Membership and Eligibility
Eligibility
(This reflects eligibility change voted in and adopted by Phi Alpha student body in spring 2019)
Membership is by invitation only. Invitations are sent out at the beginning of Fall and Spring semester. Membership in Phi Alpha is open to BASW, MSW and PhD students in the School of Social Work at Michigan State University. A lifelong commitment to excellence, recognition for academic excellence, camaraderie, and support are natural outcomes of Phi Alpha membership.
Membership in Phi Alpha is open to BASW, MSW and PhD students in the School of Social Work at Michigan State University. A lifelong commitment to excellence, recognition for academic excellence, camaraderie, and support a natural outcomes of Phi Alpha membership.
An undergraduate student is eligible for active membership when they achieved junior status, achieved a grade point average ranking them in the top 35% of their program, and completed a minimum of 9 credits in the social work core curriculum.
A graduate student is eligible for active membership when they have been duly enrolled in the graduate School of Social Work, achieved a grade point average ranking them in the top 35% of their program, and completed a minimum of 9 credits in the social work core curriculum.
A doctoral student is eligible for active membership when they have acquired a masters in Social Work or related discipline, have been duly enrolled in the doctoral program in the School of Social Work, achieved a grade point average ranking them in the top 35% of their program, and completed a minimum of 9 credits in the social work core curriculum.
Members initiated as undergraduate students who enter a graduate school of social work shall be continued as active members.
Any current member of the society may transfer membership to the MSU chapter when they have moved into its jurisdiction upon application to this chapter.
The chapter will not discriminate on the basis of age, color, gender, handicapper status, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or weight.
The Advantages of Joining Phi Alpha Include:
- Becoming a member of a nationally recognized organization that supports high standards in social work education
- Participation in scholarly activities and social action events
- Working together with student colleagues and professors on social issues and creating a scholarly environment at the School of Social Work.
- Identification in your vitae as a Phi Alpha Honor Society member ensures acknowledgement of academic excellence and open doors for professional success.
Service Requirement
Our chapter of Phi Alpha requires new members to perform two volunteer service projects during the upcoming academic year. If a student joins in the spring, one volunteer service project is due that year. The service project can be something students are already doing in their community or they can be Phi Alpha, GRAD SAC, or Students for Social Work sponsored service projects.
A service project is any volunteer activity (no minimum hours) that is not connected to your field experience or job. Examples include: volunteering at a food bank, participating in an alternative spring breaks, advocating for social justice reform, volunteering at a nonprofit fundraiser such as a 5K race. Service Projects should engage your Social Work skills and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Students who seek to go above and beyond their normal activities typically meet the requirements of their service project. As you make your decision whether to join Phi Alpha, please remember that you will be committing yourself to perform two service projects this academic year.
