Academic Programs
CWEL FAQ
For which degrees may students enroll?
Eligible students may enroll for a degree at the master's level in any school or department of an institution of higher education in Pennsylvania accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and approved to participate in the CWEL program based upon the school's offering child welfare-specific courses and field instruction (internships). Upon enrollment, students will be required to select a major area of study in keeping with the agency work assignment they expect to receive upon completion of their studies. For example, administration may be approved as a major only for students who are currently in an administrative position or whose assignment immediately upon return to the agency will be administrative. CWEL funds may not be used for joint or dual degree programs.
Which schools are accredited and approved?
The ten graduate programs approved in Pennsylvania are located at Bryn Mawr College, California University, Edinboro University, Kutztown University, Marywood University, Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, West Chester University, and Widener University. The number of openings at each school is limited and may vary from year to year. Applicants may apply to any of these ten schools.
What is the application process?
Please be advised that the CWEL application deadline is April 30th. We will begin reviewing applications at this time and continue to review them through the summer. Students with advanced standing/summer start will hear from us the earliest.
The application process includes three distinct components:
› Application to one of the approved schools,
› Request for educational leave for full-time study or approval for part-time enrollment from the county agency, and
› Application to the CWEL program for financial support. Applicants are strongly advised to pursue all three approvals simultaneously so that potential admission is not compromised.
Persons who meet the basic qualifications above must apply through the normal admissions channels and procedures to any of the seven approved schools. It is important that applicants clearly indicate to the school that they are also applicants to the CWEL program. The admissions standards for CWEL students are identical to those for all applicants to each school as published in the school's catalog and admissions materials. After the school has completed its application review and has notified the applicant of its decision, those who have been accepted will be eligible for funding consideration by the CWEL program. Part of the CWEL application process will be to document having received admission from one of the approved schools and approval from one's employer either for part-time study or an educational leave for full-time study. The deadline for submitting the attached CWEL application and resume is April 30 each year. Selection of students is based upon criteria which include available funding, geographic distribution, space availability in the approved programs, date of acceptance into an approved academic program, seniority, and employer recommendations. Download and print the CWEL application (PDF).
What if many applicants from one county are accepted for admission to school?
The purpose of this program is to strengthen public child welfare. Thus, there is a limit to the number of educational leaves any given county can grant at one time. This may be especially evident in smaller counties. County administrators have the authority to establish a county policy for prioritizing applicants, using criteria such as seniority. Persons who have been accepted by a school, but do not receive county approval to attend in the year accepted, may defer their admission for a reasonable time. This is determined by the school. Persons deferring school admission must reapply to the CWEL program and secure county agency approval prior to entering school.
What are the degree requirements?
Students admitted to the CWEL program for study at the master's level are required to satisfy all academic requirements for the degree program to which they are admitted in four years or less. These requirements include credit hours, grades, and field instruction (internship). In addition, there are several specific academic requirements:
- At least two child welfare courses
- At least one field work assignment (internship) in a child welfare setting
- Course content in cultural diversity
- Course content in interagency collaboration
Normal progress toward completion of the degree as defined by the school is expected. While students may enroll on either a full-time or part-time basis, the number of both full-time and part-time positions is limited. All full-time students are required to enroll for at least one course during the summer between the first and second academic years.
What financial support is available?
Persons admitted to the CWEL program for full-time study will remain in the employment of their agency on educational leave for the period of their studies. From the beginning of their academic program until its termination, employees will receive a salary equal to 95 percent of their last salary before matriculation plus the normal fringe benefits associated with the reduced salary. In addition, they will receive full or partial tuition and fees for the school in which they are enrolled, a book allowance and, in some instances, mileage for commuting. Part-time students will continue in their normal employment and receive their normal salary and benefits. However, they will receive the tuition and fees incurred in their enrollment, a book allowance and, in some instances, mileage for commuting.
What commitment does a student have to the agency?
Persons enrolled in the CWEL program will be required to sign a legally binding contract agreeing to return for employment to the agency from which they were granted educational leave immediately following termination of their studies. This provision is a strict requirement in compliance with federal regulations. The contractual period of employment will be equal in time to the period for which the student/employee received financial support. In addition, enrollees must return to the agency for assignment during any school vacation period exceeding fifteen work days, including any school summer vacation period. CWEL salary support will continue during these vacation periods and will be included in the period of financial support to be satisfied by the employment commitment. Persons who do not complete the contractual work commitment will be required to repay in cash the value of all funds paid to them or on their behalf. The work commitment for part-time students will be prorated so that it will not exceed the commitment of full-time students enrolled in the same degree program in the same school.
What commitment do students have to the CWEL program?
The CWEL faculty maintain close contact with CWEL students and graduates. Students are required to provide the details of their course and internship activities each academic term, submit reimbursement requests on a regular and timely basis, and to attend a meeting with CWEL faculty held in their geographic region at least annually. Graduates are required to keep the CWEL program advised of any changes of address or employment during the period of their CWEL work commitment. Both students and graduates are asked to participate in CWEL's annual program evaluation.
What are the employing agency's responsibilities?
The CWEL student's employer will determine which full-time students are granted educational leave, in accordance with policy, and grant such leave for the duration of the student's enrollment; maintain the student's salary and fringe benefits at the 95 percent level; provide work assignments during student vacation periods in excess of fifteen work days; and provide suitable employment for the student for at least the period of the contractual work commitment following termination of the student's educational program. The employer will be reimbursed for the student's salary and fringe benefits during the enrollment period. Suitable employment will be an assignment providing, supervising, or administering services to Title IV-E eligible children and their families and commensurate with the employee's abilities and training. For part-time students, employers will participate with the student and school in arranging a work and academic schedule designed to help the student complete the degree program as expeditiously as possible.
Who administers the CWEL Program?
Under contract, the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh administers the CWEL program for the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The University of Pittsburgh assists each county, student, and school participating in the program to make all the necessary arrangements prior to, during, and following the student's enrollment. Questions, technical assistance, contract monitoring, student employment and commitment obligations, financial administration, curriculum, and related matters are handled by the University of Pittsburgh.
Who should I contact for information about CWEL?
Principal Investigator
Helen Cahalane, Ph.D., ACSW, LCSW
University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
2328 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-624-6386
E-mail: hcupgh@pitt.edu
Agency Coordinator
Caroline C. Donohue, ACSW, LSW
University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
2325 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-624-6387
E-mail: cdonohue@pitt.edu
Schools & Students Coordinator
Elizabeth A. Winter, Ph.D., LSW
University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
2327 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-648-2371
E-mail: eaw44@pitt.edu
The fax number for all CWEL staff at the University of Pittsburgh is 412-624-1159. All CWEL staff may also be reached by phone toll-free at 1-866-ASK-CWEL (1-866-275-2935).
How can I contact participating schools?
Listed below are the addresses and phone numbers of the admissions offices of the ten participating schools. All applicants must apply to the school(s) of their choice by the admission deadline specified by the school(s).
Bryn Mawr College
Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research
Office of Admissions
300 Airdale Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-1697
(610) 520-2601
California University of Pennsylvania
School of Fraduate Studies and Research
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419-1394
(724) 938-4197
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
School of Graduate Studies and Research
148 Meadville Street
Edinboro, PA 16444
(814) 732-2856
Kutztown University
College of Graduate Studies
110 Old Main
P.O. Box 730
Kutztown, PA 19530
(610) 683-4201
Marywood University
School of Social Work
Office of Admissions
2300 Adams Avenue
Scranton, PA 18509-1598
1-800-548-4898, ext. 2571
Temple University
School of Social Administration
Graduate Admissions Office
Ritter Hall Annex, Fifth Floor
13th and Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-8621 or (215) 204-8622
University of Pennslyvania
School of Social Work
Office of Admissions
3701 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6214
(215) 898-5539
University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
Office of Admissions
2104 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-6302
West Chester University
Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education
McKelvie Hall
West Chester, PA 19383
(610) 436-2943
Widener University
Center for Social Work Education
Office of Admissions
1 University Place
Chester, PA 19013-5792
(610) 499-1153