Volume 66 | November 2020
OGA Newsletter
an image of a globe
The Office of Global Activities (OGA) is dedicated to connecting MSW students to international social work opportunities through fundingspecial programs, academic resources, internationalized curriculum, and arranging faculty and student exchanges at partner institutions.
Best Wishes for a Restful Break!
Best wishes for a restful break!
OGA wishes you a restful Thanksgiving break. Below we've compiled various resources relating to self-care tips for college students, Thanksgiving and decolonizing Thanksgiving.

Self-Care:

Decolonizing and Racial Justice Thanksgiving Resources:

Thanksgiving in Washtenaw County:


Virtual Events
Date: November
Brief Description: The Office of Multi-Ethnic student affairs (MESA) and the Native American Student Association (NASA) collaborate with campus partners to bring a wide range of events that celebrate Native American culture with the University of Michigan campus community. Various virtual events will celebrate the heritage, history, art, and traditions of American Indians and Alaska Natives throughout the end of October and November.
Date: Various (see below)
Brief Description: Seminars take place on Wednesdays from 5.00-6.00pm GMT (UK time) on Zoom. Registration links are provided for each seminar below.
Date: Tuesday December 1, from 9 am - 1pm EST and Wednesday December 2, from 1 -5 pm EST
Brief Description: The Committee on Population (CPOP) of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine will hold a 2-day public meeting. This stakeholder meeting will bring together migration researchers and representatives of U.S. voluntary resettlement agencies to consider the role of migration research in informing programs serving refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on bringing global learning to those on the ground working with refugees.
Date: Wednesday December 2nd through Friday December 4th
Brief Description: Three-day virtual symposium is sponsored by the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work, Department of Social Work, Indigenous Affairs Committee and will highlight student work in Native Hawaiian and Indigenous research.
Date: Monday December 7, at 11:00 am EST
Brief Description: The International Institute will be holding an informational webinar on the Master in International and Regional Studies (MIRS) program for prospective students. MIRS combines an interdisciplinary curriculum, deep regional/thematic expertise, rigorous methodological training, and international experiences to enable students to situate global issues and challenges in their cultural, historical, geographical, political, and socioeconomic contexts and to approach them in diverse ways. This session will discuss topics related to the program structure, funding and financial aid, specialization tracks, dual-degree opportunities, and admissions requirements for students interested in applying for the Fall 2021 term. RSVP required to atted: http://myumi.ch/v2jDR
Professional Opportunities
Deadline: Sunday, November 29, 2020 11:59 PM EST
Brief Description: The Trotter Multicultural Center is hiring for several positions! We are looking for a Video Design Student Assistant (64618) to support Trotter in creating meaningful videos and other visual content. Our Database Administrator Student Assistant position (64619) will lead the design, construction and maintenance of databases (e.g. Salesforce). Finally, we are looking for a Building Manager Team Lead (64292) to supervise Building Managers, develop training, and perform building operations and customer service work. Candidates that apply by 11/15 (11:59pm) will have priority consideration, and 11/29 is the final deadline for application submission.
To apply, search 'Trotter Multicultural Center' at studentemployment.umich.edu
2021 Research Assistant Opportunity (PACLSHR) - COVID-19 and Food Supply Chains
Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2020 11:59 PM EST
Funding: Students will instead be compensated on hourly rates set by the university.
Brief Description: The U-M President's Advisory Committee on Labor Standards and Human Rights (PACLSHR) provides the University of Michigan President with advice concerning University policies and procedures to address labor and human rights issues in the production of licensed goods - items sold with the University of Michigan’s name, logos, or other symbols. The PACLSHR is now soliciting applications from students interested to work on a research project to explore the changing workplace practices in response to COVID-19 in the global food supply chains. Study objectives will include: (i) Understanding how COVID-19 and responses to the pandemic impacted the working conditions throughout the different stages of global food supply chains; (ii) Identifying the existing and newly exposed areas of labor and human rights risks including but not limited to workplace health and safety; (iii) Evaluating the effectiveness of any initiatives or measures to mitigate those risks; and (iv) Suggesting how the best practices could be incorporated into labor standard codes.

Email PACLSHRApplications@umich.edu with any questions. To receive the call for application email ssw.oga@umich.edu
Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2020 11:59 PM EST
Brief Description: Working with the Head Peace Corps Strategic Campus Recruiter and the UM Peace Corps Office Coordinator, the Assistant Peace Corps Strategic Campus (Strat) Recruiter will increase awareness of Peace Corps Volunteer opportunities on campus and in the surrounding community through a variety of recruitment activities, including, but not limited to: delivering class or club presentations; tabling in public, high-traffic areas on campus and/or at career fairs; organizing and facilitating application workshops and retention events; and developing relationships with key stakeholders on campus. Please note, applicants must be returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

For more info about the Peace Corps office at the International Center, visit: http://internationalcenter.umich.edu/peace
Deadline: Monday, December 14, 2020 11:59 PM EST
Brief Description: The Council of Global Student Organizations (CGSO) is excited to announce that applications are open for student Leadership Board members. Undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in engaged learning, international education, and student organization leadership are encouraged to apply for this professional development opportunity. The CGSO exists to connect U-M student organizations that travel internationally in order to network, learn best practices, and access resources. The CGSO Leadership Board (e-board) includes professional staff and student volunteers, who shape the goals and guide the activities of the organization. This is a unique professional development opportunity that provides valuable leadership experience, applying best practices in cross-functional international travel-related student organizations. Email contact-cgso@umich.edu with any questions.
Grant Opportunities
Deadline: Rolling
Brief Description: This fund is intended to help departments and student organizations recognize the diversity of the international student population through special events and programming. We are looking to fund creative and collaborative programming that will address the following goals:
  • To elevate the voices of the international student population at the University of Michigan.
  • To provide programming to support international students.
  • To hold events or offer initiatives of particular interest to the international student population, at large or subsets of it (cultural, vocational, etc).
The application process is currently rolling. Departments and organizations are encouraged to apply at least 14 days in advance of their planned event.
Emergency Funding
Please contact the SSW Office of Student Services (ssw.finaid@umich.edu) if you are in financial hardship due to COVID-19. OSS staff will assist you to find funding to support you.
If you are facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 or any other unforeseen situation, the Dean of Students Office stands ready to assist you. Students must contact the Dean of Students Office by phone (734-764-7420) or email (deanofstudents@umich.edu).
CEW+ is able to offer small emergency grants to current U-M Ann Arbor graduate students. These grants are for unexpected financial emergencies that threaten to derail degree progress including funding issues that are a result of COVID-19.
Resources
All around the world, thousands of children are travelling across and between borders as unaccompanied and separated children. Different countries may respond to the needs of these children in different ways, but the concern for children on the move is a global one. More than 20 organisations, including IFSW, ISS, UNICEF, and UNHCR, have come together to design a course for social workers and others concerned with the welfare of children. The course is free of charge, can be studied on one’s own pace and is available in four languages: Arabic, English, French and Spanish. More information can be found here: http://www.childrenonthemovemooc.com/
The University of North Carolina Office of Ethics and Policy. recently hosted a book talk with Dr. Yoosun Park, faculty at Smith College of Social Work, on her book and research titled:  Facilitating Injustice: The Complicity of Social Workers in the Forced Removal and Incarceration of Japanese Americans. Dr. Yoosun Park's book helps to understand the ways in which the Social Work profession has and continues to perpetuate racism.

Park’s scholarship, framed within the broad substantive area of immigration, pursues two overlapping lines of inquiry: social work’s history with immigrants and the issue of immigration.
Fall Term 2020 FAQs for New & Continuing Students
The International Center Fall 2020 FAQs for the International Center's COVID-19 Updates page. The webpage will be updated with new information as it becomes available. If you have other questions and concerns, please email the International Center at icenter@umich.edu.

"This document was initially directed at ways for how to turn fieldwork that was initially planned as using face-to-face methods into a more ‘hands-off’ mode. However, people have added useful material about ‘born digital’ research (content already generated on the internet by online interactions), which provides an alternative source of social research materials if researchers decide to go down that path."
A photo for CAPS' online anxiety workshop
This three session video workshop will focus on understanding anxiety, learning strategies to manage anxiety, and developing a plan to apply the strategies on a daily basis wherever you are during the Pandemic.
SSW has listed resources and information on this web page related to tuition costs, financial aid, employment, health insurance and general questions and support.
To find previous OGA Newsletter volumes, click the OGA Newsletter Archive .
Email ssw.oga@umich.edu if you have any questions.