The How's of Attracting, Marketing, and Managing aSocial Work Faculty and the

Social Work Program

PRESENTED BYBPD, NADD, GADE MARCH 18, 2009BPD CONFERENCE, PHOENIX, AZ

Panelists• Darla Spence Coffey, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs,

West Chester University, West Chester, PA (Secretary of BPD)

• Mildred C. Joyner, Director/ Chairperson and Professor, Undergraduate Social Work Department, West Chester University, West Chester, PA (BPD)

• Todd Rodfuth, Chairperson and Professor, Social Work Department Southern Connecticut State University (Vice President of NADD )

• Barbara Rittner, Director, PhD Program, Associate Dean for External Affairs University of Buffalo, School of Social Work (GADE)

                                       

Attracting and Retaining BSW Faculty for Undergraduate Social Work Programs.

Presented - BPD Meeting March 18, 2009

•Darla Spence Coffey, Associate Vice President of

Academic Affairs, West Chester University, PA

•Mildred C Joyner, Director/Chairperson and Professor, Undergraduate Social Department, West Chester University, PA

Attracting• BSW Programs and Attracting Faculty

•Faculty apply because:▫They had interest in an undergraduate

faculty position▫They have taught as an adjunct faculty

person.▫They have supervised students who are

enrolled in BSW programs▫They view it as an entry point to academia▫They can not get a job elsewhere▫Other reasons?

BSW Faculty • Must serve as:o Gatekeepers to the Social Work Professiono Assess the values and ethics of student s early

on in the programoDevelop and mentor students throughout the

programoMaintain stringent academic standards

throughout program.oRe-direct students when necessaryo Prepare students for the workplace and for

graduate education.o Teach a strong generalist foundationoMake sure that students have appropriate

placements that reflect the needs of the community as well as addresses the national and global issues.

oOther goals?

Successful Faculty in BSW Programs• Enjoy the role of an undergraduate professor• Enjoy developing students for the workplace and

graduate school• Enjoy the role of a teacher/scholar model• Enjoy assisting in the myriad of student driven

activities• Enjoy developing their scholarship on issues that

assist the departments growth and development as well as their own

• Enjoy teaching across the curriculum• Enjoy developing connections and inroads into

the community • Enjoy revising the curriculum to meet the

current community, national, and global needs of entry level professionals

• Other?

Unique Program at West Chester University to Attract Faculty

  FREDERICK DOUGLASS INSTITUTEWest Chester University

FDI Summer Teaching Scholars Program

In Honor of Frederick Douglass• Advances multicultural studies across the

curriculum

• Deepens the intellectual heritage of Frederick Douglass.

• Douglass gave his last public lecture on West Chester's campus on February 1, 1895.

• The Institute aims to build a better community for all of us to fulfill our destiny as human beings.

The Mission of FDI•A window to the world of knowledge•A catalyst for bridging systems of thought and

expression•A light of hope and a place of encouragement

for all who seek change.Goal

To prepare Pennsylvania’s students for the 21st century by encouraging and supporting intercultural literacy and knowledge that are

required of them as citizens of the Commonwealth and the world. 

History of FDI•1995: Centennial celebration of the life and

work of Frederick Douglass at WCU (1818-1895).

•1992-93: Start of the Douglass initiative at WCU

•Questions about cultural diversity were brought into focus during the first year

•Douglass commemoration would offer new strategies for improving the efforts the University had made towards becoming an institution committed to cultural diversity.

Introduction

•Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.•Scholars teach a course during the Summer

Sessions•Provide graduate students with teaching

experience and potential employment opportunities within university settings that are strongly committed to cultural diversity. 

•West Chester University: 1 of 11 out of 14 PASSHE schools offering this opportunity

Teaching Scholars

• 1996: WCU starts offering teaching opportunities in the Frederick Douglass Scholars Program

•The purpose: to attract graduate students from historically underrepresented and underserved populations.

Primarily involved in four areas:

•Conducting research on multiculturalism and on Frederick Douglass

•Establishing opportunities for advanced study for teachers and members of the academic community

•Sponsoring distinguished exhibits, lectures and library collections

•Collaborating with educational and cultural agencies

Requirements

• Minimum requirements: ▫ Master’s degree completed or equivalent and

currently enrolled in a terminal degree program; ▫ academic background in one of the fields taught at

WCU ▫ Three favorable letters of recommendation from

faculty in the student’s field, including the student’s adviser.

• Preferred: ▫ experience in teaching or as a teaching assistant.

• Compensated as adjunct faculty. ▫ Expected to live in on-campus housing in an apartment

that will be provided at no charge and to participate in campus activities.

Teaching Scholars

• 1996: WCU started to offer teaching opportunities in the Frederick Douglass Scholars Program

•The purpose: to attract graduate students from historically underrepresented and underserved populations.

  FREDERICK DOUGLASS INSTITUTEWest Chester University

FDI Summer Teaching Scholars ProgramUndergraduate Social Work was one of the first departments to host an FDS at WCU from USC in 1996

•2008 FDS and FDS Director, Dr. Jim Trotman

Frederick Douglass Scholars

• Dr. Kesha Morant has a Ph.D. in Communication and Culture from Howard University. research interests include intercultural and rhetorical communication.

• Ms. Kari Miller is a Ph.D. candidate at Howard University in the Department of African Studies. Her dissertation research focuses on the representations of black women in the South African plays of Athol Fugard and Zakes Mda.

Frederick Douglass Scholars• Ms. Bahiyyah MiAllah Muhammad, is a Ph.D. candidate in

Rutgers University’s, School of Criminal Justice. Ms. Muhammad’s dissertation delves into children of prisoners and African Americans in the Criminal Justice System.

• Dr. Yolanda Abel is an Instructor in the Department of Teacher Preparation at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Adel’s dissertation was: “African-American Father Involvement in Their Children’s School-Based Lives”

• Dr. Wanda Swiggett earned her doctorate in Educational Psychology from Rutgers University. Dr. Swiggett’s research area involves academic motivation, learning environments, and educational assessment.

• Mr. Neilesh Bose is a Dissertation Fellow at the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. Much of his work is in modern South Asian history, nationalism, and colonial/postcolonial studies.

•Ms. Charnetta Gadling-Cole is a West Chester University (WCU) Frederick Douglass Institute Scholar-in-Residence in the Undergraduate Department of Social Work.

•Having served as an adjunct at Kennesaw State University and Howard University, Ms. Charnetta Gadling-Cole mentors students.

Expanding the VisionUndergraduate Social Work Department First Department in 2007 to SponsorFrederick Douglass Scholar in Residence

Future FDS Scholars:WCU Sponsors FDS Scholars each summer in several academic areas through a peer reviewed acceptance process

2009 FDS Summer Undergraduate Social Work

• Gina McCall,University of Alabama Ph D Candidate

Summary • Think out of the box

• Create an opportunity that incorporates not just social work but other disciplines.

• Every faculty member is unique, it is our job to make sure that are committed to teaching, scholarship, and service, it is also our job to mentor faculty to achieve the goals that are outlined in their expectations.

• Social Work can assist the academy to think outside the box.

• Social Work Administrators can serve on committees that reflect the values and mission of the social work profession.

• Social Work can mentor the programs so that success is achieved.