For students pursuing degrees while working full time, finding time to participate in student organizations and clubs can be challenging. This past academic year, the IU South Bend Social Work Student Association made significant strides in increasing membership and student participation by focusing on community service and initiatives to enhance education. The association, which welcomes all IU South Bend students regardless of major, currently has about 70 members.

IUSSW South Bend Students at LEAD Day
IU School of Social Work at South Bend Students at LEAD Day 2020.

“Our goal is to teach students how to be self-governing and find activities that will enrich their learning in social work practice and become more involved in service to the school and local South Bend community,” said IU School of Social Work Assistant Professor Tarek Zidan, PhD, MSW, faculty advisor of the South Bend student association. “We also encourage members to become engaged in skill building in support of social work advocacy, which this year included members sending emails to state and local representatives to advocate for vulnerable populations.”

In February, more than 50 social work student association members traveled to Indianapolis for the 2020 National Association of Social Work Indiana Chapter’s Legislative Education and Advocacy Development (LEAD) Day. LEAD Day is an annual event for social workers statewide and is held at the Indiana Statehouse. In addition to attending the program, IU South Bend students toured the state capitol and met with Indiana State Senator David Niezgodski, who represents the South Bend area.

“Without the social work student association, I don’t believe I would have attended LEAD Day because I wasn’t aware of it,” said Julie Hoggatt, president, IU Social Work Student Association. “Our social work faculty offered extra credit for students attending LEAD Day, which helped generate interest, and the faculty overall have been very supportive of our association.”

IUSSW South Bend Students
IU School of Social Work Students at IU South Bend Students at LEAD Day 2020

During her year as president, Hoggatt has helped to organize several of events for student members, including participation in IU South Bend’s schoolwide “Boo-To-You” community Halloween festival. Members also volunteered their time to make hygiene products for women in other countries. A continuing education event about human trafficking and a field trip to the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum in Chicago was planned for the spring semester but had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In addition to volunteering and helping in the community, through the association I’ve been able to meet other MSW and BSW students, as well as people in the school and community,” Hoggatt said. “Being a member of the student association has been a very valuable experience, and I’ve really enjoyed it.”