Published on : September 12, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Book Equips Educators With Essential Strategies for Leading Baccalaureate Social Work Education Programs
[Alexandria, September 12, 2023] — The social work profession continues to grow and evolve, and with that growth comes a demand for more leadership. New leaders are stepping into these roles, and existing leaders are striving to keep up with emerging needs and complexities, especially at the baccalaureate social work level. CSWE Press, the publishing division of the Council on Social Work Education, announces the release of a groundbreaking new book that will empower educators to meet this demand head-on at the undergraduate level. Successful Baccalaureate Social Work Programs: A Guide for Current and Emerging Leaders, edited by Susan Mapp, PhD, MSSW, and Needha Boutté-Queen, PhD, AM, brings together the research, experiences, and leadership insight of 25 social work educators into 18 chapters that cover everything from establishing a BSW program, to budgeting, to faculty and student recruitment strategies, to navigating legal issues, and more. Leadership development is an ongoing process, and Mapp and Boutté-Queen have delivered an essential guide for current and emerging social work leaders alike.
This comprehensive guide sets the bar for leadership of baccalaureate social work education programs, tackling how to manage programs large and small, traditional and online. It offers a wealth of knowledge, insights, and best practices to ensure the next generation of social workers is equipped to make a meaningful impact on society.
Key highlights of Successful Baccalaureate Social Work Programs: A Guide for Current and Emerging Leaders include:
- Leadership Development: This major theme of the book emphasizes the importance of strong leadership in establishing and growing baccalaureate social work education programs and how to effectively direct a BSW program.
- Accreditation and Compliance: Understanding the accreditation process is crucial for the success of any social work education program. This book provides insights into navigating accreditation standards and ensuring program compliance.
- Recruitment and Retention: Discover effective strategies for recruiting and retaining both students and faculty, building a strong foundation for program sustainability, including how to cultivate a talented adjunct faculty pool.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Get insights on how to create a top-to-bottom culture of inclusivity, which is fundamental to every undergraduate social work education program.
- Case Examples and Expert Insights: Successful Baccalaureate Social Work Programs: A Guide for Current and Emerging Leaders features real-world case examples, practice tips, and reflection questions to help guide the reader in creating actionable strategy.
The complete list of contributors includes an impressive line-up of experienced social work leaders and educators: Kathleen Arban, Stacey Borasky, Needha Boutté-Queen, Jo Bailey, DuWayne Battle, Candyce Berger, Lori Darnel, Heather Diehl, James Drisko, Stephen “Arch” Erich, Warren K. Graham, Tanya Greathouse, Laurel Iverson Hitchcock, Jennifer R. Jewell, Heather Kanenberg, Kathryn Krase, Melody Loya, Leah K. Lazzaro, Susan Mapp, Consuelo Elizabeth Mendez-Shannon, Judith Kay Nelson, Cathryn C. Potter, Carolyn J. Tice, Suzanne Velázquez, and Kelly Ward.
"We believe that this book will be an indispensable resource for educators who are excited about providing leadership for BSW programs," said Halaevalu F. O. Vakalahi, PhD, MSW, MEd, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSWE. "Demand for this leadership will be at an all-time high as more and more students recognize that a baccalaureate degree in social work opens the door to a wide range of careers. It all starts here.”
Successful Baccalaureate Social Work Programs: A Guide for Current and Emerging Leaders is available for purchase now at the CSWE Press online bookstore.
About the Editors:
Needha Boutté-Queen, PhD, is a Professor of Social Work at Texas Southern University, where she serves as the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences. She was Chair of the Social Work Department and BSW Program Director for over a decade and has also served as a field director and field liaison in the University of Houston system. She has more than 20 years of assessment, quality enhancement, and assurance experience. Dr. Boutté-Queen served as a Council on Social Work Education Commission on Accreditation site visitor and Commissioner and is currently her institution’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Associate Accreditation Liaison. She has participated in the writing of self-studies that led to successful initial accreditation and reaffirmation decisions, at both programmatic and institutional levels.
Susan Mapp, PhD, MSSW, is a Professor of Social Work and Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Innovation at Elizabethtown College. She served as the Social Work Department Chair and BSW Program Director for more than a decade and has served as Field Director and field liaison. At the national level, she served two terms on the Council on Social Work Education Board of Directors and one term on the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors Board of Directors. She is the author of numerous articles and books, primarily on human rights and global social work and has presented her research at national and international conferences. Her work has been recognized through institutional and national awards.
About CSWE Press: CSWE Press publishes book and nonprint resources that address the needs of social work educators in the areas of the philosophy, theory, and practice of teaching; the process and evaluation of learning; and the organization and structure of social work education. CSWE Press also publishes materials that explore practice issues as they relate to social work curricula and field work.
About CSWE: Founded in 1952, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the national association representing social work education in the United States. Its members include more than 800 accredited baccalaureate and master’s degree social work programs and their affiliated social work educators, students, and staff, as well as practitioners and agencies dedicated to advancing quality social work education. Through its many initiatives, activities, and centers, CSWE supports quality social work education and provides opportunities for leadership and professional development so that social workers are empowered to play a central role in achieving the profession’s goals of social and economic justice. CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States and its territories.