The BPD Study Group was mandated by action of the BPD Board of Directors in Oct., 2002. The group was asked to serve on a temporary, ad hoc basis. Anita Curry-Jackson, President of BPD, invited the following persons to serve on the committee: Marshall Smith, Grafton Hull, Jack Sellers, Mit Joyner, Lorrie Gardella, Gloria Aguilar, Wanda Priddy, Cathy Pike, Paul Dovyak (co-chair), and Mary Ann Suppes (co-chair). The Study Group was asked to focus discussion on two primary points: 1)voting privileges and 2)officers and representation on the BPD Board of Directors. During 2003 the Study Group met via conference call in February, at the CSWE APM and conducted a well attended open forum at the BPD Pittsburgh conference in October.

In the months that followed, the Study Group heard from numerous BPD members. A wide range of sentiment was expressed regarding membership and voting rights, but overwhelmingly strong support was voiced for the continuation of baccalaureate social work education organization. The Study Group determined that a survey was needed to obtain feedback from the entire membership, not just from members who attend BPD meetings at national conferences. The task proved to be somewhat more difficult than originally imagined in part because Study Group members themselves represented such a wide range of perspectives on the issues under consideration.

Only a small number of Study Group members were able to meet at the APM in Anaheim in 2004 but progress was made and a 4th draft of the survey was created. The greatest challenge with this and all subsequent revisions was to create an objective, balanced survey instrument containing politically neutral language. By fall, 2004, a final version of the survey was ready for implementation. After discussion with Bob Vernon, it was determined that with little time remaining before the BPD Fall Conference, the BPD website was not a viable tool for implementation of the survey, especially since the response was to be limited to paid members of the organization. In order to keep costs to a minimum, the survey was carefully limited to 3 pages. Stacy Barrantine provided a mailing list of 2003 and 2004-2005 members in good standing. The survey was mailed to 976 members the week of Oct.10, 2004 from Mary Ann Suppes' office along with return envelopes preaddressed to Paul Dovyak. Paul had agreed to do the tabulations.

At the Detroit BPD conference, data was reported to the Board of Directors and presented to the membership at the BPD conference business meeting. These reports reflected data received from 322 completed surveys as of Nov.1, 2004; 13 surveys were returned as undeliverable. The response rate was 33.4%. Although 64% (207 or the respondents) were full members and 31% (100 respondents) were associate members, it was interesting to note that only approximately half of the respondents (54%) were currently in social work program director positions. Another interesting demographic item was that over half (52%) of the respondents represented programs in which there were 3 or fewer full-time faculty members in the baccalaureate program. Among the data of interest that emerged from the survey were the following. On the question about continued need for BPD, given the existence of CSWE, NADD, etc., 97% of respondents responded "yes," the organization was needed. For the question "I believe the number of associate members on the board should...," the responses were: 38% remain as is; 30% increase; 22% increase, but be limited in number; and 3% be eliminated. 72% of respondents indicated (either strongly agreed or agreed) that the BPD charter should be changed to allow full membership to any person teaching in undergraduate social work education. 46% of respondents indicated that they believed that the current structure of BPD provides satisfactory opportunities for involvement for associate members; 44% believed there were insufficient opportunities; and 2% indicated that they believed there were too many opportunities for associate members. 74% either agreed strongly or agreed that any changes in the BPD charter should continue to ensure that a majority of the Board positions would be filled by program directors, and in a related survey item, 69% either agreed or strongly agreed that officers of BPD should have recent experience as a program director. Finally, 82% either agreed or strongly agreed that all members (full associate, and emeritus) should be eligible to vote on all elected positions.

The Study Group's assigned task was completed with this report to the board and to the BPD membership, however there will be a session at the CSWE APM in spring, 2005 entitled "The BPD Membership Study Revisited." Data received following Nov. 1, 2004 will be reported, cross tabulations will be provided, and detailed responses to some of the qualitative survey questions will be given. Audience participation is encouraged especially as additional research needs of BPD as an organization are considered.