Advising Team Updates

February 2024

Hello MSW Students!

Well – 2024 sure has gotten off to a very interesting start for many of us for a lot of different reasons! And, hasn’t the weather been wild!?!

We hope that this update finds you safe and warm – wherever you are in the State! We wanted to send this update (February) a bit early due to some time sensitive information.

Upcoming events, opportunities and resources

Link to Document

Michigan Holistic Defense Fellowship

Summer 2024 is available. The Holistic Defense Fellowship offers the opportunity for a select group of law and social work students to spend a summer working at a public defense organization in Michigan engaged in the practice of holistic defense. This fellowship will not qualify as a field placement because of the hours (less than what an MSW internship requires) and timing (only available in the summer). But, would be a great opportunity if this is a practice area of interest. There are 5 locations available for this paid fellowship: Wexford/Missaukee Counties, Allegan/Van Buren Counties, Genesee County, Calhoun County, and Macomb County. Please see the attached flyer for additional details and application.

Macro Social Work Student Association

Macro Social Work Student Association (MSWSA) is now an official Registered Student Organization! The group is made up of BSW, MSW, and PhD students- all are welcome. Gina Gembel (tremont3@msu.edu) is serving as the faculty advisor for the group. Please reach out to her if you have questions, and/or are interested in joining!

The group’s first meeting this year is scheduled for Tuesday 1/30/24 at 6pm where Dr. Leo Kattari will be the first guest speaker on the topic “Community Organizing and Other Macro Social Work Activities”. Please see flyer attached.

Workshop Opportunities

2024 Social Workers Confronting Racial Injustice Conference

Theme: “The Future is Now” - FREE conference through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dates are

1/26 and 2/2,

12:00-3:30PM CST each day.

https://confrontinginjustice.socwork.wisc.edu/

Child Welfare Workshop

If you are interested in learning about Child Welfare as a practice area, including MSW programming and career options, check out the Child Welfare Workshop

Date: Wednesday, January 31^st

5pm to 7pm

Zoom Link Provided Upon RSVP to montema7@msu.edu by January 29^th, 2024. Additional details are in the flyer attached.

Reminders

Registration

Registration for Summer will be opening soon. We will be in communication once the offerings are finalized, and available for review. In the meantime, if you are interested/planning to take a class from a different department, registration is open now. Remember, electives must be 400+ level.

Date Reminders for

Spring 2024

No class 2/13/24

Spring Break 2/26 - Friday, 3/1

Phi Alpha Meeting

Phi Alpha will be having their first meeting of the semester!

This will take place on...

Thursday February 1st.

Current members, please keep an eye out for the email.

For qualifying members this semester, we will be reaching out next week. If you have any questions, please contact the Faculty Advisor for the group at

vargasra@msu.edu

GradSAC

GradSAC will be having their next meeting on...

Wednesday February 21st

7pm

If you are interested in joining or have any questions regarding the student organization, please contact the Faculty Advisor for the group at

warrenj7@msu.edu

SPOTLIGHT OF THE MONTH

$$$ Show Me the Money!

In support of early preparation for the 2024-2025 academic year, we wanted to share some financial resources and options. Please see attached flyer for details, links, and contact information.

Link to Document

In Closing

We hope that the semester has gotten off to a great start!

As always, if you have questions and/or concerns regarding your programming and/or student experience, please reach out to your Advisor. We are happy to help!

We wish you a happy February – may it be filled with lots of love!

The Graduate Office Advising Team

Kelly Fornwalt – Assistant Program Director & Flint Advisor - fornwalt@msu.edu

Jen Scholes – East Lansing Advisor - warrenj7@msu.edu

Jenn Benway – Statewide Blended Advisor - benwayje@msu.edu

Raul Vargas – Weekend Advisor & Student Support Coordinator - vargasra@msu.edu

Michigan State University

655 Auditorium Road

East Lansing, MI 48824

(517) 355-1855