Advising Team Updates

July 2023

Happy July! 

We can’t believe how fast the Summer is going already, but hope that you are enjoying it so far (in and out of classes)! 

This update is going to be a bit shorter than others. However, we wanted you to get our monthly communication to stay in the know about what is going on, and coming up! 

Session 1/A Courses

Session 2/B Courses

Full-Summer courses

Fall registration is open. 

Please connect with your Advisor if you have questions.

Review the “current courses” lists to make sure you are enrolled/enrolling in the correct section (according to your program option).

Current Courses Link

If you receive a notice that you don’t have access to 400 level courses within the School of SW (and need an override), please complete the form:

Social Work Override Request Form

Orientation for incoming students in the Regular Program

(Flint, East Lansing, Statewide Blended and Weekend program options) is

August 14, 2023

at Kellogg Center 

Additional details will be coming later.

Social Work Student Leadership in Diversity Scholarship

The Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers is pleased to award two  Student Leadership in Diversity Scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year. These scholarships recognize and promote leaders among social work students who are working on projects, research, or advocacy initiatives that promote diversity and social justice.

Students should demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities (show ambition, vision and is highly motivated), have an above average academic record, and be working to promote the ideals of social work and our Code of Ethics. 

About the Scholarship: 



A $500.00 scholarship will be awarded for the 2023-2024 academic year to one BSW and one MSW student who is a member of the NASW-Michigan Chapter. The student must have been accepted in an accredited BSW or MSW program. Scholarship applications and essays must be submitted no later than August 1, 2023. Award recipients will be honored at NASW-Michigan’s virtual Legislative, Education & Advocacy Day on October 19, 2023. The scholarship winner must be available for an interview and the winning essay may be published in NASW-Michigan's The Bridge newsletter.

For full scholarship information and application requirements, click here.

The scholarship is available to one Master of Social Work (MSW) student each year who plans to use his, her or their social work degree to improve the lives of people with low incomes in Michigan. The scholarship awarded for the 2023-2024 school year will be $1,000.

Eligibility Requirements

The scholarship is available to individuals who have confirmed acceptance into an MSW program at a Michigan college or university and plan to start in the fall of 2023. It is also available to students already in an MSW program who have at least one more school year of study. The applicant’s course of study must have a concentration in public policy, community organization or a related area.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit an introductory paragraph that includes their name, address, phone number, email address, college or university, field of concentration, year of study, and anticipated graduation date. Applicants must also submit an essay (750-word maximum) on how they plan to use the MSW degree to work for public policy that improves the lives of people in Michigan with low incomes.

Interested students should send submissions to Karen Holcomb-Merrill [email protected] later than July 15, 2023.

Link to Scholarship Opportunity

Other Scholarship Opportunities

• NASW National Scholarships
• Click here to learn about NASW Foundation scholarships and fellowships.If you have questions, please email [email protected].
• The NASW Foundation is committed to enriching the social work profession and empowering social workers to be leaders in social policy and practice. At the heart of this commitment are national educational, research, and awards programs, which provide: doctoral fellowships, graduate school scholarships, chapter research grants, national recognition awards, lectures, symposiums, and special projects. Some of these programs have been in existence for more than 20 years – formerly, as part of The Social Workers’ National Research and Education Fund. Today they operate within the NASW Foundation.
• Geriatric Social Workers of Southeast Michigan
• Social Work Scholarships
• National Association of Black Social Workers
• Michigan League for Public Policy - Beck Scholarship
• National Federation of the Blind of Michigan - The National Federation of the Blind of Michigan is pleased to offer two scholarships, one for $1,000 and one for $500 to outstanding blind students in the state of Michigan. Students will meet over lunch with the Scholarship Committee at State Convention. The determination of which scholarship is awarded to each student will be determined by the Scholarship Committee at this time. Announcements will be made at the Banquet. One thousand dollars and five hundred dollars have been allocated to be distributed to legally blind, full time college students.
• Council on Social Work Education
• Bay Area Community Foundation
• Grand Rapids Community Foundation
• Scholarships & Financial Aid for LGBTQ Students

As a reminder, the Advising Team is available this Summer if you have questions, and/or if you want to connect! Baker Hall is quiet – but we are always on-line! 

Have a safe 4^th of July!

The Graduate Office Advising Team

Kelly Fornwalt – Assistant Program Director & Flint Advisor - [email protected]

Jen Scholes – East Lansing Advisor - [email protected]

Jenn Benway – Statewide Blended Advisor - [email protected]

Raul Vargas – Weekend Advisor & Student Support Coordinator - [email protected]

Michigan State University

655 Auditorium Road

East Lansing, MI 48824

(517) 355-1855