Things to know in

DECEMBER!

  • Social Work Grads paving new positions in KY 
  • Self-Care Scavenger Hunt 
  • Research Updates and Opportunities 
  • 2023 Oswald Award Winner 
  • Last day of fall semester is coming up!

And so much more!

Read below and stay up to date in all things College of Social Work!

Asia Payne

Asia Payne

Director of Student Experiences Student Support, Engagement and Experience (SEE)

You belong here. UK College of Social Work wants to SEE you here; SEE you supported; and SEE you successful.

As the Director of Student Experience, my job is simple: strive to create an unparalleled experience that fosters community, provides peer success, and promotes life-long learning.

Creating a positive student experience is about so much more than what happens in your courses. Forming connections with your peers, CoSW Faculty and Staff, taking advantage of opportunities for engagement and connection, and utilizing the available support resources will only enhance your experience as a CoSW student. Starting Spring 2024, Wildly Possible Wednesday’s will kick off. These will be monthly virtual engagement opportunities across various topics. Stay tuned for more information.

If you haven’t had a chance yet, check out the SEE Hub: https://socialwork.uky.edu/academics/student-support/. Here, you will discover a variety of student organizations representing diverse interests and passions, along with an up-to-date calendar of events in the College of Social Work. Whether you’re seeking academic support, help forging social connections, working to navigate the complexities of emotional well-being, looking to maintain your physical wellness, or laying the foundation for your future career, we have you covered.

If you ever need assistance to be uniquely tailored to your needs, contact: CoSWExperience@uky.edu. I will do my best to serve you.  

You belong here. UK College of Social Work wants to SEE you here; SEE you supported; and SEE you successful.  

And as a fun way to finish this semester and engage in an opportunity to win UKCoSW swag, if you have read this far: scroll to the bottom of this newsletter, complete the ‘Tell Us More’ section and share an idea for a Wildly Possible Wednesday topic by December 15. 

Congratulations to the December Graduates!

The CoSW is thrilled to celebrate 181 graduates during the December Commencement! Job well done!

Are you graduating? Submit your graduation photo here or tag @ukcosw on instagram for a chance to win some UK swag .

CoSW senior Kotomi Yokokura wins 1st place in the social sciences category for her paper on diet culture among college students

Dr. Rachel Womack successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation on Monday, Nov 27th

Her dissertation is entitled: "Exploring the Therapeutic Relationship in Mental Health Therapy with Queer and Disabled Adults"

Self-Care Scavenger Hunt

Students in SW 445, many who are December 2023 graduates, participated in a Self-Care Scavenger Hunt. This scavenger hunt activity will help you recognize and address thoughts that affect your self-confidence, discover ways to practice self-care, and identify strategies for effective learning and skill development.

Don’t miss out on Undergraduate COSW Research Opportunities!

As social workers, we engage in practice-informed research
and research-informed practice.

If you are interested in mentored research and related forms of scholarship, check out the following opportunities! The CoSW is available to support, mentor, and assist you.

December 11th, 2023

Posters-at-the-Capitol Abstracts Due (presentation opportunity)

January 16th, 2024

Undergraduate Research + Creative Experience Expo

January 19th, 2024

Aperture Journal Student Committee Application Deadline

Dates to Remember
Dec. 15: Last day of the fall semester
Dec. 15: 10am Fall Commencement Ceremony
Dec. 19: Final grades for Fall '23 semester. (grades can be viewed in myUK and on your unofficial transcript)
Jan. 7: Last day to drop a Spring 24 course with 100% refund
Jan. 8: First day of the Spring semester
Click Here
Tip from Advising:

If you need help finalizing your Spring 2024 registration plans, contact your academic advisor at coswadvising@uky.edu

As the semester comes to an end, take a moment to reflect on how your fall classes went. Identify what went well and areas for potential growth. Take some time over the winter break to set goals for the upcoming semester and make a plan to achieve them. Your academic advisor is a resource that can support you in this process so consider scheduling an advising meeting. Being intentional with your academic goals will help you have a more focused and satisfying academic experience in the future.

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Bardstown Police Department hire COSW graduate as their first-ever social services specialist

Police are taking a different approach to help people in the community and end the cycle of arrests. Olivia Raley is the most recent hire at the Bardstown Police Department. She’s a social services specialist, connecting those in crisis with resources: housing, addiction and mental health services. 

“… There’s not that gap [anymore] where people fall through the crack, where they have to wait for a referral to be processed by another system… I get to be the person that’s hands-on with the department,” Raley said. 

MSW graduate and foster parent will speak at 2023 Commencement Ceremony

Angela Jamison is a 2023 December graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) Master of Social Work (MSW) program, with a passion for helping others. She has committed time, energy, and passion to social work in multiple aspects of life. Her deep, first-hand experience with the struggles that system-involved children face inspired both her completion of the MSW program and the Trauma-Response Practice Certificate.  

“I was pulled toward a degree in social work with a desperate desire to better understand the tiny humans coming into my home and a passion to more deeply connect with the birth families of the children coming into care. The longer I worked within the system of foster care and adoption, a fiery passion to advocate for change grew”. 

NEWS & TRENDING TOPICS

TELL US MORE!

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