By Ashley Brown
This year marks a significant milestone for the Millie M. Charles School of Social Work at Southern University at New Orleans. The school proudly celebrates 50 years of accreditation for its Bachelor of Social Work program from the Council on Social Work Education. Since its inception in 1974, the program has committed to fostering social justice and equity. It has prepared generations of students to respond to the complex needs of their communities.
The journey of SUNO’s BSW program commenced in 1965 as a minor in the Sociology Department. Recognizing the growing demand for specialized education in social welfare, the university established a dedicated social welfare department in 1972, which laid the groundwork for the BSW program. A mere two years later, the program received its initial accreditation.
The establishment of the BSW program was not only a response to educational needs but also a societal necessity. In 1974, the federal government filed a lawsuit against Louisiana for maintaining a racially segregated higher education system, violating civil rights laws. This resulted in a Consent Decree in 1981. The settlement mandated the development of a Master of Social Work program at SUNO to enhance racial diversity across Louisiana’s public universities.
Following this directive, the School of Social Work was formally established in July 1982, with Millie M. Charles appointed as its founding dean. The MSW program welcomed its first cohort in 1983, furthering its mission to build a diverse student body that reflects the state’s demographics.
Today, SUNO’s social work programs continue to evolve, addressing critical workforce demands in child and family services, health and mental health, and mid-level management. With an increasing shift of social services from federal oversight to state and local governance, SUNO graduates are uniquely poised to make meaningful contributions to their communities.