The INSIDER - Fall 2022

SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM CONTINUES TO TREK TOWARD PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

The Texas College Social Work program, within the Division of Business and Social Sciences, has made strides in meeting accreditation requirements for the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), which the is

the national association representing social work education in the United States. Texas College has received approval and acceptance of Benchmark I in the three - part accreditation process. Texas College has progressed to Benchmark II, which will be followed by a visit from the CSWE Commissioner. The Social Work Program has also selected key members of the community to develop a Texas College Community Advisory Board for the program, as well as continue to seek other opportunities to form community alliances. The accreditation of the Social Work Program will provide a substantial benefit to students and graduates. The CSWE accreditation will position graduates of the program to be more marketable applicants within the field, as well as earn higher salaries and wages. Once the full accreditation process is complete, graduates henceforth will not be the only individuals to carry the program’s mark of accreditation. Retroactively, Spring 2022 graduates, as well as students enrolled in the program since Fall 2021, will also get the benefit of graduating from an accredited program. Providing leadership for these efforts are faculty members Charlotte Sanders and LaKeshia Harris. Sanders, who serves as the Program Director and Assistant Professor, brings 30 years of real - world social work experience to the program. Most recently serving at Rusk State Hospital in Rusk, Texas, Sanders has also served in a multitude of capacities within the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. In addition to her service within the field of social work, Sanders also carries over a decade of teaching experience, serving as a professor at both Stephen F. Austin State University and Jarvis Christian College, now Jarvis Christian University. Harris, who serves as the Field Director and Assistant Professor, additionally brings over a decade of real - world experience to the Social Work program. Most recently, Harris served as the Director of Alinea Family Hospice in Longview, Texas. Moreover, Harris also carries over a decade of teaching experience, serving as a field instructor at Stephen F. Austin State University. In addition to the aforementioned, Harris also has extensive scholarship experience with multiple conference presentations and the facilitation of other educational trainings.

CHARLOTTE SANDERS SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM DIRECTOR & ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

LAKESHIA HARRIS SOCIAL WORK FIELD DIRECTOR & ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

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