We encourage you to participate as fully as you can in the “life” of the Social Work Program. Student input to the program is vital to its effectiveness and vitality. Student representatives attend departmental meetings and serve on departmental advisory councils. Students also have input into the program by serving on the Field Instruction Advisory Council.
As social work students you are eligible for student membership in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the largest professional organization for social workers in the country. Talk to your advisor about NASW.
Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Work
Phi Alpha, a national honor society for social work, is certified by the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). Phi Alpha recognizes outstanding scholastic record and demonstrated interest in social work. To be eligible for membership in the West Virginia State University Chapter Epsilon Zeta Eta, you must:
- Complete 9- credit hours in Social Work
- Complete at least 37.5% of the required coursework toward the degree
- Be in the top 35% GPA of all Social Work students
The purpose of Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideas. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work. Members are invited to join in both fall and spring semesters.
The Social Work Student Organization
The Social Work Student Organization (aka “the Club”) has been active since 1975 when the Social Work Program was first accredited at West Virginia State University. We cordially invite you to join the Club and participate in its activities. The Organization offers you opportunities to socialize and fraternize with like-minded students, to learn about employment openings, to provide services to our community, and to gain additional information about the social work field. In the past, some of the Club activities have included community speakers, voters’ registration, representation to the NASW state meetings, sponsorship of induction of honor students into honoraries, involvement in a needs assessment project, parties for children in low income housing, community awareness projects, mentoring services, fundraising for homeless programs, participation in the WVSU in Multicultural Festival, and field trips.
Vision Statement
We are caring and competent servant leaders transforming lives within our college and its surrounding communities.
Objectives
- To provide experience with working in a group setting.
- To serve school and community.
- To develop initiative and leadership.
- To encourage volunteerism and service to others.
- To provide opportunities.
- To put into practice what we are learning in the classroom.
Rules and Responsibilities of Members
- Participate in the organization as much as possible.
- Volunteer for 5 hours of service per semester.
A sample of our activities include:
- Community speakers
- Voter registration
- student representatives to NASW state meetings
- Sponsorship of honor student induction Into our honorary society
- Involvement in needs assessments
- Parties for children in low income housing
- Field trips