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CSB and SJU boards vote to close Social Work program
March 12, 2009
The College of Saint Benedict Board of Trustees and Saint John’s University Board of Regents voted to close the Social Work program at CSB/SJU on Friday, March 13.
All current Social Work majors will be able to complete their degree in an uninterrupted fashion. CSB/SJU will enroll no new students in the Social Work program. The program’s accreditation will remain intact while there are students enrolled and current and future alumnae/i who have graduated from the program will have graduated from an accredited program.
The decision to close the program was made after lengthy deliberations that began in March 2008. The boards seriously considered the recommendations and viewpoints brought forth by the CSB/SJU faculty and provost, and the CSB and SJU presidents. The boards determined that the Social Work major is no longer the most appropriate means for serving CSB/SJU’s mission or students interested in careers in Social Work.
The boards agreed with the presidents' program closure recommendation based on a number of factors, including the changing nature of the Social Work field, that today often requires a master in Social Work degree; decreasing program interest; lack of centrality to the mission of CSB/SJU when several mission dimensions are considered collectively; and the additional costs that would be required to sustain a viable and accredited Social Work program. This decision does not set a precedent; the boards believe that strong liberal arts and professional programs both have a place at these institutions.
CSB/SJU greatly values the field of Social Work and recognizes the robust nature of the master in Social Work degree. The boards and the presidents take pride in the program’s remarkable history and contributions to CSB/SJU, and in current students and past graduates of the Social Work program who continue to make a difference in their communities. The voices of Social Work alumnae/i, current students and their parents were heard throughout this process and the schools were grateful for their respectful input.
The boards remain deeply appreciative of the Social Work faculty and their commitment to student learning despite the difficulty of this issue and to all faculty, staff, and students involved in this process.