Welcome to our first edition of the Student Affairs Newsletter (The SSW Student Source). Please click on the button below to check out our welcome video:
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Karen Oppenheimer, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
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Welcome to our first edition of the Student Affairs Newsletter (The SSW Student Source)! The purpose of this newsletter is to provide you with current and upcoming Student Affairs-related programs, services, and important deadlines. This is the first of two editions that will be published this semester.
As your Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and an alum of the school myself, it is my pleasure and honor to support all students in the MSW program. It is the mission of the Student Affairs Team to promote students’ academic success by assisting students in meeting the many demands of their academic and personal lives, and promoting a positive school experience. In the Office of Student Affairs, this is done through the provision of guidance, advice, and administrative assistance for MSW students. Clarification about school policies and procedures, assisting students in distress, assisting with ESDS accommodation-based needs and providing resources and referrals to promote academic success are examples of how the Office of Student Affairs assists students.
In addition to the Office of Student Affairs, the Student Affairs Team also includes the Office of Student Services, and the Office of Records and Registration including Academic Advising. Make connections with the Student Affairs Team. Students who proactively access our team’s services and programs tend to be successful in the MSW program.
Take a few minutes to look over this newsletter. In it, you’ll find valuable information to assist you this semester and throughout your academic experience in the School of Social Work. Each of the offices within the Student Affairs Team is committed to providing students with services, programs and support to promote success. Our team is always available to students and we are interested in your feedback.
Karen Oppenheimer, LCSW-C, MEd.
410-706-3608
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Dawn Shafer, LCSW-C
Assistant Dean of Student Services
http://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/student-services/
I am grateful to have been the assistant dean of student services for the past three and a half years; it has been incredibly rewarding to witness our students journeys from orientation to graduation, as they become compassionate professional social workers. The Office of Student Services provides supportive services for students, helping to facilitate success during the challenges of graduate study. Our office also serves as an advisor to the student government association, coordinates orientation and graduation, hosts the SSW peer mentoring and tutoring programs, and provides career development assistance and opportunities.
Dawn Shafer, LCSW-C
410-706-5100
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Theresa Washington, Student Services Coordinator
I have worked in the Office of Student Services for 15 years. I enjoy helping students navigate through the program from orientation to convocation. I play an active and pivotal role in orientation, convocation, job fair and career affairs workshops. I established and serve as the main point of contact for Foodify for the SSW and Student Government Association (SGA). I also manage the peer tutoring program and work closely with SGA overseeing their budget.
Theresa Washington
410-706-5100
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Danielle White-Ward, Director, Records and Registration
Welcome to the Office of Records and Registration. My name is Danielle White-Ward and I am the Director of ORR. My team and I are here from your first day of class to your walk across the graduation stage. We are here to assist you in all your registration needs whether you are a new or current student or alumni. My door is always open, so please come on by and say hello.
The Office of Records and Registration is the place to visit for help with a variety of services such as:
· Enrollment Verification
· In-School Deferments
· Dropping or Adding courses
· Transcript Evaluation (Transfer Credit)
· Licensing Letters (Graduating students ONLY)
· Degree Certification
· Leave of Absence
· VA Educational Benefits
· And so much more
Danielle White-Ward, MBA
410-706-6102
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Phyllis Pope, Records and Registration Coordinator/VA Certifying Official
Hello, I am the Coordinator for the Office of Records and Registration. In addition to providing direct administrative oversight and coordination of all direct operations of the Office of Records and Registration, I also assist students with guidance related to registration and resolving registration concerns such as change of schedules, leave of absence, etc. I am also the Veteran Administration (VA) School Certifying Official and point person in the office who processes VA enrollment certifications for eligible SSW students utilizing VA Educational benefits.
Phyllis Pope
410-706-6102
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Channon Hammond, Administrative Assistant II
Hi, my name is Channon. I am the Administrative Assistant in the Office of Records and Registration. I am frequently the first point of contact for students in the office by phone and in person. I handle general inquiries from students and visitors and perform customer service tasks for Student Affairs events and student information distribution. Additionally, I am responsible for completing specific special projects within the Office of Records and Registration.
Channon Hammond
410-706-6102
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Academic Advising and Student Engagement
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Nakiya Schurman, LGSW
Academic Advisor
Academic Advising is available for any student interested in developing a plan of study or learning more about their course options for the upcoming semesters. Please contact me, Nakiya Schurman, at
sswadvising@ssw.umaryland.edu to schedule an in-person, phone or online appointment at your convenience. If you’re curious about the profession of social work and want to learn more about careers and/or research, review the Faculty Bios to find a faculty member with matching interests:
http://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/academics/faculty-bios/.
Nakiya Schurman, LGSW
410-706-6102
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Emily Lee. MSW
Academic and Student Affairs Strategic Administrator
My name is Emily
Le
e, and
I am the Academic
and
Student
Affairs
Strategic Administrator.
I
work alongside Danielle Ward, Director of Records
and
Registration to manage
and comp
lete
the MSW program
course schedu
ling
.
On the
Student
Affairs side
,
I
am
current
l
y
working on special projects
to
strengthen and improve
how
we engage with
students,
along with working on a
career
development initiative with Dawn Shafer, Assistant Dean for Student Services.
I
am excited to have this opportunity within Student Affairs
to
meet and engage with you
.
Emily Lee, MSW
410-706-6347
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Student Affairs Team Calendar of Important Events and Deadlines
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Monday, March 12, 2018:
Student Affairs Meet and Greet (open to all current students), 4:30pm-6:00pm, SSW Atrium
Sunday, March 18, 2018-Sunday, March 25, 2018:
SPRING BREAK
Friday, March 23, 2018:
Last day to drop classes for spring 2018 semester
Tuesday, March 27, 2018:
Student Affairs Meet and Greet (open to all current students), 4:30pm-6:00pm, SSW Atrium
Tuesday, April 3, 2018:
SSW Job Fair, 10:00am-2:00pm, Campus Center
Thursday, April 5, 2018:
Web registration
for summer and fall semesters for Advanced MSW students
and continuing students. Opens at 6:00 am. (Students who have completed all foundation courses)
Thursday, April 12, 2018:
Web registration for summer and fall semesters for Foundation MSW continuing and returning students. Opens at 6:00 am. (Students who are taking foundation courses)
Tuesday, April 24, 2018:
Web registration opens for both summer and fall semesters for newly admitted students (Foundation and Advanced). Opens at 6:00am.
May 12, 2018:
End of Spring Semester
May 18, 2018:
Convocation & Commencement Ceremonies
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Follow Up Corner
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This section of the newsletter is dedicated to questions and concerns that the Student Affairs Team has received from students. The questions and responses are helpful for all students to know.
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What day is convocation?
Is convocation the same as commencement?
When should July graduates apply for graduation?
July graduates should submit their application for diploma, any time after March 1, 2018.
What if I applied for graduation early, do I
have to reapply?
Yes. Any July graduate who applied before March 1
st
, must reapply for “summer”. July graduates can still walk across the stage. This is only for APPLICATION OF DIPLOMA.
Will July graduates name be in the convocation program?
YES Commencement?
YES Can July graduates cross the stage?
Yes, for convocation only. The UMB Commencement students only stand when the School of Social Work is called.
I’m graduating in July; will I be recognized at the UMB afternoon ceremony?
Yes! For the first time this year, all graduating students will be recognized at the afternoon commencement ceremony.
What’s the difference between the morning and afternoon graduation ceremonies?
The morning ceremony (convocation), held at 9am at the Lyric Opera House, is only for social work graduates. During this ceremony, your name will be called as you walk across the stage and will have your picture taken with the Dean; each graduate receives four tickets for convocation. During the afternoon ceremony (commencement), held at 2pm at the Royal Farms Arena, students are recognized with all UMB graduates. If you are graduating in May, you will be able to pick up your diploma at the conclusion. Tickets are NOT required for commencement (you can take as many people as you want!)
How do I get tickets to convocation?
Where can I find more information about licensing?
How do I get my licensing letter?
You can obtain your licensing letter from the Registration office, located in Suite 1W05.
When can I pick it up my licensing letter?
Licensing letters for MAY GRADUATES ONLY are available for pick-up until February 28, 2018. After this date, all letters will be mailed to the address noted in SURFS.
How do I get a licensing letter for another state?
When does registration start for summer and fall?
Registration starts on different days for Advanced, Foundation and New students. Please view our calendar in this newsletter for dates.
please click here.
When will the course schedule be available online for summer and fall?
A draft summer 2018 course schedule is available
online.
A draft fall 2018 course schedule will be available on or about March 23, 2018.
What is the spring 2018 semester drop date?
The Spring 2018 semester drop deadline date is March 23, 2018.
How do I know if I have a hold on my account before registration?
Please check your SURFS account. Once you login, Click Student Records then click student records again and click view holds. Remember H1 hold is not a hold that blocks registration. If you have HOLDS on our account, contact the appropriate office NOW to clear your record, as the Office of Records and Registration CANNOT remove holds.
If I am a veteran, how do I use my VA benefits at the School of Social Work?
Please contact Phyllis Pope, VA certifying official at 410-706-6102
How do I get health insurance with UMB?
Please visit Student Accounts at this link:
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http://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/
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