Phi Alpha Honor Society

The purpose of the Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. 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.

Criteria for BSW Membership

  • You have declared Pre-Social Work as your major; or you have been admitted to the Social Work major;
  • You have achieved sophomore status;
  • You have completed 8 hours of Social Work courses;
  • You have a 3.0 GPA based on a 4.0 scale;
  • You have an overall 3.25 GPA in your Social Work classes;
  • You filled out an application and paid the membership fee.

Phi Alpha's mission is to promote education and camaraderie among Social Work students and to maintain humanitarian goals and ideas.

Within the Department of Social Work, our officers and members are conducting a membership drive. Please return the completed application to the Social Work office.

Once accepted, you will receive a letter of confirmation. Then when you are inducted into Phi Alpha, you will receive a certificate and a ribbon. You will also be a lifetime member. As a member, you will have a chance to wear honor cords at graduation.

Applications

Bylaws

Spring 2015 - New bylaws will be posted Fall 2015

Officers of the Executive Committee

Section 1. The officers of the organization shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer to be elected by a majority vote of the active chapter membership.

Section 2. The President shall preside at meeting of the chapter; appoint such committees as may be provided for by Chapter Constitution or Bylaws or by vote of the Chapter; call special meetings of the Chapter; be responsible for all Chapter reports; perform the duties of ritual chair at initiation ceremonies; and promote the welfare of the Society and Chapter.

Section 3. The Vice President shall perform all duties of the President in the latter's absence or disability and any other duties assigned by the President.

Section 4. The duties of the Secretary shall be as follows:

  1. Forward to the Treasurer of the Executive Council a report certified by the faculty advisor covering the Chapter year not later than June 30 th. The report is to include the financial statement, and a list detailing the dates and meetings held during the year.
  2. Record the minutes at member and officer meetings.
  3. Be in charge of Chapter letter writing and other clerical duties.
  4. Fulfill such additional duties as may be required by the Executive Committee or by the Chapter Constitution, Bylaws, Resolutions, or vote of the Chapter membership.

Section 5. The duties of the Treasurer shall be as follows:

  1. To deposit monies accumulated by the Chapter.
  2. To balance the Chapter's checkbook.
  3. To give reports of finances at each member meeting and give copies of said reports to the President.
  4. If the Treasurer is not present, they must give the report to the President before the meeting.
  5. To give report of the monies to the Secretary for clerical purposes.

Section 6. A faculty member in the undergraduate or graduate social work program shall serve as the faculty advisor. The faculty advisor shall forward to the Treasurer of the Executive Council the national initiation fee for each student and faculty initiate prior to his or her acceptance into membership.

Chapter II: Organization and Procedures

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chair(s) of the standing committee(s), and the faculty advisor.

Section 2. The Chapter shall meet in official sessions at least twice a month during the academic year. If there are not members participating in both meetings, the meetings can be reduced to one per month.

Section 3. Standing Committees may be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. Special Committees may be appointed by the President.

Section 5. The Chapter year shall begin on July 1 st and end on June 30 th.

Section 6. The Chapter shall maintain accurate records of its membership, activities, and finances. Such records shall be kept in such a way as to serve as a permanent and historical record.

Section 7. Qualified persons may be inducted into membership anytime during the year.

Section 8. Election of officers will be held at the end of the Spring semester, or at the end of the Fall semester should any of the officers graduate or drop out that Fall semester.

Chapter III: Membership

Section 1. An undergraduate student is eligible for active membership after achieving the following National minimum requirements and meeting local Chapter requirements:

  1. Declare social work as a major.
  2. Achieved a sophomore status.
  3. Completed nine (9) semester hours or twelve (12) quarter hours of required social work courses.
  4. Achieved an overall grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale.)
  5. Achieve a 3.25 grade point average in required social work courses.

Section 2. A faculty member may be granted by invitation of the Executive Committee and approval of the Chapter membership.

Section 3. The Executive Committee with the approval of the membership may grant Honorary Membership to a maximum of two individuals per year who have made outstanding contributions to the field of social work. Honorary members shall not be assessed membership dues.

Section 4. The method of granting membership shall be in accordance with procedures established by the local Chapter.

Section 5. Any member may be expelled from membership or have punishment brought upon them for reasons of academic or personal conduct unbecoming of a student of social work based on a quorum vote of the chapter, only after a thorough investigation has been made by the Executive Committee and the member so charged has been granted an impartial hearing before the Executive Committee. Dismissal from the Social Work program or College/University is cause for automatic recommendation for expulsion.

Section 6. In order to qualify as an active member of the organization, each member must attend at least two (2) different Chapter meetings per semester, and participate in at least one (1) Chapter activity or event per semester.

Section 7. In order for a graduating senior to receive the Phi Alpha cord to wear at graduation, the graduating senior must be an active Chapter member.

Chapter IV: Dues

Section 1. The initiation fee shall be of sufficient amount to include the following:

  1. The initiation fee required by the National Society, and
  2. The initiation fee required by the local chapter.

Section 2. Annual Chapter dues shall be established in accordance with Chapter needs by the action of the Executive Committee and a three-fourths vote of the Chapter membership present.

Section 3. Special fees, assessments, fines, and penalties may be levied by the Executive Committee and with a three-fourths vote of the chapter membership present.

Chapter V: Amendments

The Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the Executive Committee and upon ratification by a three-fourths vote of the active membership.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT

Membership shall be available to all eligible persons without regard to age, gender, color, race, creed, ethnic or national origin, political or sexual orientation, or disability.

Revised Spring, 2003.