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Clarification on CSWE's 1:25 Faculty-to-Student Ratio Interpretation

  • 1.  Clarification on CSWE's 1:25 Faculty-to-Student Ratio Interpretation

    Posted Feb 05, 2025 14:41

    Hello CSWE Community,

    I'm seeking clarification on the 1:25 faculty-to-student ratio requirement in the 2022 EPAS accreditation standards. Specifically, I'd like to understand how this ratio applies to faculty roles beyond direct classroom instruction in BSW programs.

    1. Does the 1:25 ratio strictly refer to faculty engaged in direct teaching and student supervision, or does it also account for administrative roles such as program directors and field education coordinators?
    2. How should programs calculate and report faculty FTEs when individuals hold split administrative and instructional roles?
    3. Are there best practices or examples of how other programs successfully structure faculty assignments to maintain compliance while managing accreditation workload?

    Any insights from those who have navigated this during reaffirmation would be greatly appreciated!

    Only kindness,



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    Jerred Endsley
    Director, Bachelors of Social Work Program
    Colorado Mesa University
    Grand Junction CO
    +1 (970) 248-2254
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  • 2.  RE: Clarification on CSWE's 1:25 Faculty-to-Student Ratio Interpretation

    Posted Feb 10, 2025 16:58

    If you look at the interpretation guide, p. 93, it gives you definitions of faculty and FTE.  The example it provides is that if a faculty has a 75% teaching assignment in the BSW program, and they have a 25% administrative assignment in the BSW Program, they are 100% assigned to the BSW Program and are granted 1.0 FTE.

    If faculty teach two classes in the BSW and two classes in the MSW, then they count as .5 FTE for each program.  This is fine when calculating ratios; however, the problem arises with the other requirement of having four faculty whose principal assignment is to the MSW Program.  To count as "principal assignment" it must be 51% or more.  So, when splitting faculty between programs, be sure that you have at least four that teach at least 51% in that program.  Of those four, be certain that at least three have doctorates (majority).    



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    Wendy Turner
    BSW Program Director
    University of Southern Indiana
    Evansville IN
    812.465.1202
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    Original Message


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