School News
The School of Social Policy & Practice is a vibrant community on Penn’s campus. On a daily basis, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni engage in research, discussions, social activities, mentoring, and professional development. Below are some of the most recent pieces of news from the SP² community.
Summer Classroom Renovations Completed
From wall to wall and floor to ceiling, Caster classroom D-28 was completely renovated this summer. Thanks to the 2006 Class Gift and the Adopt-A-Classroom Reunion Gifts, SP² students now enjoy another vibrant and welcoming educational space. The renovations include new drywall (in place of cinderblock), fresh paint, new lights, colorful tile floor, new blackboard, dynamic mural, and state-of-the-art chairs and writing tablets.
This is the second classroom that has been renovated as a result of the funds raised through the graduating class gift campaign. The previous year, the 2005 Class Gift Campaign sponsored the renovation of Caster A-14, which was transformed from an unusable space into a warm classroom. As the class gift tradition continues to grow, social work graduates are able to create a positive, tangible legacy for future generations of Social Policy & Practice students.
The generous donors who supported the classroom renovations will be recognized on a parchment inside the new rooms, while plaques honoring the sponsoring classes will hang outside of the classroom entrances.
Click here to view photos of the new classrooms, and to compare before and after pictures of D-28.
Social Work named to the Best Careers List
Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice has long known what the Wall Street Journal recently announced: that social work is a great career. In naming social work, counseling, and related manager positions to its Best Careers List, the WSJ used the results of a Harris Polling survey to determine which careers offered the attributes most commonly found in careers with high satisfaction rates. According to U.S. adults, high career satisfaction is linked to the following:
· Good intellectual stimulation
· Strong job security
· High level of control and freedom in what to do
· Extensive direct contact with customers/clients
Read the full article on Best Careers or the interview with a Social Work Manager.
Alumni Council Welcome Breakfast
With hot breakfast sandwiches, trivia questions, and giveaways, the Alumni Council and Alumni Relations Office hosted the second annual “Welcome Breakfast” for new and returning students. At the Thursday, September 7 event, before classes began for the day, students were greeted by many of the current members of the Alumni Council. Those in attendance not only received an official welcome from the SP² alumni community, but also heard about the value of alumni connections and the alumni benefits that await them. Kevin Grigsby, DSW'90 and Chair of the Alumni Council, introduced the featured speaker, Steve Wilmot, MSW’97. As both an alumnus and a part-time faculty member at the School, Steve highlighted the reasons why he has stayed active in the School since his own graduation.
Click here to view photos of the event.