Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

News

New GSSW name reflects function

Officials: Change clarifies college's status

by JOHNNY M. PEÑA
The Daily Cougar

The UH Graduate School of Social Work has been renamed the UH Graduate College of Social Work in an effort to reflect the school's breadth of programs and to set it apart from other universities.

"The new title accurately reflects the broad range of programs and activities the college currently offers," Dean Ira Colby said in a release. "Plus, the change distinguishes the UH program from other such programs, state and nationwide."

The Graduate College of Social Work offers both master's and doctoral degrees. The master's program offers concentrations in mental health, health care, children and families, gerontology and political social work. The Office of Community Projects and the Office for Drug and Social Policy Research are also located in the college.

The name change helps the public know that the program is its own independent entity and not a component of another college, Colby said.

Mahasin Saleh, who is working on her doctorate, thinks the new name recognizes the growth the school has undergone.

"The name change is great. We have really functioned as a college for a while," Saleh said. "I think it really exemplifies the work that has been going on here."

Renaming the college is a timely move, Saleh said, because the new name represents the size of the institution.

"It was about time for (the name change). It embodies the growth that the college has undergone. It depicts the changes that have taken place, so it's keeping up with the times," Saleh said.

Graduate student Monica Rivera says she will have to grow accustomed to the new name.

"It's going to take some getting use to since I've always known the school by its old name," said Rivera, who found out about the change when she saw the signs outside the Social Work Building. "But I guess it's a good thing to differentiate it between a school, which is part of a college, and a college all its own."

Some students, like Leanne Perry, said the name change does not mean much because no other change will happen in the college.

"It doesn't really matter to me, because nothing else is really changing. It's just a name, and it's OK with me," Perry said.

For more information on the UH Graduate College of Social Work visit www.sw.uh.edu.
 

Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu