Clubs & Organizations

Social Work Council

E-mail: socialwork@poets.whittier.edu
Faculty advisors: Drs. Claudia Dorrington and Paula Sheridan
Council co-chairs, 2007-2008: Jennifer Chen '08, Robert D. Graham '08

The Social Work Council was founded in 1993 by students interested in social work. The Council is a student-run organization, which seeks to promote social work as a profession and social justice awareness throughout the Whittier College community. The Council is headed by a chairperson (or co-chairs) whose primary responsibilities include the overall direction and conduct of the meetings and the coordination of activities and programs. Other officers include Treasurer, Historian, Secretary, Publicity and Interclub Representative, and are selected by students each semester. Decisions, as in many administrative bodies at Whittier College, are made by consensus.

Council members are usually social work majors, but students of all majors with an interest in social work and social issues are encouraged to participate. Because the Council believes in the seriousness of commitment from its active members, it is important for each member to fulfill his/her duties: attend meetings, propose, initiate, complete at least one program (per academic year); and participate in all fund-raising activities and events that the Social Work Council sponsors. Commitment, integrity, and participation are qualities which make the Social Work Council an effective paraprofessional organization on campus.

The Social Work Council is an issue-oriented organization, which advocates for the advancement of social & economic justice, social health, social programs, and the social work profession in the Whittier College community and the general public. Members of the Council are highly involved in a variety of other issue-oriented organizations on-campus and utilize social work's knowledge of systems, politics, and socioeconomic issues to contribute to these organizations.

Phi Alpha Honor Society

E-mail: phialpha@whittier.edu

Established in 1999, Whittier's Theta Theta Chapter of the Phi Alpha Honor Society promotes humanitarian goals and ideals through high standards of training and scholarships for both students and professionals. Membership is open to all social work majors who meet the following criteria:

  • Attained sophomore status (30+ credits)
  • Eight semester credits towards a Social Work Major
  • Achieved an overall GPA of 3.0
  • Achieved a minimum GPA in social work courses of at least 3.25

Community Organizations

Social Work majors actively support professional and service organizations in social work and related fields. Examples of such organizations include:

  • Association for Community Organization and Social Administration (ACOSA)
  • Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education (GADE)
  • Clinical Social Work Federation (CSWF)
  • Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
  • International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW)
  • International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW)
  • Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research (IASWR)
  • National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
  • Betha Capen Reynolds Society

Social Work Alumni Organization

The Social Work Alumni Organization provides support to the Social Work Program in many ways. The Social Work Alumni participate in the Social Work Advisory Board, provide input in the hiring of social work faculty, and serve as mentors to students.