Southern University of New Orleans News January 23, 2014 Board of Regents Approves SUNO’s Plan to Develop Doctor of Social Work Program The Louisiana Board of Regents has approved a letter of intent from Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) to establish a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Program. The degree program would fulfill a need in the profession and the region for an on-site advanced practice doctoral program in social work. Three public universities — Grambling State University, Louisiana State University and SUNO – currently offer the Master of Social Work (MSW) in Louisiana, but only LSU offers a doctoral program. Statewide, the three universities produce an average of 238 MSW graduates a year, many of whom might seek opportunities for further study toward an advanced practice degree. Currently, many Louisiana residents seeking a DSW must leave the state or enroll in online programs. “Today’s approval from the Board of Regents allows us to develop a doctoral program to respond to the workforce need of the state and will be a better fit for applicants who are interested in an advanced practice degree in social work,” said SUNO Chancellor Victor Ukpolo. The School of Social Work is one of the strongest units at SUNO. Since 1985, the School has produced more than 2,000 graduates. The accreditation of the Bachelor and Master’s in Social Work programs has been reaffirmed until 2020. “We look forward to successfully completing the next step in this process,” said Dr. Beverly Favre, dean of SUNO’s School of Social Work. Simply put, offering a Doctor of Social Work would have far-reaching effects on enhancing the profession locally, statewide and nationally.” SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.