Issue 123 | May 2022

School of Social Work Office of Global Activities logo
OGA Newsletter
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.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

The U.S. has observed Mental Health Awareness Month each May since 1949, when the Mental Health America (MHA) organization initiated Mental Health Awareness Month to highlight the importance of mental health and help de-stigmatize it. Each May, we dedicate ourselves to raising awareness about mental health and the millions of people who are affected by mental illness.

Spotlight Resource: Coping with Culture Shock: a Guide for International Students

Coping with Culture Shock: a Guide for International Students

Studying abroad is becoming a global phenomenon, with students of various backgrounds traveling to universities in other countries in search of new experiences, research opportunities, and career prospects.


While preparing for all the formal aspects of such trips, like finances, documents, accommodation, etc., we sometimes forget to prepare for one thing in particular – culture shock.


From this guide, you will learn about the 4 main forms of culture shock that a student might face, the typical symptoms, and 8 tips that will help you overcome culture shock.


This guide is not only applicable for those pursuing study (whether in the U.S. or abroad); much of the information included will prove useful to anyone pursuing international travel!


To learn more about international student mental health, visit CAPS's website here.

Click here to access the Coping with Culture Shock guide
Events

International Conference on Digital Tools and Innovation in Humanitarian Response (Click here to learn more)

Date: Student registration closes Friday, July 1, Conference takes place July 6 - 7

Brief Description: At the International Conference on Digital Tools and Innovation in Humanitarian Response, some of the main research findings related to innovation in humanitarian aid will be presented. On the first day, examples of good practices in humanitarian aid and digitization in Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Colombia, and Brazil will be presented. On the second day, round table discussions about several topics and tools will take place, with special attention to good practices developed in the US, Portugal, and Spain. The student registration rate to attend is 25 euros.

Announcements

Ukrainian Family Resettlement in Detroit

We would like to pass along information regarding a Ukrainian family that is in the process of resettling in Detroit. See below for information from their sponsor, Rose Campau. Please contact Rose at rrcampau@gmail.com if you would like additional information or to stay in touch!


"Hello! I am sponsoring the resettlement of a Ukrainian family in Detroit. They are from the city of Mariupol, and have lost everything but that which they could carry. One of the parents has been offered a position in Detroit, and they are excited to join our city and begin rebuilding their lives with us. The date of their arrival is currently unknown and depends entirely on how quickly Homeland Security processes their application. To help prepare for their arrival, there are a few things that we, as a community, can help with:

1. A job! One of the daughters is 28 years old and previously worked as a purchasing manager for a cosmetics company. Her written English is very good, and is excited to improve her spoken English once here.
2. A car. Detroit is the motor city, after all, with very poor public transportation and expensive options for on-demand ride sharing. If anyone has an extra vehicle that they don’t mind sharing (or donating!) to the family once they arrive, it would drastically help them settle.
3. Affordable housing. Upon their immediate arrival, the family will need a place to stay while they look for a permanent solutions. We are searching for anyone that has a temporary spare room(s), and anyone who is able to rent to a family with a deferred (or waived) security deposit so that their funds can continue to be used to meet their most immediate needs.
4. Welcoming committee. If you’re a local business or can support one, we are looking for anything special that you would be willing to pledge towards their arrival to make the family feel connected to the city. This could be a bag of beans from your favourite coffee shop, a gift card to the boutique you love to buy clothes, tickets to a sports game, literally anything! (We will not be collecting these until we have an arrival date confirmed, and will contact pledges then.)"

Don't forget to register your travel! (Click here to learn more)

As the summer begins and some students start to set up travel plans, we would like to remind you to register your travel with U-M. The University Travel Registry is a confidential and secure database for maintaining key travel information for students, faculty, and staff traveling off campus. Your travel registration enables U-M to reach you in the event of an emergency – abroad or at home. If you are traveling abroad through a U-M administered program, you will be required to register your travel. If you are traveling through a non-UM program or for personal travel, registering your travel is highly recommended. You may also want to consider signing up for U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance Plan with GeoBlue, which you can find more information about here.

Professional Opportunities

Applications Open: American Semester Program & Inbound Exchange Coordinator at Michigan State University (Click here to apply)

Registration Deadline: Friday, May 19

Brief Description: The Michigan State University Office for Education Abroad is hiring for a temporary American Semester Program & Inbound Exchange Coordinator. The position is expected to last for around three months, and is a good fit for graduate students (particularly 20-month students) or anyone looking to break into the international/higher education field. Additionally, candidates can be based anywhere within the U.S., with up to 100% remote work.

Volunteer Opportunity Available: ELI Conversation Circle Facilitator (Click here to learn more and register)

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, May 25 (Registration opens today!)

Brief Description: Will your summer plans include a free hour a week to support international students and scholars at the University of Michigan? If yes, please consider volunteering to lead an ELI Conversation Circle! The English Language Institute's (ELI) long-running Conversation Circles will be offered both online, and, for the first time in two years, in person! 


Facilitating a Conversation Circle is an opportunity to support our international community and provide a valuable space for U-M international students and scholars to connect with one another and learn about U.S. culture. It also gives you a chance to meet new people from around the world, learn about other cultures, and build a more inclusive, globally-oriented campus culture.


The Basics

  • Summer Conversation Circles run for eight weeks: June 6 - July 31, 2022
  • Each circle consists of up to five participants led by a volunteer facilitator. 
  • The time commitment is for one hour per week for eight weeks. 
  • Facilitators can choose the day and time for their Circles
  • Facilitators also choose whether to meet in person or online. 


Requirements

No previous experience is required. To be a facilitator, you only need to:

  • Be a current U-M student, faculty, or staff member
  • Be a fluent speaker of English who is very knowledgeable about U.S. culture
  • Commit to volunteering 1 hour per week for eight weeks
  • Attend a one-hour orientation session if you are a first-time facilitator

Multiple Positions Available: International Justice Mission Virtual Internships & Fellowships (Click here to learn more and apply)

Application Deadline: Tuesday, May 31, and Thursday, September 15

Brief Description: International Justice Mission (IJM) has opened applications for virtual Internships and Fellowships for September 2022 (application deadline of May 31) working with the Global Center in Washington, D.C., or working with their Field Teams starting in January 2023 (application deadline of September 15). As a note, IJM does require that all employees "practice a mature orthodox Christian faith, as defined by the Apostles' Creed."

Multiple Positions Available: Switchboard/International Rescue Committee

Application Deadline: N/A

Brief Description: Switchboard, International Rescue Committee's funded training and technical assistance provider, is growing its team. Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the United States.


Grant Opportunities

Re-accepting applications: Global Independent Study Grant (Click here to apply)

Application Deadline: Sunday, June 5, at 11:59 PM ET

Brief Description: The Office of Global Activities has re-opened the Global Independent Study (GIS) Grant for applications. Please note that a limited number of grants will be available for travel only during the month of August. Due to COVID-19, applicants will need to carefully consider numerous factors to determine if travel is feasible. See "Considerations for Planning International Travel during COVID-19" and the U-M Travel Designations list for more guidance.


GIS is a student-initiated opportunity to design a global social work project abroad during the Spring/Summer term and earn 1-6 elective credits.


Students from all pathways and curriculum tracks are eligible to apply. Students study a topic of their choice with the guidance of a faculty instructor. Grant recipients will receive up to $2,000 to help cover the cost of their experience. 

Resources
To find previous OGA Newsletter volumes, click the OGA Newsletter Archive.
Email ssw.oga@umich.edu if you have any questions.