Department of Social Work

Oglala Lakota College

He Sapa Cohort - Graduation, June 2009

Social Work Faculty

Jeffrey Olson & Larry Parker

Larry is leaving for Washington State

We will miss you Larry!!!!!!!!!

New Faculty

Larry Salway has agreed to rejoin the faculty and will be teaching Methods I and Policy next fall.

Kathryn Kidd will be completing her PhD from Colorado State University this summer and is joining the faculty as Field Coordinator and will be teaching Research and the practicum seminar to seniors - next fall.

Welcome Kathryn and Larry!!!

Pejuta Haka Class of 2010 (and Larry)

Some of our He Sapa 2010 Grads (& Cathy!)

Message to students interested in the Social Work Program

Any student can declare social work a major. We encourage you to do so as early in your academic career as possible. The Chairperson will create a "Social Work Program of Study" for you that outlines what classes you need to take in what semester in order to graduate. While this does not replace the status sheet your counselor fills out with you, it does give you a sense of being able to plan what you will do up to three years in advance.

Once you declare social work as a major you have the status of "tracking major." After you complete the OLC Core Curriculum and Sowk 203 - Foundations of Social Work, you will fill out the "Advanced Major Application." You can download that application by clicking on the link in the column to the left. You must meet the criteria listed in the first page of the application to be admitted to "Advanced Major."

Please be clear about the difference between "Tracking Major" and "Advanced Major."

Accreditation News:

The CSWE Commission on Accreditation voted to accept OLC's Benchmark II document in June 2008. Our Benchmark III Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation visit occurred on April 6, 2009. The Commission will vote in June 2010 to accept the Commissioners recommendation that the program proceed to put together the final self-study document.

We have a full site visit in winter 2010.  If we continue to meet the benchmark standards, we expect the Commission to vote to accredit us in June, 2010.  Once accreditation is earned, all graduates of the program will be considered to have graduated from a CSWE accredited program.    The primary benefit of accreditatin for students is that you are eligible to enter an advanced standing MSW program. What this means is that you spend a year earning a MSW rather than two years. The OLC senior year is judged equivalent to the first year of a traditional two year MSW program.

Message from the Chairperson:

The social work program at OLC is seeking to change the face of social work on the reservation.  We are working with students and community to found social work in a vision of the future. This vision forms what we do in the program.

We do our best to create the program within the understanding that everything is inter-related and sacred. While all systems of belief are honored in the OLC Social Work Program, the guidance offered by Woope Sakowin, the seven sacred laws is foundational.  What professional social work within the Lakota world looks like will take a number of years to form.  

The Department of Social Work’s mission is to facilitate students to develop the necessary ethics, skills and knowledge to (1) enter beginning professional social work practice, and (2) over time creatively move into leadership roles within tribal, state, and federal organizations that focus on the health and well-being of the Lakota people.  

 I welcome any inquiries concerning the program. 

Jeffrey Olson, MSW, Ph.D

Department of Social Work

Oglala Lakota College

PO Box 490

Kyle, SD 57752

605-455-6055 - Office

605-454-1513 - Cell

jolson@olc.edu