| 01/24/2024 |
Linda Bryant from Silver submits proposal documents to OAPRA for a program change |
| 01/31/2024 |
per meeting with TW, JS to provide high-level summary of proposed reductions: does the rational make sense? How does Silver plan on reducing the number of hours? Does it make clear how all the courses/changes still allow students to meet program outcomes, and what is the impact on various MSW pathways? (aim to complete by Monday or Tuesday) |
| 02/08/2024 |
per academic auth meeting, JS to provide high-level summary for TW next week (pay close attention to any missing documentation) |
| 02/13/2024 |
JS completes initial review, pings TW |
| 02/23/2024 |
per meetings with TW, JS sends feedback to Silver, along with request to meet to discuss in further detail: Hi Linda, I hope you are well! I am writing to update that this proposal has been assigned to me, and I have completed my initial review. Attached, you will find two documents: the NYSED change form: for OAPRA's suggested edits, please approve or provide feedback as necessary. For requests for Silver to make edits to the document, please make them to the document for our review. the MSW pathways document: I have updated the total clinical hours column, the revised totals are highlighted. Can you please let us know the clinical hours per semester, so that I can add that to the document as well? Regarding course syllabi: please note that NYSED will require submission of all revised syllabi, i.e. practicum courses 1-5. Please submit to OAPRA syllabi for all courses that are being revised - the syllabi should also reflect the changes to the courses that are stated in the rationale document, i.e expanding the use of artificial intelligence-guided simulation. In addition, I would like to set up some time to talk through our feedback with you. Are you available for a 30 minute meeting the week of March 4th? I am available Monday 03/04, Tuesday 03/05, and Wednesday 03/06 anytime after 2PM. If other days/times are preferable for you, please let me know. |
| 02/28/2024 |
AB reaches out to CK for a status update as JS and TW are away, CK responds: Hi Amy, The last status update in Asana for this program is an entry dated 2/23, noting that Jesse gave feedback to Silver on the proposal and requested a meeting with them the week of 3/4. The proposal stage noted in Asana is "under review (pre-submission)." |
| 02/28/2024 |
JS confirms this is correct, JS will reach out to Linda again with intent to meet week of 03/04 to discuss feedback |
| 02/28/2024 |
Jessie Guy responds, suggests 4PM 03/04 - JS and TW confirm availability, JS sends calendar invite to Jessie and Linda (Linda may add additional invitees) |
| 03/04/2024 |
in meeting with JS and TW, OAPRA reviews the MSW feedback. Jessie Guy is present, with Linda joining for the last few minutes. JS reinforces feedback on ensuring that the changes for all courses changes are represented in the documentation, and that all revised syllabi must be submitted to OAPRA. Syllabi should also be reflective of the changes outlined in the narrative. Silver to revise and resend documents. |
| 03/07/2024 |
Jessie Guy reaches out, submitting revised NYSED form and includes Aminda Heckman in correspondence, who coordinates SLC programs: Hi All, I hope everyone is doing well today. I'm reaching out to connect Prof. Aminda Heckman, who coordinates our activities with Sarah Lawrence and St. Thomas Aquinas College, with the OAPRA team as we finalize our submission to NYSED for the reduction in practicum hours for the MSW program. Aminda, because we offer two joint graduate degrees with Sarah Lawrence, we will need to include their confirmation of support of the changes to the practicum hours requirement in our NYSED submission. I am hoping you can advise OAPRA on the appropriate contacts at Sarah Lawrence to obtain the necessary confirmation. Please let me know if you need any additional information to proceed. All, I have attached the most recent revised draft of the form. Revisions are complete with the exception of the explanation of the credit hour assignment for the Practicum courses; I am consulting with the MSW Program office on this and expect to have that language added by EOD tomorrow. Please let me know if you have any questions, and thank you all for your assistance with this process! |
| 03/12/2024 |
per academic authorization meeting, TW requests JS reach out to Jessie to confirm that Silver will also be sending along revised syllabi by end of this week: Hi Jessie, Thanks so much for connecting us with Aminda, and for sending the revised program change form! I am confirming that I have begun reviewing the change form, and that the MSW proposal remains a top priority for our office. As a reminder, we also noted in our meeting that NYSED will require submission of all revised syllabi - would you be able to send those over by the end of this week? Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and if there are any ways OAPRA can support this work. |
| 03/12/2024 |
Jessie Guy responds: Hi Jesse, Thanks for following up! Please find attached the syllabi for all impacted courses, which should have all necessary edits. I'm also attaching the most up-to-date copy of the change form, which includes the language addressing the assigned credits for Practicum I - IV. Finally, here are the number of practicum hours per semester for the Pathways table: Two-Year: 225 Extended OYR: 300 Extended: 225 16-Month Accelerated: 225 (this pathway is listed as having 3 semesters on the table but it actually has 4) Advanced Standing: 225 32-Month: 225 |
| 03/12/2024 |
JS to review revisions by 1:1 meeting with TW on 03/13 |
| 03/13/2024 |
JS provides TW with summary of progress on this proposal: Per our meeting, I am writing to update you on OAPRA's progress on the MSW program change proposal. The proposal was initially submitted to our office on 01/24/2024 - this is a priority proposal for our office. We are currently in the final round of revisions with Silver. The following action items remain before NYSED submission: Sarah Lawrence sign-off: I will follow up with the contact provided by Jessie, and request that SLC sign off by Monday Syllabi revisions: Silver needs to revise these to include credit hour language, as well as final grade determination Program Change form revisions: there are a few minor changes to this document that I will make myself and ask Silver to approve (i.e. adding language to address all pathways) MSW pathways doc revisions: per our conversation, I will be revising this slightly (as a word doc) to remove information that is not necessary for NYSED's review Regarding the revisions, Jessie Guy has been quick to make the necessary changes - I am hoping that we can submit by the end of next week, following a final review of all documents. |
| 03/13/2024 |
S reaches out to Aminda Heckman re: Sarah Lawrence contacts: Hi Aminda, thanks for much - I'm wondering if you have any updates on the Sarah Lawrence contacts. This is a high-priority proposal for our office, and we are wondering if it would be possible to engage with SLC folks by Monday to get the proper sign offs. Thanks again for your support on this! Please let me know if you need anything from us |
| 03/15/2024 |
JS provides feedback on syllabi: Hi Jessie, Thank you for sending over the revised syllabi and program change form for the MSW. I am confident that we will soon be in good shape to submit the proposal to NYSED. I will be making a few minor suggestions on the change form which I will share with you for approval, but great work incorporating our feedback on that document. Now that we have received all revised syllabi and I have completed my full review of them, I did want to follow up with some feedback and required revisions for the syllabi. Please note: all syllabi submitted to the state must be compliant, per OAPRA’s Syllabi Expectations Tip Sheet. I am also attaching to this email our syllabi compliance spreadsheet, where you can see the compliance areas that are missing. Please note the following areas: Credit Hour/Instructional Time: a critical piece, this is where schools must list required instructional activities related to the integrity of credit. Information can be presented in the following formats: narrative (below), activity grid format (see sample activity grid on page 2), or another clear and identifiable format. In essence: someone should be able to pick up the syllabus, and “do the math” to determine the amount of time they will dedicate to a course. Example 1: Students will meet 2x a week for 1.5 hours for 15 weeks for this 3-credit course. Example 2: This 4-credit course will meet for a lecture with the instructor twice per week for 75 minutes each, for fifteen weeks. Outside of lecture, students will also participate in fifteen-50 minute weekly group discussion supervised by the course TA centered around each week's assigned readings. Determination of Final Grade: this is the range for final grades, i.e. A: 90-100; B 80-89...etc or P/F. A student should be able to determine their final letter grade based on their final numerical grade. Author: please list the author of the syllabi (note: this is often the instructor who is teaching the course) Required Materials/Bibliography: this appears to be missing from Practicum III and IV - do these courses require any materials that students need to complete the course? If so, please include. Prerequisites: this was missing from the first two practicum courses. Please include, if a course does not have a prerequisite you can simply write “N/A,” or something similar. Please let me know if you have any questions! |
| 03/15/2024 |
Jessie Guy responds: Hi Jesse, Thanks so much for the prompt review and feedback. I can add the missing items or (N/A information) as needed today, and will let you know once that's done. Linda - since the submitted syllabi are the approved official syllabi (not from any one section), I'll use the appropriate curriculum chair as the author, if that makes sense to you! Finally, I believe Aminda connected you and Titilayo with the appropriate individuals at Sarah Lawrence for the dual programs earlier this week - please let me know if you need any information from us to proceed with the cover sheets needed to indicate their confirmation of the changes. |
| 03/15/2024 |
Jessie sends revised syllabi, per OAPRA feedback - JS to review |
| 03/19/2024 |
TW writes to SLC contacts: Dear Dean Ferguson and Professor Hanley, NYU is in the process of modifying our currently registered MSW programs, including our dual degrees with your campus, Sarah Lawrnece. In order to submit the changes for all impacted programs, NYU needs a representative from Sarah Lawrence to sign the program change form. My colleague, Jesse Stayton will be sharing the form with you shortly. Is it possible to sign the form by the end of this week? We would really like to submit the change form as soon as possible. |
| 03/21/2024 |
Dean Ferguson responds: Dear Titilayo Weech (and all), Many thanks for the information so far. We will review these materials as soon as is possible. However, I'm afraid that we need some additional information, as well as a little time to review, before we are able to obtain signatures. I am copying in our Provost, Kanwal Singh, who would be a signatory on this document (along with our President, Cristle Collins Judd). I am also copying in Tom Blum, Accreditation Liaison Officer. Could one of you please provide us with a very brief cover memo from NYU addressed to me and to Tricia Hanley explaining that NYU/Silver is making the proposal to NYSED/OAPRA, that it anticipates no substantive impact to the quality of the program and its outcomes, and supportive signatures are needed from SLC’s Provost and President? The memo should also include a brief summary of the process for review of these proposed changes prior to submission to NYSED: what committee(s) and/or directors at Silver reviewed/approved the proposal, what offices at NYU reviewed and approved, and an assurance that the change will not affect the program’s accreditation through CSWE. I believe much of this has been included in a couple of emails, but the memo will be important for our records, for the Provost's and President's review, and for review by our Committee on Graduate and Professional Studies. We would also appreciate seeing any draft or final materials NYU Silver has prepared or is preparing to help explain the change to students and agencies – not to review/edit but just to have available for our dual degree students and potential applicants. I will share these materials with the Provost and President, as well as with our Committee on Graduate and Professional Studies, which would also review these proposed changes. That committee has its next meeting on Wednesday March 27th. If you are able to provide us with these materials by the end of this week, I expect we should be able to provide the necessary signatures by the end of next week (Friday March 29th) -- provided, of course, there are no substantial concerns raised. Many thanks, Kim |
| 03/21/2024 |
per discussion with TW, JS writes to Jessie Guy re: memo requested by Sarah Lawrence: Hi Jessie, I hope your week is going well! Thanks again for the revisions to the MSW program change form, as well as the syllabi. I wanted to touch base with you regarding the memo that Sarah Lawrence is requesting. We would like to know if it's feasible for Silver to complete the memo described in Dean Ferguson's email below by 12PM tomorrow, so that we can review before sending to Sarah Lawrence? As this remains a top priority for our office, we are hoping to be able to submit to NYSED by the end of next week. In terms of the memo's contents, please feel free to use language Silver has included in the program change form - I am attaching the final version, which includes your latest OAPRA approved edits. Feel free to create as a word doc, our office can transfer over to NYU letterhead before sending. If you need any guidance or support from our office, please let us know - I am happy to jump on a call if that's easier as well. |
| 03/21/2024 |
Jessie responds: Hi Jesse, We can prepare a memo by 12pm tomorrow. I will get in touch if we have any questions as we prepare the memo; thank you and Titilayo for all of your support throughout this process! |
| 03/21/2024 |
TW reaches out to SLC leadership: Dear Dean Ferguson, Provost Singh, Presiden Judd and colleagues, It's very nice to e-meet you all. We will prepare the requested documents and share it with you by the end of day tomorrow, March 22nd. We appreciate your continued support and collaboration. |
| 03/22/2024 |
Jessie Guy submits memo: Hi Jesse and Titilayo, Please find the draft memo attached. I used Silver's letterhead and Linda as the signatory; feel free to modify as you see fit. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. |
| 03/22/2024 |
per meeting with TW, JS sends feedback on memo to Jessie: Hi Jessie, thanks so much for completing this memo for Sarah Lawrence - you have captured all the important points that Dean Ferguson had requested. A few questions before we send this off: 1. In terms of Silver's internal approval process, were there any faculty groups or faculty committees who were involved in the discussions? Did faculty need to vote on the proposed modifications? We would like to add some information on this piece (faculty input, specifically) to the memo. 2. This is not required, but you may want to add a sentence speaking to NYU's internal review process at the Provost level, i.e. "Silver has been working in consultation with NYU's Office of Academic Program Review and Assessment to ensure that the proposed changes are in compliance with NYS regulations." 3. Do you have Linda's signature available to add at the bottom of the document? |
| 03/22/2024 |
Jessie sends revised memo, JS sends TW revised memo along with other proposal documents. TW sends to SLC leadership |
| 03/23/2024 |
Dean Kim Ferguson of SLC confirms receipt: Received. Many thanks. We will follow up next week. |
| 03/28/2024 |
Jessie Guy reaches out to TW and JS: Hi Titilayo and Jesse, We have just confirmed the need for a revision to our NYSED proposed change form for the practicum hours adjustment in our MSW program. We've determined that our plan of study for students with two years experience in social services will not change as a result of the adjustment. Therefore, I've revised the most recent version of the form to reflect this, modifying the implementation plan to indicate students in this plan of study will continue to follow the existing plan, and removing the curricular table for this plan of study (as it is not changing). These changes are captured with tracked changes in the attached document. Note that this change does not impact our joint programs with Sarah Lawrence - students in the joint programs are not eligible for this plan of study and this plan of study was not addressed in our memo to Sarah Lawrence. Apologies for the last minute adjustment on our end. |
| 03/28/2024 |
Jessie sends additional follow-up email: Hi All, My apologies for the multiple emails. I need to note that we are reconfirming our approach to be sure there are no other changes needed. I will confirm how we're moving forward as soon as possible. |
| 03/29/2024 |
per meeting with TW, JS to: send an email to Jessie Guy, confirming receipt and including a request to meet once Silver has completed their subsequent internal review to align with Silver's goals, as this will require an additional review before sending to NYSED email TW with summary, noting that we are still waiting to hear from SLC, and that Jessie Guy has indicated that Silver is making additional updates to the change form - this is no longer ready for immediate submission to NYSED JS to prepare edits to change form, with bullet points for each pathway |
| 03/29/2024 |
JS writes to Jessie: Hi Jessie, Happy Friday! Thank you for this update, I am confirming receipt. Once Silver has completed this subsequent internal review, would you be able to meet with OAPRA to chat about any changes that have been made? This proposal remains a top priority for our office, and we would like to make sure these new changes align with Silver's overarching goals before we prepare this for NYSED submission. |
| 03/29/2024 |
JS writes to TW: Hi Titilayo, Per our check-in this morning, I am providing the following updates on the MSW program change proposal: OAPRA is still awaiting provostial sign-off from Sarah Lawrence College, which is a requirement given the two MSW programs that are offered through SLC. Dean Kim Ferguson indicated that she would circle back today, and you have followed up this morning (03/29) for a status update. Jessie Guy from Silver sent correspondence on 03/28, indicating that Silver is conducting an internal review that may result in changes to the program change documentation. As a result, any changes that do occur will require subsequent review by OAPRA, meaning that this proposal is no longer ready for immediate NYSED submission. I have reached out to Jessie, requesting to meet once the internal review is complete, to ensure that any new changes still align with Silver's goals and to provide feedback on changes to the program change form. Best, |
| 03/29/2024 |
Jessie Guy responds: Hi Jesse, Absolutely. I'll update you both as soon as we've confirmed the best way to proceed with this particular program of study and find a time to discuss. |
| 03/29/2024 |
Dean Kim Ferguson (Sarah Lawrence) responds to TW's status update request re: provostial signatures: Dear Titilayo, Our Committee on Graduate and Professional Studies was able to review and discuss these materials on Wednesday May 27th, and we have now shared the materials with the President (as well as Provost Kanwal Singh, already copied here). We should be able to follow up early next week. |
| 04/04/2024 |
Sarah Lawrence College sends program change form with sign-off from Provost Kanwal Singh, JS reaches out to Jessie Guy requesting an update on Silver's internal review of the proposal documents |
| 04/04/2024 |
JS and Jessie meet to discuss status of Silver's discussions re: further changes to the MSW, Jessie confirms internal discussions are still ongoing. After meeting, Jessie sends a follow up to JS: Hi Jesse, I am happy to share that I have confirmed that we will use the revised language (keeping the OYR pathway at 900 required hours) previously provided and can move forward with final review and submission. Thanks to you and Titilayo as always for your guidance and responsiveness during this process. |
| 04/04/2024 |
JS responds: Hi Jessie, thanks for the update, and thanks for taking some time to chat today! I am confirming that OAPRA will proceed with a final review of the revised program change form sent on 03/28. We will be in touch with any questions or additional feedback prior to submission to NYSED. In addition, thank you for also confirming during our call that the revisions will not impact the Sarah Lawrence programs in any way. |
| 04/04/2024 |
JS and TW meet to complete final review of MSW proposal documents, JS writes to Jessie: Hi Jessie, I'm writing to let you know that we have reviewed the updated program change form - when you have a moment, can you please review the attached document and let me know if you approve of a few changes/suggestions we made today? After that, I will prepare for NYSED submission. Finally, as a reminder of what we discussed today on our call, advertising, marketing, or otherwise promoting a new program or curriculum prior to full NYSED approval and registration is strictly prohibited per New York State Education Department rules and regulations. |
| 04/04/2024 |
Jessie writes to JS, approving suggested changes: Hi All, The changes look good on my end - much clearer how the changes will apply to different pathways/formats. Thank you for confirming the restrictions in place until we have full approval - we will keep this in mind as we begin to plan for the new requirements to be implemented (should the change be approved). |
| 04/05/2024 |
JS prepares forms for NYSED, TW writes to Sarah Lawrence, informing team of impending submission and attaches final documents: Dear Colleagues, Thank you so much for your timely responses. I have attached the final proposal documents that will be submitted to NYSED today. Please note, there was a modification to the advanced standing pathway but these changes do not impact our dual degree programs. Have a fantastic rest of your day and restful weekend. |
| 04/05/2024 |
Dean Kim Ferguson replies, confirming receipt |
| 04/05/2024 |
TW submits to NYSED |
| 04/05/2024 |
JS informs Silver of NYSED submission |
| 04/30/2024 |
NYSED approves proposal, AB informs OAPRA and Silver, JS notifies stakeholders |