 2 years. Please note that this form is used for reporting findings for AS 4.0.3, but more detailed findings are necessary for AS 4.0.2.
  • Sample AS4 M Form
• Budget Form (2015 EPAS): This form is used to evaluate a program's compliance with Accreditation Standard 3.4.1.
• Faculty Data Form (2015 EPAS): This form provides supporting documentation and formatting guidance for CVs to be included in the self-study for AS 3.2.1, AS 3.2.2, AS B3.2.4, and AS M3.2.4.
• Faculty Summary Form (2015 EPAS): This form provides supporting documentation for AS 3.2.1, AS 3.2.2, AS B3.2.4, and AS M3.2.4.
• Librarian’s Report Form (2015 EPAS): This form is used to evaluate the program's compliance with AS 3.4.4.

• Sample Generalist Practice Curriculum Matrix: This is a sample for formatting a curriculum matrix for generalist practice.

• Sample Specialized Practice Competencies and Curriculum Matrix: This shows examples for extending and enhancing the competencies for specialized practice and a sample specialized curriculum matrix.

• Sample 2015 EPAS Assessment Planning and Reporting Format: This is a sample for formatting an assessment plan and reporting assessment findings to CSWE for AS 4.0.1 and 4.0.2.

• Sample Curricular Guides for Specialized Practice: Curricular guides developed by external constituents to provide examples for adapting program curriculum for specialized practice