IU School of Social Work's Dr. Cathy Pike is elected to the CSWE National Nominating Committee

Dr. Cathy Pike

May 8, 2008 – Dr. Cathy Pike, whose academic career spans 20 years of teaching at all levels, has been elected to the Council on Social Work Education National Nominating Committee. Click here for complete story.

Son's deployment to Iraq leads MSW student to create a foundation to assist soldeirs returning from the war

Sondra Julian with her son Travis, who is now serving in Iraq

     April 25, 2008 - Like any mother, Sondra Julian worried when she learned her 22-year-old son was heading to Iraq last December. But Julian, who lives in Chesterton and was studying to earn a Master’s of Social Work degree at IU Northwest, decided to do more than just worry. She created the Military Heros Foundation. Click here for complete story.

Dr. M. Thandabantu Iverson reports on review of U.S compliance to eliminate all forms of racial disrimination.

    On April 3rd from 11:30-2:00 in Savannah Auditiorium, IUN campus, Dr. M. Thandabantu Iverson provided a report on the recent UN country review of U.S. compliance with the International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). This talk was based on his actual attendance of the international meeting in Geneva during which the UN’s review was addressed. According to Dr. Iverson, “ The efforts to compile the shadow report(s) from U.S. civil society, the country review process in Geneva, and the publication of the CERD Committee's Concluding Observations and Recommendations provide some very important lessons regarding our challenges to recommit to the unfinished tasks of ending racial discrimination in our country.”

Two IU School of Social Work Faculty Members to join FACET

March 17, 2008 - The Indiana University School of Social Work will have two faculty members inducted into FACET this spring. Click here for complete story.

Katharine Byers election to the BPD board comes as the organization faces key issues

March 17, 2008 -  Dr. Katharine V. Byers, a long-time member of the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, has been elected to the organization’s board for a two-year term. Click here for complete story.

Ruth Needleman wins second Mesa Refuge fellowship

     While busy teaching in Brazil, Professor Ruth Needleman of the Indiana University-Northwest Campus has received another honor. Click here for complete story.

Labor Studies Program seeks candidates for 2 tenure-track positions

Feb. 12, 2008 - The Labor Studies Program at Indiana University is seeking candidates for two tenure-track positions.  One position is located on the Bloomington (IUB) campus and the other on the Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. Click here for the complete story.

Governor appoints Dean Patchner to lead state commission

Dean Michael Patchner

     Jan. 25, 2008 – Indiana University School of Social Work Dean Michael Patchner will help launch a year-long investigation Monday into why there is a disproportionate number of minorities in the juvenile justice, child welfare, mental health and educational services. Click here for full story.

Message to social workes from Indiana legislators:

   Feb. 6, 2008 – “Thank you,” was the resounding message Indiana legislators presented to hundreds of social work students, faculty and other professionals during the annual advocacy day at the Indiana State House. Click here for complete story.

Social workers fill atrium at the State House for LEAD

Web site assists borrowers with student loan debt questions

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the Project on Student Debt have developed the Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project that can help loan saddled social workers and other borrowers to find out more information about the recently passed College Cost Reduction and Access Act, among other student loan related issues.

Indiana University has a long history of formal education to persons interested in social work practice. Courses in this area were offered in 1911 through the Department of Economics and Sociology. Between 1911 and 1944, various administrative and curricular changes occurred. Social Work degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels were offered. In 1944, the Indiana University Division of Social Service was established by action of the Trustees of Indiana University. The organizational status was changed in 1966 when the Graduate School of Social Service was created. In 1973 the name was changed to School of Social Service in recognition of the extent and professional nature of the school’s graduate and undergraduate offerings. The name School of Social Work was adopted in 1977 in order to reflect more clearly its identification with the profession.

The school provides opportunities for study leading to the associate, baccalaureate, master’s , and Ph.D. degrees. The Associate of Science (A.S.) program prepares students for preprofessional practice. The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) program prepares students for entry level, generalist practice. The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program prepares skilled practitioners with basic professional knowledge and selected areas of specialization. The Ph.D. program prepares professional social workers for leadership roles in research, education, and policy development.

The general intent of the MSW program is preparation for advanced social work practice. Graduates of the school pursue careers in a variety of social service settings, including those concerned with aging, families, child welfare, corrections, mental and physical health. In anticipation of such professional activities, the school provides field instruction placements throughout the state, where students engage in services to individuals, groups, and families or function in planning and management, policy analysis, or community organization roles.

Work continues on strategic plan

Jan. 17, 2008 –  Coordinators of the Indiana University's School of Social Work's strategic plan hope to get additional comments from faculty, staff and students on a new strategic plan. Click here for full story.