Bachelor of Social Work Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
Council on Social Work Education - Form AS 4(B)
Alvernia University Baccalaureate Social Work Program
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
Last Completed: Oct. 9, 2026
Form AS 4(B): A form required for Reaffirmation, Candidacy, and ongoing compliance per AS 4.0.3.
Submitting Form AS 4 for Reaffirmation Self-Study & Candidacy Benchmarks
This form is used to assist the COA in the evaluation of the program’s compliance with the accreditation standard below:
4.0.3: The program uses Form AS 4(B) and/or Form AS 4(M) to report its most recent assessment outcomes for each program option to constituents and the public on its website and routinely up-dates (minimally every 2 years) its findings.
All programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation (COA) are required to measure and report student learning outcomes. All students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) and any additional competencies programs may choose to add. These holistic competencies reflect the dimensions (knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive & affective processes) of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training.
Programs determine a percentage-based benchmark for each competency and determine an outcome-measure benchmark (minimum score) for each measure. The competency benchmark (which can differ for each competency) represents the minimum percent of students the program expects to have achieved the outcome measure benchmarks in both/all measures for each of the nine competencies. The program then determines the percentage of students that attained each outcome measure (e.g., minimum score or higher), and aggregates the percentages for both/all measures together to obtain the percentage of students demonstrating competence inclusive of two (2) or more measures. The result of aggregating both/all outcome measure percentages provides the percentage of students achieving the competency benchmark. An aggregated percentage at or above the competency benchmark is considered achievement of that competency. If the program has more than one program option, the program must report data for each program option, and also an aggregate of all program options combined to determine an overall percentage of students across all program options achieving the competency benchmark.
Posting Form AS 4 for Ongoing Compliance with AS 4.0.3
Per the requirement of CSWE COA’s recognizing body, the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and accreditation standard 4.0.3, programs must post this form publicly on its website and routinely up-date (minimally every 2 years) its findings. Upon request, programs must provide CSWE with the weblink to the published form on the program’s website where it is accessible to the public. Data presented on the form must be collected within 2 years of today’s date at all times.
Summary of the Program’s Assessment Plan | Generalist Practice
All students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education and any additional competencies programs may choose to add. Summarize the program’s competency-based assessment plan. Programs may add/delete rows to accurately reflect the number measures included in the data presented.
K=Knowledge
V=Values
S=Skills
C/A=Cognitive & Affective Processes
Assessment Measure #1: BSW Senior Field Practicum Contract/Evaluation Form | |
Competency (ies) assessed: | 1-9 |
Dimension(s) assessed: | Knowledge (K), Values (V), Skills (S), Cognitive/Affective Reactions (CA) |
When/where students are assessed: | Senior Year 15th Week Fall/Spring |
Who assessed student competence: | BSW Field Supervisor; BSW Field Director; BSW Field Seminar Instructor; Student |
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-9: | 85% of students will receive a score of 3 or above on a scale of 1-5. |
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9: | 85% of students |
Assessment Measure #2: Interprofessional Education and Simulation Project | |
Competency (ies) assessed: | 1-9 |
Dimension(s) assessed: | Knowledge (K), Values (V), Skills (S), Cognitive/Affective Reactions (CA) |
When/where students are assessed: | Fall Semester |
Who assessed student competence: | Social Work Faculty; Student |
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-9: | 85% of students will score 3 or above (rubric scale 1-4). |
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 7: | 85% of students |
Directions for completing Form AS 4
Indicate the benchmark percentage for each competency. The competency benchmark is the percent of students the program expects to have achieved both/all outcome measure benchmarks. Programs calculate the percentage of students achieving each outcome measure benchmark, then calculate the percentage of students achieving each competency inclusive of two or more measures for each program option. Programs with multiple program options must present data for each program option, and in aggregate inclusive of all program options per competency. Programs may add/delete columns to accurately reflect the number of program options offered. This is a required form. The assessment data table may be altered to accurately reflect the number of program options offered and additional program-developed competencies program. However, beyond these formatting alternations, the program may not alter the content of this form.
Assessment Data Collected during the Academic Year (2025-2026)
Competency | Instrument | Instrument: | Competency: |
Competency 1: | Instrument 1: SW 407 Case Summary Written Assignment #1—Ethical and Professional Behavior | 85% | 91% |
Instrument 2: SW 408 Ethical Dilemma Paper and Presentation | 85% | ||
Competency 2: | Instrument 1: SW 401 Macro Practice Paper—Policy Advocacy, Economic Justice, or Community Organizing for Social Justice | 85% | 100% |
Instrument 2: SW 404 Final Field Evaluation —Competency 2 Rating | 85% | ||
Competency 3: | Instrument 1: SW 203 Impact of Aging on Women or an Ethnic Group PowerPoint Presentation | 85% | 93% |
Instrument 2: SW 404 Final Field Evaluation —Competency 3 Rating | 85% | ||
Competency 4: | Instrument 1: SW 405 Questionnaire test | 85% | 79% |
Instrument 2: SW 403 Evidence-Informed Practice Reflective Journal | 85% | ||
Competency 5: | Instrument 1: SW 302 Policy Analysis and Advocacy Plan | 85% | 76% |
Instrument 2: SW 301 Welfare Policy video exercise: Jane Addams: Together We Rise | 85% | ||
Competency 6: | Instrument 1: SW 407 Micro Process Recording | 85% | 94% |
Instrument 2: SW 316 – Reflection Journal #2 | 85% | ||
Competency 7: | Instrument 1: SW 407 Interprofessional Education Simulation and Reflection Paper | 85% | 94% |
Instrument 2: SW 401 Community Needs Assessment | 85% | ||
Competency 8: | Instrument 1: SW 407 Interprofessional Education Simulation—Client Discharge Plan and Reflection Paper | 85% | 94% |
Instrument 2: SW 408 Macro Process Recording | 85% | ||
Competency 9: | Instrument 1: SW 408 Micro or Mezzo Process Recording | 85% | 100% |
Instrument 2: SW 404 Final Field Evaluation | 85% |
- Prior Assessment Measures
Completed: July 12, 2024
Assessment Measure # 1: FINAL FIELD EVALUATION
Dimension(s) assessed:
K/S/V/C&A
When/where students are assessed:
End of Spring semester in field placement
Who assessed student competence:
Field Supervisor and Field Director
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-9:
3 of 5 (Competence
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9:
85%
Assessment Measure # 2: SW 401 Podcast Assignment
Dimension(s) assessed:
S
When/where students are assessed:
Fall Semester
Who assessed student competence:
Faculty
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competency 1:
85%
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 1:
85%
Assessment Measure # 3: SW 304 Weekly Journal Assignment
Dimension(s) assessed:
V/C&A
When/where students are assessed:
Fall and Spring
Who assessed student competence:
Faculty
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competency 2:
85%
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 2:
85%
Assessment Measure # 4: SW 301 Lobby Day Reflection Paper
Dimension(s) assessed:
S/V/C&A
When/where students are assessed:
Spring
Who assessed student competence:
Faculty
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competency 3:
85%
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 3:
85%
Assessment Measure # 5: SW 408 Macro Process Recording Assignment
Dimensions(s) assessed:
S/V
When/where students are assessed:
Spring
Who assessed student competence:
Faculty and Field Supervisor
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competency 4:
85%
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 4:
85%
Assessment Measure # 6: SW 302 Policy Analysis Presentation
Dimension(s) assessed:
S/V
When/where students are assessed:
Spring
Who assessed student competence:
Faculty
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competency 5:
85%
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 5:
85%
Assessment Measure # 7: SW 306 Group Observation and Reflection Assignment
Dimension(s) assessed:
K/V/S/C&A
When/where students are assessed:
Fall
Who assessed student competence:
Faculty
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competency 6:
85%
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 6:
85%
Assessment Measure # 8: SW 401 Interprofessional Simulation
Dimension(s) assessed:
K/V/S
When/where students are assessed:
Fall
Who assessed student competence:
Faculty
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competency 7:
85%
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 7:
85%
Assessment Measure # 9: SW 403 Field Journal # 1
Dimension(s) assessed:
C&A/K/S
When/where students are assessed:
Fall
Who assessed student competence:
Field Director
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competency 8:
85%
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 8:
85%
Assessment Measure # 10: SW 402 Senior Comprehensive Exam
Dimension(s) assessed:
K/C&A
When/where students are assessed:
Spring
Who assessed student competence:
Faculty
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competency 9:
85%
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competency 9:
85%
Contact Info
Michael W. Hassler, DSW, LCSW
BSW Program Director
Assistant Professor of Social Work
302-660-6493
michael.hassler@alvernia.edu
Malgorzata Zuber, Ph.D.
Chair, Social Work and Criminal Justice Department
610-796-8230
malgorzata.zuber@alvernia.edu