Student Support & Resources
The Student Services Department is dedicated to supporting the academic and personal journey of each and every student at the School of Social Work.
Our team is committed to providing comprehensive resources designed to enhance your educational experience and ensure your success. From personalized advising and career development to academic workshops and mental health support, we offer a range of services tailored to meet your unique needs.
Whether you’re seeking guidance on coursework, exploring professional opportunities, or needing assistance with personal challenges, our department is here to help you thrive throughout your time at the UW School of Social Work.
Student Visas
Student Visas
Status Checks and Support re Student Visas
International students and scholars are essential and valued members of our University and they contribute immensely to our community, state and nation. In response to UW students having their visas cancelled without notice, the University of Washington is regularly checking the status of students’ visas and is offering support and resources to students, including access to legal services as well as mental health and academic support.
Please explore these additional immigration resources:
Mental Health Resources
The School of Social Work’s Mental Health Specialist provides free services to enrolled students, including drop-in support, referrals, and skills workshops. To connect with the Mental Health Specialist, visit this Canvas page.
Free short-term counseling plus therapy and skills groups are available to registered BASW and all MSW students through the UW Counseling Center in Schmitz Hall 401.
Free drop-in virtual support from licensed counselors is available most days of the week and in many languages using a model called Let’s Talk. Check current Let’s Talk availability and register.
Students who are in crisis and need immediate support can contact MySSP to receive same day crisis services in multiple languages via telephone or app. This service is available to all UW students.
The Crisis Clinic – not affiliated with the UW – is available for phone calls 24 hours each day. They provide immediate, confidential assistance for people in emotional distress and in need of help.
Communications Center
Program Blogs
- BASW Student Blog
- MSW Student Blog (for Day and EDP)
Program Newsletters
Facebook Groups
- MSW Entering 2014-2015 EDP Cohort
- MSW Entering 2015-2016 EDP Cohort
- MSW Entering 2015-2016 Day Cohort
- MSW Entering 2016-2017 Advanced Standing Cohort
- MSW Entering 2016-2017 Day Cohort
- MSW Entering 2016-2017 EDP Cohort
- MSW Entering 2017-2018 Advanced Standing Cohort
- MSW Entering 2017-2018 Day Cohort
- MSW Entering 2017-2018 EDP Cohort
- SSW Social Justice Group
- SSW Main FB Page
School of Social Work News & Events
- Learn more about what’s happening inside the School of Social Work with our Recent News Posts
Listservs
- SSWBASW (Mandatory for BASW Students; automatically subscribed):
- SSWMSWDAY (Mandatory for MSW Day Students; automatically subscribed):
- SSWMSWEDP (Mandatory for MSW Extended Degree Program Students; automatically subscribed):
- SSWJOBS (Optional listserv; includes Job and Volunteer Opportunities):
- SSWTALK (optional listserv):
- SSWALL (Mandatory for all social work faculty, staff and students):
Student Event Calendar
Please check out the UW Academic Calendar for registration dates, add-drop deadlines, dates of instruction, and holidays.
*Disclaimer: this calendar is consistently changing and there may be events and meetings that are missed; please use this calendar as reference only.*
If you have an SSW student-oriented event to add that meets the criteria above, please send all pertinent information to sswstdnt@uw.edu.
Ombud
The School of Social Work ombud is a tenured member of the faculty elected by staff, the student body, and faculty to a term of office beginning in the fall quarter after election in the spring and serving for two academic years. While in office the ombud does not serve in an administrative post within the School of Social Work, such as associate dean or program director.
Any School of Social Work student, staff member or faculty member of any rank may approach the ombud with a complaint regarding possible infringement of rights or interests, lack of appropriate action by others, or a complaint naming another member of the School of Social Work community.
The ombud accepts academic and nonacademic complaints. Academic concerns include, but are not limited to, instructional methods, classroom interaction patterns and grading procedures. Nonacademic concerns include, but are not limited to, perceptions of discrimination and unfair treatment. The ombud role is that of mediator, not advocate.
School of Social Work Ombud position description
The current ombud is William (Bill) Vesneski
University of Washington Ombud Office
Mission
The School of Social Work ombud’s mission is to assist in the protection of the rights and interests of individual members of the student body, the faculty and the staff against arbitrary or capricious action, lack of appropriate action by the School of Social Work, the student body, the faculty or the staff, or to assist in the resolution of complaints between individual members of the community or individuals and offices within the School of Social Work community.
School of Social Work Office of Student Services
4101 15th Ave NE
Box 354900
Seattle, WA 98195-4900
mswadvising@uw.edu / 206-543-8617
BASW Program
Nicole Guenther
Assistant Director; BASW Advisor
Email / 206-685-8345
Amelia Gavin
Director, BASW Program
MSW (Advanced Standing, Day, and EDP)
Lin Murdock
Director of Student Services
Email / 206-616-5830
Jennae Carpio
Asst. Director, MSW Advisor – DAY 2, Concurrent and International Students
Email / 206-616-3646
Leanne Do
MSW Advisor – EDP Part-time students
mswadvising@uw.edu
Ty Bean
MSW Advisor – DAY 1 Students
mswadvising@uw.edu
PhD Program Office
Shirley Chu
Email