Student Association of Social Workers (SASW)

Our Mission

We, the Student Association of Social Workers at the Metropolitan State University of Denver (SASW), are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others in our community while enhancing the student experience of our members. We strive as a group to bring a strong awareness to social justice through dedication, compassion, and integrity. We are committed to bringing together our peers, our professors, and individuals from our community to promote health, wellness, family, friends, diversity, and equality to all persons.

Top 5 Reasons to Join SASW

  1. Impact local, national and international issues!
  2. Learn about the profession of social work firsthand!
  3. Build your network portfolio with peers and professionals!
  4. Enhance your academic and professional resume through SASW involvement!
  5. Have a blast putting your emphasis and passions in motion through committee projects and social events!

Stay tuned for a calendar of upcoming meetings and events!

Visit our Student Organization website

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Phi Alpha Honor Society

Becoming a member of the Phi Alpha National Honor Society is a wonderful recognition of all the hard work students are doing for academic excellence. Phi Alpha is an honor and a group of social work students that support one another through the demands of the MSU Denver social work program.

Phi Alpha Advisors

MSU Denver Faculty Advisor: Ann Obermann, LCSW, PhD

MSU Denver Administrative Advisor: Rae Wiegand

  • For general information about Phi Alpha, please feel free to contact Ann Obermann at [email protected]
  • For membership applications, fees, or graduation cord orders, please contact Rae Wiegand at [email protected]

History

The concept of a national social work honor society came from a group of undergraduate social work students at Michigan State University in 1960. Investigation revealed that local chapters existed at three schools. Those three schools along with a few other schools formed a National Honor Society Committee in November, 1960.

For more than a year this committee worked on the constitution and other administrative matters. The name Phi Alpha and the key were adopted from the local chapter which existed at Florida State University. The constitution and formal organization were complete in 1962, and six chapters qualified to become “charter chapters.” They were: Florida State University, Michigan State University, Ohio Northern University, Central State College, University of Dayton and the University of Tennessee. Over 155 chapters are now in existence, and the addition of new chapters is continuing.

Phi Alpha offers membership to social work students, faculty and practitioners, and each chapter is free to develop a program to meet local needs. The National Council is the policy-making body and meets each year at the time and place of the Annual program meeting of CSWE. Each chapter has one voting representative on the Council.

BSSW Eligibility for Phi Alpha Membership

MSU Denver Epsilon Lambda Chapter eligibility is verified by the Office of Social Work Student Services after grades post for the Fall Semester.  Students are inducted the following Spring semester.

An undergraduate student is eligible for membership after achieving the following requirements:

  • Declared social work as a major
  • Completion of at least 9 credits of required 3000/4000-level social work coursework.
  • Achieved a cumulative MSU Denver GPA in the top 35% of all BSSW Program students

MSW Eligibility for Phi Alpha Membership

MSU Denver Epsilon Lambda Chapter eligibility is verified by the Office of Social Work Student Services after grades post for the Fall Semester.  Students are inducted the following Spring semester.

A Graduate student is eligible for membership after achieving the following requirements:

  • Completion of 9 graduate level social work credits.
  • Achieved an MSW Program GPA in the top 35% of all MSW Program students

Phi Alpha Membership Process

  1. Every year in January, Phi Alpha will put out an email request for membership applications. Potential members will complete the Phi Alpha Online Membership Application and demonstrate their eligibility with their degree progress report. Students will then be notified of their status.
  2. National Phi Alpha membership dues include a onetime fee of $30 for each new chapter member. Scholarships are available, please inquire with faculty sponsor. This fee is due at time of application. If for any reason you are not eligible, this money will be refunded immediately.
  3. The Phi Alpha Induction Ceremony is organized by all Phi Alpha members with the support from the Phi Alpha Faculty Advisor and is conducted on Honors Celebration every spring. Members are presented with certificates of membership.
  4. Graduation cords, Medallions, plaques, pins, and paperweights are available for members to purchase for the Phi Alpha Induction Ceremony and Graduation.
  5. The MSU Denver chapter of Phi Alpha elects student officers each year. Officers may serve multiple year terms and move from the BSSW to MSW programs. Members vote for the BSW and MSW Phi Alpha officers every year.
  6. All Phi Alpha members are required to participate in the Phi Alpha community service project organized by the Phi Alpha officers and members to maintain membership.

Building Allies of Diversity (BAD)

Mission

The Building Allies of Diversity Student Group strives to create a safe environment to have hard conversations about social justice, inclusivity, and diversity amongst the Metropolitan State University of Denver community of social work students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Purpose

The purpose of the Student group Building Allies of Diversity (BAD) is to create a safe environment for students, faculty, alumni, and community members to hold difficult conversations about social justice, inclusivity, and diversity. The group was formed on the foundation of CSWE core competencies with the goal of bringing students, faculty, alumni, and community members together to have conversations about current social, political, and cultural issues to encourage education and community involvement to create change. The BAD student group understands, the intersectionality between social, cultural, and political issues, and includes all three as important discussion topics. Our goal is to challenge oppressive views in society through education and conversations among people who may have different viewpoint

Faculty Advisor: Amanda Marsh Baranski, DWS, LCSW, [email protected]

Learn more about the Building Allies of Diversity student group