Added Value Opportunities

International Social Work: A Costa Rican Perspective

The program provides students a general perspective on social services and broader social problems through a combination of lectures and site visits to social service agencies. These institutions focus on the institutional as well as individual aspects of social problems through individual troubles. In addition to daily seminars and site visits, students will have the opportunity to travel to significant cultural and historical sites in and around San José.  

The following questions shape the context for these experiences: What are the differences in service delivery across cultures? How does culture influence the definitions and responses to social problems and answers? What influence does global economics have on community practice, child welfare, mental health, and schools?

Visit the Office of Study Abroad for more information

Bi-lingual Spanish Language Intensive for Social Workers

The goal of the program is to help students improve their language skills, become familiar with Costa Rican culture, and prepare future social workers to work in programs that serve immigrants. There will be several meetings prior to departure and upon return. While in Costa Rica, students will take an intensive Spanish language course at the Universidad de Costa Rica and live with a host family to further practice their language skills and be immersed in Costa Rican culture. Students can choose between two program lengths: one or two months.

Visit the Office of Study Abroad for more information

Social Welfare in India

Learn first-hand the social, economic, and political currents that impact the welfare system in India. Open to undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Social Welfare; students enroll in one 3 credit course in the School of Social Welfare. The two-week program will take place in Mumbai, India.

Visit the Office of Study Abroad for more information

Social Welfare in Italy

This 12-day program offers students the opportunity to gain an international perspective on social work through lectures, field trips to social service agencies, and presentations by social work faculty from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. The program will focus on the political, economic, and historical context of Italy as it impacts social work education and the delivery of social services. Students will visit social service agencies that address mental health, social work with children and families, public health, government and community-based social work practice, aging, and immigration issues. In addition to daily seminars and site visits, students will have the opportunity to travel to significant cultural and historical sites in Milan, Florence and the Lake Como region.

Visit the Office of Study Abroad for more information

Pathway to the Profession is an event series that provides learning opportunities throughout the year for all levels of social work students. This material is not graded and participation is just encouraged, not mandatory. We will use a hybrid approach, combining pre-recorded & live content and will also include some virtual activities (informational and for fun). We will have workshops, professional development, employment prep, and graduate school prep. 

If you do not have access to the Pathway to the Profession Blackboard site, contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu. 

Mark your calendars for the Fall Pathways to the Profession Series!

Events are open to BSW and MSW students.  Join us!

Advanced Standing MSW Info Sessions for current KU BSW students
Lawrence – Registration Form
Edwards – Monday, September 27^th at 6:00 p.m. or Saturday, October 2^nd at 1:00 p.m. (Regnier Hall room 255)

Microaggressions Are Aggressions
Discussion with Dr. Kim Warren, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the School of Social Welfare and Associate Professor of History

October 14 | 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link

Resume Formatting Nuts & Bolts
Jointly presented with the University Career Center
November 1 from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link

BSW / MSW Graduation Preparation
November 9 from Noon – 1:00 p.m. on Zoom
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link

Or

January 11 from Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link

What is Grad School? Nuts and Bolts
November 19 from Noon – 1:00 p.m. on Zoom
Contact Vicki Mignot, student services coordinator, at vmignot@ku.edu or Amea Chandler, academic success coach, at amea@ku.edu for the Zoom link

Self-Care – Managing Stress and Burnout
December – TBD

The Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial and Social Justice Program supports BSW, MSW, and PhD students in the KU School of Social Welfare who have historically and contemporarily experienced marginalization and oppression. Through financial support, mentoring, leadership and professional development opportunities, the Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial & Social Justice Program aims to enhance community, retention, and success for program scholars. 

 The Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial & Social Justice Program provides three programs for BSW, MSW, and PhD students in the KU School of Social Welfare. 

1. BSW Students: Toni Johnson Scholars ($3,000) 

2. MSW Students: Toni Johnson Scholars ($6,000) 

3. PhD Students: Toni Johnson Dissertation Award ($3,000) 

To learn more go to the Toni Johnson Scholars Program webpage. 

The Sigler Family Aging Scholars Program aims to develop the next generation of leaders in the field of gerontological social work by offering an innovative, individualized, and community engaged learning opportunity to Bachelor's and Master’s students in the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare who demonstrate a passion for serving older adults through multi-level gerontology practice, policy, and research.

To learn more go to the Sigler Family Aging Scholars Program webpage.

Integrated Health Scholars Program provides a value-added educational experience for exceptional clinical MSW students at KU to develop knowledge and skills in integrated mental health, substance use, and primary health care service delivery. Applicants must be enrolled in either the Advanced Standing MSW plan of study or the advanced year of the Traditional MSW plan of study. 

To learn more go to the Integrated Health Scholars Program webpage. 

About the School of Social Welfare Dean's Advisory Board

The Dean's Advisory Board offers an informal setting for discussing the student experience in the School of Social Welfare. The focus of the board's work is to discuss things that are going well within the school and things that need attention.

2022-2023 Dean's Advisory Board Members

• J De La Rosa (MSW)
• Virginia De La Rosa (MSW)
• Cara Ebersole (MSW)
• Kareem Hammouda (BSW)
• Faith Lopez (BSW)
• Sara Montgomery (MSW)
• Claire Ramsey (BSW)
• Jocelyn Segura (MSW)
• Eli Shafaf (BSW)
• Carley Sherer (MSW)
• Paula Taylor (MSW)
• Brian Woods (BSW)
• Leah Youngren (MSW)
• Rylie Zasypkin (MSW)

About the DEI Advisory Council

The DEI Council’s purpose is to act as a central hub to coordinate and strategically plan for DEI efforts within the School of Social Welfare and our communities. Learn more about the council's strategic priorities.

2022-2023 DEI Advisory Council Members

• Stormi Brewer (MSW)
• Ryan Duff (BSW)
• Ansley Escobar (BSW)
• Jennie Gusewelle (MSW)
• Caitlin Riley (MSW)
• Carlie Sauntry (BSW)
• Eli Shafaf (BSW)

About the Field Advisory Board

The Field Education Office has two student advisory boards made up of 10 to 15 students representing the generalist year and 10 to 15 students representing the specialization year.

These student advisory boards are made up of students in practicum, therefore the work is student-driven. Board members are asked to represent their fellow students and provide feedback and guidance to the Field Education Office regarding practicum planning, the placement process, and the field experience. The Field Education Office also provides updates and asks for feedback on specific initiatives throughout the year, and the boards may also choose to produce specific priorities and/or recommendations for the Field Education Office.

The boards meet four times a year, with the possibility of voluntary committee work in between meetings. Representation from all levels of students in field and all campuses are needed. The meetings are connected remotely between campuses in order for all to participate.

2022-2023 Field Advisory Board Student Representatives

• Felicity Anderson (BSW)
• Odessa Andree (MSW)
• Zach Burrow (MSW)
• Jeanetta Buzzard (MSW)
• Elizabeth McDermott (BSW)
• Francis Willis (MSW)

2022-2023 School Business Meeting - Student Representatives

• Elizabeth McDermott (BSW)
• Natasha Santiago-Mason (MSW)
• Briley Young (MSW)

Student Representatives to School Faculty Meetings (6 student members)

Three times a semester, the School of Social Welfare holds faculty meetings. The meetings are intended to share information about the overall university, the School and individual programs. A variety of issues are discussed and approved, including but not limited to faculty governance and curricula. The meeting includes the faculty, research faculty, the assistant dean, the director of field, and program directors from each campus.

Student representatives will be asked to provide a student perspective and on occasion be asked to solicit feedback and input from their peers. Up to six student representatives may be appointed.

About the BSW Program Committee

The BSW Program Committee is responsible for overseeing the explicit and implicit BSW curriculum, and reviewing and voting on policy issues related to the MSW program. The committee meets five to six times per year, generally on Friday mornings in Twente Hall from 10 a.m. to noon.

The committee includes:

• BSW program director (who serves as chair)
• Director of Field Education
• Four faculty members (representing the human behavior, research, and policy sequences and the diversity course)
• Three students (representing junior and senior level classes and at least one student from the Edwards Campus)

Students are responsible for attending meetings, responding to emails from the committee chair, and maintaining communication with the students that they are representing on the committee. Students contact their peers and bring concerns and issues to the attention of the BSW Program Committee. They share the outcomes of meetings with their student peers.

About the MSW Program Committee

The MSW Program Committee at the School of Social Welfare includes three student representatives, in addition to school faculty. Students represent the Foundation Year, the Clinical Concentration and the Macro Practice Concentration.

Students are responsible for attending meetings, responding to emails from the Committee chair, and maintaining communication with the students that they are representing on the committee. Students contact their peers and bring concerns and issues to the attention of the MSW Program Committee. They share the outcomes of meetings with their student peers.

2022-2023 MSW Program Committee Student Representatives

• Angie Adams
• Odessa Andree
• Ashtan Stuart

About the PhD Program Committee

The PhD Program Committee is responsible for overseeing the PhD curriculum and reviewing and voting on policy issues related to the PhD program. The committee meets five to six times per year, generally on Friday mornings in Twente Hall from 10 a.m. to noon.

The committee includes:

• PhD program director (who serves as chair)
• Five faculty members (60 percent elected by faculty and 40 percent appointed by the dean in consultation with the PhD program director)
• Three students (representing the first year cohort, second year cohort, and students who have finished coursework)

Students are responsible for attending meetings, responding to emails from the committee chair, and maintaining communication with the students that they are representing on the committee. Students are also responsible for managing the PhD Student Group. Students must contact their peers and bring concerns and issues to the attention of the PhD Program Committee and share the outcomes of meetings with their student peers.