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Advising Team Updates
May 2023
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Hello MSW Students!
We are excited to be writing as the Spring semester ends – which means some of you will be graduating and heading into the field as MSWs, others are just about to get started on your MSW journey, and others are continuing on the path to achieve your educational goals!
For all of you – please know that we are glad that we have had/will have the privilege of working with you and are looking forward to supporting you in the future in any ways that we can!
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We wanted to start by sharing about these Advisor Updates
–the who, what, where and why!
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| Who?
The Graduate Office Advising Team consists of Kelly (Asst. Director/Flint Advisor), Jen S (East Lansing Advisor), Jenn B (Statewide Blended Advisor) and Raul Vargas (MSW Student Support Coordinator/Weekend Advisor). Contact information is below. If you have questions/concerns, please reach out to us! | | What?
The team will be sending updates (like this one) at the end of each month, in preparation for the upcoming month – including happenings at the School of SW and the University, programming details, registration assistance, and other opportunities. | | Where?
The updates will come from “MSW Advising Team” and will be from Constant Contact. Please check to make sure that you are getting them to your inbox (and not spam/junk). | | Why?
The Team wants you to be in the know! We have a lot of great information to share – and this is the best way to make sure that we are keeping all students in the loop! | | |
Common Registration Questions | |
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IS THE SEMESTER OVER?
Credit/No credit is NOT an option for any courses that are part of your MSW program (400 or 800 level). This is only available for this Spring semester for Undergraduate students/programming. Please do not opt for this for any of your courses. If it is, it will be administratively changed to whatever grade was earned in the course.
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AM I ON TRACK?
Please disregard the progress report in your student record (in SIS). It does not accurately reflect your programming/progress. As you get closer to graduation, a separate degree audit/review will be done. You are always welcome (and it is recommended) to do a self-audit to cross check your schedule of courses with your program option grid, making sure that you are on track. If you have questions regarding your progress, please connect with your Advisor.
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WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?
Orientation for Advanced Standing 2023 cohorts is May 9! This is required for all incoming Advanced Standing students (in all program options)! It will be held at the Kellogg Center, on campus at MSU. Details regarding time, specific locations, etc. will be sent soon! If you have questions, and/or need accommodations, please reach out to discuss with your Advisor.
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IS THIS THE RIGHT ROOM?
Summer and Fall registration is open! When we know a date for Spring registration, we will let you know! Please refer to the “current courses” documents that will confirm class requirements and sections (for your program option), as well as elective options offered through the School of Social Work -
https://socialwork.msu.edu/MSW/current-courses.html
You are required to take courses assigned to your program option only – please register accordingly. Electives are open to everyone.
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WHERE DID THEY GO?
We are going to take a break from the Wednesday Advisor drop-in sessions for the Summer semester – with the plan to resume in the Fall. We WILL be working through the Summer, so please connect via email, phone, Zoom or in-person if wanted/needed!
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HOW FAST CAN I RUN ACROSS THE STAGE? | |
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Graduation is May 5 at 9am at the Breslin Center!
Additional details – including the Commencement program, and the link to the livestream through WKAR can be found at: https://commencement.msu.edu/ Congratulations to all of our graduates!
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HOW MANY LETTERS DO I GET AFTER MY NAME? | | |
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Some information/clarity around degree conferrals that might be helpful for those graduating in the Spring or Summer:
Degree audits begin with the School of Social Work, and are expected to be done mid-late May. The audits and recommendations then go to the College of Social Science for review. Once the review is completed, they make and process recommendation to confer degrees to the University. The recommendations then goes to the University Registrar Office performing a final degree checklist and processing of degree (posting notation on transcripts and sending of actual degree certificate). This entire process usually takes several weeks, my good faith estimate would be 4-6 weeks after final grades are posted in the University system.
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If you are planning to pursue to be limitedly licensed immediately post degree completion, it is strongly encouraged that students begin applying for Limited Licenses (through LARA) in late April/early May and make a request in the SIS system that degree posted transcripts be sent to the State of Michigan. | | |
If a letter of degree requirement completion would be helpful regarding employment, please let your Advisor know. The team is NOT able to confer your degree, nor indicate that you have graduated (as this is a University process and approval level). However, we can clarify that you have completed the program, and will receive your diploma upon the University conferral. | |
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As we “Spring” into May – we send sentiments of “Welcome” to the 2023 cohorts, “best wishes” for the 2023 graduates, and “keep up the good work” to those continuing in the program!
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
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