Chair/Co-chairs: Tracy Schroepfer & Stephanie Van Pay
2023-2024 Committee Staff: Courtney Bingham, Peter Doksus, Hannah Klusendorf, Russ Portier
2023-24 Committee Consult: Anna Gorman, Emmy Roper, Belinda Velazquez,
2023-24 Application Reviewers: Courtney Blanford, Jacque Buck, Annette Copa, Patricia Egan, Ryan Estrella, Jeanne Ferguson, Jaime Goldberg, Meghan Haas, Heejin Kim, Katie Larsen Klodd, Jooyoung Kong, Jin (Jungjin) Koo, Amy Liu, Stephanie Lozano, Lucas Moore, Tally Moses, Jessica Pac, Rebecca Paradiso de Sayu, Jake Schuldies, Mary Vasquez, Cindy Waldeck
Spring 2024 Updates
On June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling restricting race-based admissions. In August and September of that same year, the Admissions Committee worked with the University’s Graduate School to comply with the ruling and do so with the least possible impact to prospective students. We also worked on the following strategies for removing barriers to the application process, while promoting student success:
- Moved up the deadline for and partially automated the statistics verification process to give students more time to meet that prerequisite
- Revised the guidelines for transcript reviews to be more inclusive and provide better guidance on scoring international transcripts
- Held in-depth discussions and meetings on newly admitted students’ preparedness for field and what more can be done to promote student success
What could the School of Social Work do to better support your committee’s DEI goals/objectives?
Last year we asked for additional reviewers so that applications could be reviewed in a timely manner and the School’s Director sought and obtained additional reviewers.
Chair/Co-chairs: Tracy Schroepfer
Fall 2021 Committee Members: Committee or Group: Russ Portier, Steph Van Pay, Emmy Roper, Courtney Bingham, Anna-Marie Heins, Peter Doksus
2021-22 (December) Report Out
#1 Increase the diversity of our students, staff, faculty, and other governing bodies is a priority for our committee.
Objective(s): Increase the acceptance numbers of applicants of color and those identifying as male and gender non-conforming by determining and addressing barriers that current admissions policies and processes may present.
Current & Future Action Steps/Timeframes:
- Focus on revising our admissions application process so that it is equitable for all who apply. Last admissions cycle we instituted a new essay and made changes to our questions for the personal statement. We studied the data from that cycle and the focus groups we held with reviewers and have made revisions to the essay and statement for the current admissions cycle.
- When all PTP & FTP admissions are completed in July, we will again review the data and hold focus groups with our reviewers to determine if further changes are necessary.
Strategic Plan Progress Report Out April 2021
Committee Name: Admissions Committee
Committee Members: Tracy Schroepfer, Michelle Helmer, Katie Larsen-Klodd, Steph Van Pay, Mackenzie Otterson, Cindy Waldeck, Alison Meier, Amanda Zuehlke, Tom Wirth, Patricia Egan, Annette Copa, Brenda Heideman, Amanda Ngola, Jake Shuldies, Stefanie Primm, Sarah Valencia, Josh Lapin, Lucas Moore, Jessica Pac, Yoona Kim, Evelyn Coker & Michael Hoffmeister.
Strategic Plan Goal: Increase the diversity of our students, (staff, faculty, and other governing bodies.)
Objective: Increase the acceptance numbers of applicants of color and those identifying as male and gender non-conforming by determining and addressing barriers that current admissions policies and processes may present.
Progress on goal since February 2021
- Full-Time Program Admissions
The Admissions Committee has completed our Full-Time Program Admissions cycle, and we are still in the midst of the Part-Time Program Cycle. Applications for Part-Time MSW Generalists are due May 1st.
A comparison of Full-Time Program data for the Fall 2020 and Fall 2021 admissions cycles reveals positive trends with regard to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) applicants. The number of BIPOC individuals applying to the Program increased by 22%, admission offers by 46%, and number enrolling by 28%. Overall, the percentage of the incoming class identifying as BIPOC increased by 3.77 resulting in BIPOC students comprising 27.5% of the Fall 2021 incoming class.
When the data from the Fall 2018 Admissions cycle are compared to the Fall 2021 cycle, positive trends are also evident. The number of BIPOC applicants increased by 32.6%, admission offers by 75.9%, and a 220% increase in BIPOC students accepting an offer of admission. Finally, from 2018 to 2021 an 82.2% increase took place in BIPOC students accepting the offer.
Our admissions goals were further supported by the Admissions Chair and Awards Chair. The Admissions Committee awarded the Ozawa, Clarke, and Topitzes Scholarships to 8 BIPOC applicant and 1 white first generation college student applicant. The Awards Committee awarded Rosenbaum Scholarships to three BIPOC students. The result of these awards is that 34% of incoming BIPOC students in the Full-Time MSW program are receiving funding.
| Full-Time MSW | Fall 2018 | Fall 2019 | Fall 2020 | Fall 2021 | % Change 2020 – 21 | % Change 2018-21 |
| All Applicants | 237 | 255 | 229 | 234 | +2.18% | -1.26% |
| Applicants Admitted | 158 | 175 | 172 | 179 | +4% | +13.29% |
| Applicants Accepted Offer* | 77 | 87 | 94 | 116^ | +23.4% | +50.6% |
| BIPOC Applicants* | 49 | 66 | 53 | 65 | +16% | +73% |
| BIPOC Admitted* | 29 | 48 | 35 | 51 | +46% | +75.9% |
| BIPOC Accepted Offer* | 10 | 24 | 25 | 32 | +28% | +220% |
*5 students received deferrals from Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 including 2 BIPOC students. The deferrals are included in the initial applicants, and admitted applicants in Fall 2020, but moved over to Fall 2021 for “Accepted offer” rows.
^Based on data from past years, this number is likely to decrease as applicants who confirmed decide to withdraw prior to enrolling for Fall 2021.
- Changes to MSW Application
The Admissions Committee Addressed the major changes to our application for the Fall 2021 application cycle by holding Focus groups and a Qualtrics survey of the 18 Application Reviewers. 11 members attended 1 of 2 focus group sessions, and 7 additional reviewers completed a Qualtrics Survey. The focus groups discussed all aspects of the application process, and specifically addressed our changes around questions addressing diversity. Reviewers provided suggestions that the Admissions Committee intends to implement in advance of the Summer and Fall 2022 application cycle.
Chair: Tracy Schroepfer
We did revise the objective since we do not consider men to be an oppressed group. Our new objective is: Increase the acceptance numbers of applicants of color and gender non-confirming by determining and addressing barriers that current admissions policies and processes may present.
Full-Time Program update:
A comparison of Full-Time Program (FTP) data for the Fall 2021 and Fall 2022 admissions cycles reveals positive trends regarding Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) applicants. BIPOC applicants applying to the FTP, as a percent of overall FTP applications, increased by 10.9% and the number enrolling by 15%. When the FTP Admissions cycle data from the last 3 years is averaged (2019-2021) and compared to the Fall 2022 cycle, positive trends are also evident. The number of BIPOC applicants increased by 26.3% and the number enrolling by 11.3%.
Since implementing our DEI goals in 2020, the BIPOC FTP applicants applying, as a percent of overall FTP applications, increased by 49.8% and the number enrolling by 13.8% when comparing the Fall 2020 and Fall 2022 cycles.
The overall number of 2022 FTP applications were down by 19.8% compared to 2021.
Please note that those FTP applicants that were not accepted includes both those who were denied by score and those we did not have room in the program to accept.
| Full-Time MSW | Fall 2021 | Fall 2022 | % Change 2020 – 21 | % Change 2020-2022 | 3 Years Avg (2019-2021) | 2022 vs 3 Yr Avg |
| Applicants Reviewed | 232 | 186 | -19.8% | -6.5% | 222 | -16.2% |
| Applicants Accepted | 186 | 108 | -41.9% | -34.9% | 176 | -38.6% |
| Applicants Enrolled | 101 | 54 | -46.5% | -43.8% | 95 | -43.4% |
| BIPOC Applicants Reviewed | 63 | 56 | -11.1% | 40.0% | 53 | 5.0% |
| BIPOC Accepted | 52 | 26 | -50.0% | -25.7% | 45 | -42.6% |
| BIPOC Enrolled | 26 | 16 | -38.5% | -36.0% | 25 | -36.8% |
| BIPOC Apps Review as Percent of Total | 27.2% | 30.1% | 10.9% | 49.8% | 23.8% | 26.3% |
| BIPOC Apps Accepted as Percent of Total | 28.0% | 24.1% | -13.9% | 14.2% | 25.6% | -6.1% |
| BIPOC Enrolled as Percent of Total | 25.7% | 29.6% | 15.1% | 13.8% | 26.6% | 11.3% |
Part-Time Program update:
The overall number of 2022 Part-Time Program (PTP) applications were down by 40.9% compared to 2021. This was also naturally reflected in BIPOC applicants’ data. BIPOC applicants applying to the PTP, as a percent of overall PTP applications, decreased by 24.8% and the number enrolling by 58.3% when comparing the Fall 2021 and Fall 2022 cycles. When the PTP Admissions cycle data from the last 3 years is averaged (2019-2021) and compared to the Fall 2022 cycle, the numbers begin to trend in the right direction. The number of BIPOC applicants decreased by 1.8% and the number enrolling by 47.6%.
Since implementing our DEI goals in 2020, the BIPOC applicants applying to the PTP, as a percent of overall PTP applications, increased by 23.1% and the number enrolling decreased by 42.3% when comparing the Fall 2020 and Fall 2022 cycles.
Please note that the PTP applicants that were not accepted were denied based on their score only as the PTP had room to take more applicants than we received.
| Full-Time MSW | Fall 2021 | Fall 2022 | % Change 2020 – 21 | % Change 2020-2022 | 3 Years Avg (2019-2021) | 2022 vs 3 Yr Avg |
| Applicants Reviewed | 66 | 39 | -40.9% | -27.8% | 61 | -36.4% |
| Applicants Accepted | 64 | 33 | -48.4% | -28.3% | 56 | -40.7% |
| Applicants Enrolled | 47 | 26 | -44.7% | -35.0% | 42 | -37.6% |
| BIPOC Applicants Reviewed | 18 | 8 | -55.6% | -11.1% | 13 | -38.5% |
| BIPOC Accepted | 18 | 4 | -77.8% | -50.0% | 12 | -65.7% |
| BIPOC Enrolled | 13 | 3 | -76.9% | -62.5% | 9 | -67.9% |
| BIPOC Apps Review as Percent of Total | 27.3% | 20.5% | -24.8% | 23.1% | 20.9% | -1.8% |
| BIPOC Apps Accepted as Percent of Total | 28.1% | 12.1% | -56.9% | -30.3% | 20.4% | -40.7% |
| BIPOC Enrolled as Percent of Total | 26.7% | 11.5% | -58.3% | -42.3% | 22.0% | -47.6% |
Gender non-confirming goal update:
The Graduate School currently reports only binary gender-identity information to schools or departments, even though they have added a gender identity area on the application. This makes it very difficult to assess our goal of accepting an increasing number of gender non-confirming students. Applicants may self-report when answering the self-reflection and analytic essays; however, this information continues to prove a challenging to track.
Due to several variables including the continued pandemic, a reduction of 20% application submissions, lack of field placements, overall space in the MSW program, lack of MSW AOF funding, etc. we don’t think that the 2022 numbers are truly indicative of the progress we’ve been making. The Admissions Committee has continued to make changes to our application by holding focus groups and a Qualtrics survey of the Application Reviewers. The focus groups discussed all aspects of the application process, and specifically addressed our changes around questions addressing diversity. Reviewers provided suggestions that the Admissions Committee implemented for upcoming 2023 application cycle.
Chair/Co-chairs: Tracy Schroepfer & Stephanie Van Pay
2023 Committee Staff Members: Courtney Bingham, Anna-Marie Heins, Peter Doksus & Russ Portier
2023 Committee Consult Members: Belinda Velazquez, Latoya Kirton, Hannah Klusendorf & Emmy Roper
2023 Application Reviewers: Jeanne Ferguson, Tom Wirth, Katie Larsen Klodd, Patricia Egan, Annette Copa, Jake Schuldies, Tally Moses, Lucas Moore, Jessica Pac, LB Klein, Jooyoung Kong, Ryan Estrella, Stephanie Lozano, Mary Vasquez, Bob Stindt, Jacque Buck, Sangdo Han, Courtney Hoffmeister, Michael Hoffmeister, Daniel Sintim & Laura Zimmerman
Summer 2023 Updates
A comparison of Full-Time Program (FTP) data for the Fall 2023 admissions cycle reveals positive trends regarding Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) applicants. BIPOC applicants applying to the FTP, as a percent of overall FTP applications, increased by 6.9% and the number accepted by 12.3% compared to the 2022 admissions cycle. When the FTP Admissions cycle data from the last 3 years is averaged (2020-2022) and compared to the Fall 2023 cycle, positive trends are also evident. The total number of BIPOC applicants increased by 15.5% and the number accepted by 12.9%.
Since implementing our DEI goals in 2020, the BIPOC FTP applicants applying, as a percent of overall FTP applications, increased by 34.6 % and the BIPOC applications accepted, as a percent of overall FTP applications, increased by 32.3%.
The total number of 2023 FTP applications were down by 9.1% compared to the 3-year average from 2020-2022.
| Full-Time MSW | Fall 2020 | Fall 2021 | Fall 2022 | Fall 2023 |
| Applicants Reviewed | 199 | 232 | 186 | 187 |
| Applicants Accepted** | 166 | 186 | 108 | 138 |
| Applicants Enrolled | 96 | 101 | 54 | 103 |
| BIPOC Applicants Reviewed | 34 | 49 | 40 | 43 |
| BIPOC Accepted* | 30 | 45 | 23 | 33 |
| BIPOC Enrolled | 22 | 24 | 15 | 27 |
| BIPOC Apps Review as Percent of Total | 17.1% | 21.1% | 21.5% | 23.0% |
| BIPOC Apps Accptd as Percent of Total | 18.1% | 24.2% | 21.3% | 23.9% |
| BIPOC Apps Enrolled as Percent of Total | 22.9% | 23.8% | 27.8% | 26.2% |
| Full-Time MSW | % Change 2022 to 2023 | %Change 2020 to 2023 | 3 Year Avg (2020-2023) | 2023 vs 3 Yr Avg |
| Applicants Reviewed | 0.5% | -6.0% | 206 | -9.1% |
| Applicants Accepted** | 28.7% | -16.9% | 153 | -10.0% |
| Applicants Enrolled | 90.7% | 7.3% | 84 | 23.1% |
| BIPOC Applicants Reviewed | 7.5% | 26.5% | 41 | 4.9% |
| BIPOC Accepted* | 80.0% | 22.7% | 20 | 32.8% |
| BIPOC Enrolled | 46.7% | 0.0% | 20 | 8.2% |
| BIPOC Apps Review as Percent of Total | 6.9% | 34.6% | 19.9% | 15.5% |
| BIPOC Apps Accptd as Percent of Total | 12.3% | 32.3% | 21.2% | 12.9% |
| BIPOC Apps Enrolled as Percent of Total | -5.6% | 14.4% | 24.8% | 5.6% |
*Fall 2023 enrolled numbers are confirmed as of 06/28/23 and does not include re-entry applicants or 7 incomplete applications
** Accepted numbers do not include those applicants who would have been accepted if we had more space or applicants who were offered space in the PT
BIPOC data does not include international applicants.
A comparison of Part-Time Program (PTP) data for the Fall 2023 admissions cycle reveals positive trends regarding Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) applicants. BIPOC applicants applying to the PTP, as a percent of overall PTP applications, increased by 2% and the number accepted by 50% compared to the 2022 admissions cycle.
Since implementing our DEI goals in 2020, the BIPOC PTP applicants applying, as a percent of overall FTP applications, increased by 25.6 % and the BIPOC applications accepted, as a percent of overall FTP applications, increased by 4.5%.
The total number of 2023 PTP applications were down by 18.9% compared to the 3-year average from 2020-2022.
| Part-Time MSW – Madison | Fall 2020 | Fall 2021 | Fall 2022 | Fall 2023 |
| Applicants Reviewed | 54 | 66 | 39 | 43 |
| Applicants Accepted** | 46 | 64 | 33 | 33 |
| Applicants Enrolled | 40 | 47 | 26 | 28 |
| BIPOC Applicants Reviewed | 9 | 18 | 8 | 9 |
| BIPOC Accepted* | 8 | 18 | 4 | 6 |
| BIPOC Enrolled | 8 | 13 | 3 | 5 |
| BIPOC Apps Review as Percent of Total | 16.7% | 27.3% | 20.5% | 20.9% |
| BIPOC Apps Accptd as Percent of Total | 17.4% | 28.1% | 12.1% | 18.2% |
| BIPOC Apps Enrolled as Percent of Total | 20.0% | 27.7% | 11.5% | 17.9% |
| Part-Time MSW – Madison | % Change 2022 to 2023 | %Change 2020 to 2023 | 3 Year Avg (2020-2023) | 2023 vs 3 Yr Avg |
| Applicants Reviewed | 1o.3% | -20.4% | 53 | -18.9% |
| Applicants Accepted** | 0.0% | -28.3% | 48 | -30.8% |
| Applicants Enrolled | 7.7% | -30.0% | 38 | -25.7% |
| BIPOC Applicants Reviewed | 12.5% | 0.0% | 12 | -22.9% |
| BIPOC Accepted* | 50.0% | -25.0% | 10 | -40.0% |
| BIPOC Enrolled | 66.7% | -37.5% | 8 | -37.5% |
| BIPOC Apps Review as Percent of Total | 2.0% | 25.6% | 21.5% | -2.6% |
| BIPOC Apps Accptd as Percent of Total | 50.0% | 4.5% | 19.2% | -5.4% |
| BIPOC Apps Enrolled as Percent of Total | 54.8% | -10.7% | 19.7% | -9.5% |
Due to several variables including the continued pandemic, lack of field placements, overall space in the MSW program, lack of MSW AOF funding, etc. we don’t think that the 2023 numbers are truly indicative of the progress we’ve been making. The Admissions Committee has continued to make changes to our application by holding Zoom debriefings with the Application Reviewers. The focus groups discussed all aspects of the application process, and specifically addressed our changes around questions addressing diversity. Reviewers provided suggestions that the Admissions Committee implemented for upcoming 2024 application cycle.