Programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education must measure and report on student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of competencies that reflect critical dimensions of social work practice.
| Competency | Instrument | Expected Level of Achievement for Instrument | Expected Level of Achievement for Competency |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #3:Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #5: Engage in Policy Practice | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points |
| Timeframe of Student Competency Assessment: September 2024 - August 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competency | Competency: Expected Level of Achievement Inclusive of All Instruments | Aggregate Actual Outcomes: All Program Options n = (512) | Program Option 1 Outcomes: Buffalo, NY n = (298) | Program Option 2 Outcomes: Online n = (214) |
| Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior | 90% | 96.5% | 95.8% | 98.6% |
| Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice | 90% | 96.5% | 99.2% | 99.1% |
| Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice | 90% | 98.6% | 98% | 99.3% |
| Competency 4: Engage in Practice- informed Research and Research- informed Practice | 90% | 95.2% | 96.7% | 93.2% |
| Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice | 90% | 98.1% | 97.3% | 99.3% |
| Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities | 90% | 95.6% | 95.3% | 96.1% |
| Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities | 90% | 93.1% | 92.5% | 93.7% |
| Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities | 90% | 95.5% | 95.1% | 96.1% |
| Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities | 90% | 94.6% | 95.7% | 93.2% |
| Area of Specialized Practice: Advanced Practice | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Competency | Instrument | Expected Level of Achievement for Instrument | Expected Level of Achievement for Competency |
| #1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #3:Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #5: Engage in Policy Practice | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #6: Engage with Individuals, Families and Groups | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #7: Assess with Individuals, Families and Groups | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #8: Intervene with Individuals, Families and Groups | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| #9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups | Milestone Assignment | 85% score | 90% |
| Practicum Evaluation/Learning Contract | 3 of 5 points | ||
| Timeframe of Student Competency Assessment: September 2024 - August 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competency | Competency: Expected Level of Achievement Inclusive of All Instruments | Aggregate Actual Outcomes: All Program Options n = (38) | Program Option 1 Outcomes: Buffalo, NY n = (23) | Program Option 2 Outcomes: Online n = (15) |
| Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior | 90% | 97.4% | 97.8% | 96.7% |
| Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice | 90% | 94.8% | 95.65% | 93.3% |
| Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice | 90% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice | 90% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice | 90% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families and Groups | 90% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families and Groups | 90% | 94.8% | 95.7% | 93.3% |
| Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals and Families, Groups | 90% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups | 90% | 96.1% | 97.8% | 93.3% |
At the end of each academic year, the UBSSW surveys all MSW students to assess students’ perceptions of dimensions of the school’s culture and climate, such as the classroom environment, support for diverse groups of students, and opportunities for students.
| Opportunities for Students |
2024 N = 126 |
2025 N = 108 |
|---|---|---|
School provides continued professional development | 80.95 | 79 |
Used advisor as a resource | 58.73 | 55 |
School facilitates continued academic success | 86.4 | 88 |
Got choice of course, not necessarily of instructor | 79.53 | 82 |
Received opportunities to participate in student-run groups | 77.41 | 65 |
Received field placement in an area of interest | 84.62 | 82 |
Students able to organize around an issue | 81.67 | 77 |
Informed about workshops/conferences to gain additional skills | 87.2 | 84 |
Resources provided for academic achievement | 84.13 | 81 |
Sufficient choice given to select advanced year field placement | 78.45 | 79 |
Opportunities to collaborate with faculty on projects available | 60 | 49.5 |
Explored self-care materials provided on school’s website | 82.68 | 68 |
Self-reported participation in the mentoring program | 10.32 | 12 |
| Classroom Environment | 2024 N = 115 | 2025 N = 92 |
|---|---|---|
Classroom environment conducive to open questioning, dialogue | 89.56 | 93 |
Fair evaluation criteria for performance in classrooms | 88.69 | 89 |
Classroom environment respects diversity, difference | 93.8 | 96 |
Encouragement to express diverse opinions provided | 85.21 | 86 |
Faculty expectations and deadlines reasonable in classroom | 87.72 | 88 |
Students’ encouraged to understand others’ perspectives | 92.98 | 95 |
Students respected though ideas may be challenged in classrooms | 89.48 | 91 |
Students encouraged to seek alternative perspectives | 88.39 | 90 |
| Students feel valued by peers in class | 90.27 | 91 |
| School Climate for Diverse Populations | 2024
| 2025 N = 82 |
|---|---|---|
SSW environment is supportive of students of color | 89.82 | 95.1 |
SSW environment is supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual students | 95.42 | 96.3 |
SSW environment is supportive of transgender students | 91.58 | 96.3 |
| SSW environment is supportive of immigrant students | 91.43 | 91.4 |
| SSW environment is supportive of refugee/asylee students | 91.27 | 91.4 |
| SSW environment is supportive of international students | 91.35 | 89.0 |
SSW environment is supportive of diverse religious, spiritual traditions | 87.25 | 87.8 |
SSW environment is supportive of students with disabilities | 94.18 | 90.2 |
SSW environment is supportive of students who are veterans | 92.2 | 93.9 |
SSW environment is supportive of students raising children | 82.69 | 78.0 |
| Communication | 2022 N = 110 | 2023 N = 79 |
|---|---|---|
Faculty model SW values, ethics | 90.91 | 92.4 |
Able to have open communication with professors | 90.99 | 88.6 |
Respectful treatment from administrators/staff | 96.4 | 93.7 |
Professors respond in reasonable period of time | 86.49 | 86.0 |
Respectful treatment from faculty | 94.54 | 92.4 |
Professors responsive towards student feedback | 88.79 | 87.3 |
Administrators/staff model SW values, ethics | 92.73 | 88.6 |
Administrators respond in reasonable period of time | 96.37 | 92.4 |
Administrators responsive towards student feedback | 93.52 | 84.8 |
Feel safe in faculty offices | 95.24 | 92.4 |
| Overall Experience | 2024 N = 107 | 2025 N = 78 |
|---|---|---|
Proud to be an SSW member | 89.72 | 93 |
| Recommend SSW to friend | 84.26 | 88 |
| Gone hungry because no money for food | 17.92 (n=34) Once a week: 9.43% Several times/wk: 6.6% Almost everyday: 1.89% | 9% N=7 |
| Was homeless at any point during spring semester | .93% (1) | 1% (1) |
* % Agree inclusive of % Agree; % Strongly Agree.
Each year, the New York State Office of the State Board for Social Work distributes the licensure pass rates of graduates of NY’s social work programs. These are the licensure rates of first-time test takers.
Year | University at Buffalo | New York State | North American |
|---|---|---|---|
2021 (n=285) | 86% | 66% | 73% |
2022 (n=215) | 81.9% | 67.2% | 72.1% |
Year | University at Buffalo | New York State | North American |
|---|---|---|---|
2021 (n=137) | 88.3% | 77% | 75.8% |
2022 (n=119) | 84% | 75.5% | 74.4% |