Advising Team Updates

December 2023

Hello MSW Students,

We hope that this December Advisor Update (can you believe it is almost the end of the year?) finds you well – and well rested after the short break. Hang in there – a longer one is coming! And, as always, we hope that the information below helps you to stay in the know, and be prepared to be successful in your program!

Planning ahead:

Summer registration for Social Work classes will be coming soon! We will let you know when this will start. In the meantime, if you are interested/planning to take a class from a different department (electives), registration is open now.

Remember, courses must be 400+ level.

Remembering details:

If you are part of the Flint or Statewide Blended program options, and are in the OCL concentration, advanced classes (SW865 and SW866) are taken in the Weekend program option, requiring in-person classes one Saturday per month at Henry Center, Lansing. Additionally, your liaison group will be assigned accordingly - meaning that your group will meet on the same Saturdays as class at Henry Center (or whatever is determined by the group). 

Staying connected:

We will be holding the last Advisor drop-in of the semester on 12/6 at

12p-1p. Zoom information is: Meeting ID 988 1102 7639 Passcode: ADVISING



And, Jen will be hosting the EL Coffee Hour on 12/11 at 10:30-11:30 – Baker Hall.

The Bernard F. and Melissa Anne Bailey Family Fund is a student scholarship program administered by MyMichigan Health, funded through a gift from Bernard F. and Melissa Anne Bailey. Scholarships are given to students in health care fields on the basis of merit and established criteria as determined by an overseer committee.

Eligibility criteria include but is not limited to...



• Demonstrate a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
• To be eligible students must be actively enrolled in a clinical program for the upcoming fall semester of the school year. You must not be graduating prior to the fall semester.
• Submit a copy of their program acceptance letter from their school showing admittance into their health care program, even if a repeat applicant.
• Submit a professional letter of reference if a first time applicant.
• Applicants will be given points for their GPA (up to 4.0), application renewal (0.5), volunteer activities (0.5) and essay (1.0). Scholarship will be awarded based on a point system ranging from 3.0 to 6.0

Link to Website

RSVP to Laine at lputans@gmail.com or 616.204.2112

Link to Webpage

1. You cannot start “earning” hours (toward the 4,000 required for licensure) until you have received your LLMSW. Therefore, the work/volunteer between graduation and receiving your LL (date will show up in the license look up on LARA’s website) cannot be counted. 
2. The accruement of the 4,000 hours (2 years; full-time employment) and 100 hours of Supervision must be completed prior to taking the exam (matching the type of practice hours – Clinical or Generalist).
3. The concentration done in the MSW program does not determine the type of license you will work toward. This is determined by the type of work that you are doing with your LLMSW. Scope of practice details (to determine if Clinical or Generalist) can be found at: Link to Site
4. You don’t have to do Continuing Education until after your first renewal of your LMSW – when the first year cycle begins. Be sure to confirm number, format, and specific content areas needed. 
5. You do, however, need some trainings even as an LLMSW - Implicit Bias and Human Trafficking 

Please contact LARA directly regarding specific questions. 

Link to Website

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Landing Your Dream Social Work Job: Tips on Resumes, Cover Letters, and Salary Negotiation



Link to Website

We are hopeful that the Fall semester ends well, and that you have nice Holiday break!

Please reach out if you have questions/concerns regarding any of the information above, and/or about the program. 

The MSW 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