Phi Alpha () is an American
honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the National Honor Society of the Boy Sc ...
for
Social work
Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...
students. The organization is a member of the
Association of College Honor Societies.
History
A group of undergraduate social work students at Michigan State University conceived of a national social work honor society in 1960.
A Brief History
/ref> After investigating, they determined that local chapters at three other schools. Michigan State, those three schools and a few other schools formed a National Honor Society Committee in November 1960. This committee worked on the constitution and other administrative matters. The name Phi Alpha was chosen since that was the name of the local chapter at Florida State University.
The formal organization and constitution were completed in 1962, and six chapters qualified to become "charter chapters."
The charter chapters were Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...
, Michigan State University
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
, Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University (Ohio Northern or ONU) is a private United Methodist Church–affiliated university in Ada, Ohio. Founded by Henry Solomon Lehr in 1871, ONU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It offers over 60 programs to ...
, Central State College, University of Dayton
The University of Dayton (UD) is a private, Catholic research university in Dayton, Ohio. Founded in 1850 by the Society of Mary, it is one of three Marianist universities in the nation and the second-largest private university in Ohio. The univ ...
, and the University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee (officially The University of Tennessee, Knoxville; or UT Knoxville; UTK; or UT) is a public land-grant research university in Knoxville, Tennessee. Founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state, ...
. The honor society now has over 450 chapters.
Phi Alpha joined the Association of College Honor Societies in 1962.
See also
* Council on Social Work Education The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a nonprofit national association in the United States representing more than 2,500 individual members, as well as graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Founded in 19 ...
References
External links
*
ACHS Phi Alpha entry
Phi Alpha chapter list at ACHS
Association of College Honor Societies
Social work organizations in the United States
Student organizations established in 1962
1962 establishments in Michigan
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