BPD Publications Committee

Report – Winter 2006

Michael R. Daley, Chair

The publications committee met on October 28, 2006 at the BPD annual conference in Los Angeles, CA. Committee members present were: Grafton Hull, Barbara Pierce, Carol Williams, and Michael Daley.  The committee chair was newly appointed and initial discussion was to brief members on the status of the Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work and BPD Update.        

Grafton Hull, editor of the journal discussed the current state of the publication.  Generally the journal is functioning well and the number of manuscript submissions has been increasing.  The editorial board reviewed a proposal to broaden the concept of JBSW so that those outside of baccalaureate education would be encouraged to submit manuscripts.  Another proposal reviewed by the editorial board was to include information on creative ideas or program innovations.  The economics of special issues of the journal was discussed and due to extra cost associated with special issues, such publications may be limited without outside funding or subsidies is obtained. 

Much of the discussion centered on BPD Update.  Carol Williams, editor, discussed the change in Update from a paper to an on-line format.  This change enables the Update to be more flexible.  Several ideas were generated for possible inclusion in Update.  These ideas include: Inclusion of committee reports in the Winter edition, discussion of EPAS and pending revisions in the Spring edition, article(s) on program assessment, articles on curriculum areas with a how-to focus, seeking articles from members, addition of names in the news section, continuation of section addressing issues for small & rural programs, teaching & technology tips, and humor.

Update will be an important vehicle for communication with memberships during the months that BPD has no annual conference. Update should be reader friendly and the editor plans develop a long term plan.