Spotlight: Global Independent Study Information Session

The Office of Global Activities is hosting an information session for MSW students interested in pursuing a Global Independent Study!

A Global Independent Study (GIS) is a student-initiated opportunity to design a global social work project abroad. First-year students from all pathways and curriculum tracks are eligible to apply and can receive 1-6 elective credits. Grant recipients will receive up to $2,500 to help cover the cost of their experience. 

This session will provide an overview of the grant, the application process, and travel considerations, followed by a Q&A session. We will also have a panel of returned global independent study students who will share their experiences.

The session will be held at the School of Social Work Building, Room B780. Snacks will be provided. If you cannot attend the session, a recording will be made available.

Announcements

Resources to Support Puerto Rico After Hurricane Fiona

The Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in STEM and the Puerto Rican STEM non-profit organization CienciaPR created a list of 30+ vetted nonprofits doing work on the ground to help in the recovery efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona. Many of the listed organizations are community groups directly linked to affected communities. You can access this list and learn more about how you can support these efforts by clicking here.

2022-2023 U-M Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Registration Form and Survey Now Available

If you are a RPCV and wish to get connected with the U-M Peace Corps office and to be added to their RPCV listserv, please fill out the 2022-2023 U-M RPCV registration form and survey by clicking here.

U-M Graduates Now Eligible for "High Potential Individual" (HPI) UK Visa

U-M graduates are now eligible for a United Kingdom (UK) work visa, the High Potential Individual (HPI) visa. This visa aims to recruit skilled young workers from top universities across the world to elevate Britain’s workforce.

The HPI visa policy states that any person who graduated from a list of top eligible universities within the past five years is able to receive this visa to reside in the UK for two years. Those with doctoral qualifications are eligible to reside for three years. 

A job offer in the UK is not required to apply for the visa and those applying for the visa are allowed to bring dependents along with them. For more information about the HPI visa, visit the UK Government's website here and read this Michigan Daily article.

Position Available: Research Position for a Graduate Student to Work With Afghan Refugee Communities

Application Deadline: N/A

Brief Description: A research team at the U-M School of Information is looking for a graduate student to join their NSF-funded Community Tech Workers Project. In this project, they are exploring how members from within a community can be trained as Community Tech Workers (CTWs) to meet the digital needs of the community, and whether access to CTWs leads to an overall increase in the community's digital capacity. The work will include conducting interviews, analyzing survey data, and a scoping review of the academic literature on ways to reduce the digital divide. The work focuses on Afghan refugee communities in the Washtenaw County area. 

Applicants must demonstrate prior experience with conducting qualitative research, strong communication skills, proficiency in writing, and passion about the role of design in working towards justice. Prior experience conducting and analyzing interview data and working with marginalized populations is advantageous. Pashto or Dari language skills would be a plus.

This position is available to start in the Fall 2022 semester and has the potential to continue through the Winter semester and the summer. The workload will be 10-20 hours a week and flexible in terms of days/times worked. The position can be an independent study for credit or an hourly position, with a pay rate determined according to experience and level. Interested applicants should send a resume, one paragraph describing their interest in the project and experiences related to the project, and a list of coursework relevant to the position to Mustafa Naseem (mnaseem@umich.edu) and Julie Hui (juliehui@umich.edu).

Position Available: U-M English Language Institute Student Services and Outreach Coordinator

Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 5

Brief Description: The U-M English Language Institute (ELI) is a department in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts that serves international students and scholars in all U-M schools and colleges. This position supports ELI’s academic English program for international students, its ESL/EFL Teacher Education courses, its GSI Program, its co-curricular and extra-curricular offerings, and its general office operations. Qualified candidates possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, are detail-oriented, and have a global outlook. Click here to learn more and apply.

Multiple Positions Available: International Rescue Committee

Application Deadline: N/A

Brief Description: The Resettlement Asylum and Integration (RAI) team at International Rescue Committee (IRC) is hiring across multiple regions in the United States. Missy! Orr, a School of Social Work and Global Activities Scholars Program alum and current employee at IRC works on their RAI team. For more information and to apply for the positions, see below:

RAI US East Region

•  Executive Director, Wichita, KS 
•  Executive Director, Louisville, KY

Grant Opportunities

University of Michigan Library Student Mini Grants (Click here to apply)

Application Deadline: Monday, October 3

Brief Description: The applications for the U-M Library Student Mini Grants are now open. These grants offer up to $1,000 to support innovative and collaborative projects that make a real-life impact. Selected projects must strengthen community partnerships, enhance global scholarship, and/or advocate for inclusion and diversity. The U-M Library partners with students to connect them with with personalized training and support from library experts, as well as direct access to world-renowned research collections and state-of-the-art design and technology labs, studios, exhibit galleries, and collaboration spaces. Click here to learn more.

Dow Sustainability Fellows Program (Click here to learn more)

Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 5, 5:00 PM ET

Brief Description: The Dow Sustainability Fellows Program at U-M is now accepting nominations for the Master’s and Professional Fellows cohort, which offers up to $20,000 to support the development of sustainability leaders in business, government, and non-governmental organizations. The program focus for 2021-2023 is Circular Economy and Climate Protection. Fellows are expected to participate in a variety of program events, as well as manage an interdisciplinary team project. Visit the nomination process, application procedure and deadlines and program components webpages for more information. Nomination by your school is required to be considered for the program. To be considered for a nomination, contact the Office of Student Services (ssw-ossoffice@umich.edu) to request the application, then submit the application and required materials to ssw-finaid@umich.edu by the application deadline. Students selected as nominees will be contacted by the Dow Fellows Program to submit a full application package as soon as the list of nominees is received, reviewed, and confirmed. 

OGA Global Social Work Event Grant (Click here to learn more)

Application Deadline: See below for details

Brief Description: The OGA offers event grants to students who would like to propose and plan an event with a global theme. Two grants per semester are available in the fall and winter, and each grant is up to $125. Student events that have been proposed and funded in the past include showing a documentary with a global focus, hosting a discussion on a global topic, or organizing a panel of social workers who work (or have done work) abroad. Events are not limited to these categories and we encourage students to get creative and propose something new. The OGA Event Grants are given on a rolling basis. However, the full application must be received before the following deadlines and at least 14 days prior to the event date proposed.

• Fall semester events: the end of the first full week of November
• Winter semester events: the end of the second Friday in March

Luce Scholars Program (Click here to learn more)

Application Deadline: Saturday, October 15

Brief Description: The Luce Scholars Program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional internships in Asia for a total of 20 young Americans nationally each year. The program's purpose is to increase awareness of Asia among future leaders in American society. Each candidate must first be nominated by their home university. Click here to learn more about the application process and requirements.

National Archives - Highlighting Hispanic Heritage Month

U-M Considerations for International Travel