UAF social work degree re-accredited
April 12, 2016
Naomi Horne
907-474-6464
The Department of Social Work at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has received reaffirmation
of its accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.
The reaffirmation secures eight years of accreditation for the department, which is
part of UAF's College of Liberals Arts.
The department offers undergraduate students bachelors of arts degrees with a major
in social work. The program has been accredited since 1985 and has produced 525 degree
holders. Currently the program boasts 204 majors, including rural students across
the state who study and receive their degrees mostly through distance delivery.
UAF as a whole university is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and
Universities. Accreditation provides a standard for academic excellence and increased
opportunities for federal, state and other financial aid. It also eases the work of
transferring credits between accredited universities and increases the value of the
degree upon graduation.
Social work is one of a handful of UAF degree programs that seek additional specialized
accreditation outside of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities for
licensure purposes.
The process ensures that the social work program has the resources and qualified faculty
and staff to accomplish and sustain its educational mission. It also ensures that
educational goals are consistent with the program's mission and are appropriate to
the degree it offers.
The reaffirmation process began in spring 2011. In April 2015, it culminated in a
report that documented compliance with CSWE’s Educational Policies and Accreditation
Standards. An accrediting commissioner visited in September 2015.
"Accreditation affirms the quality education UAF social work students are getting,"
said Heidi Brocious, clinical associate professor in the UAF program. "Graduating
from an accredited program means students are able to obtain licensure in the state
of Alaska and beyond, and can feel confident their program of learning meets a high
standard."
The Department of Social Work is housed within the UAF College of Liberal Arts. The
College of Liberal Arts, the largest of UAF’s academic units, comprises the arts,
humanities, social sciences and language disciplines across 20 departments.
CONTACTS: Naomi Horne, nehorne@alaska.edu, 907-474-6464; Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work Heidi Brocious, hlbrocious@alaska.edu, 907-796-6213
ON THE WEB: www.uaf.edu/cla ; www.uaf.edu/socwork/