Dear Barry School of Social Work Students,
I want to first express my admiration for each of you as you have persevered through very challenging times. Your resilience is evidenced by your unique abilities to balance family life, global events, personal tragedies and hardships, classes, field assignments, and your well-being. I want to also welcome our new BSW, MSW, DSW and MSW Online students. As we prepare for fall 2020 our challenges continue to evolve and each day brings new information that requires deep thought and consideration. Through all of this, our priority is on you, our students.
These are not easy times. Your faculty, program directors, and all members of your administrative team are putting plans in motion to deliver your program in an environment that emphasizes quality education and flexibility with your health and the well-being of you and your family in mind. We believe our plan will shape an educational experience that allows you to acquire the knowledge and skills in a manner that meets your career goals.
We know you need as much information as possible to get started on your educational journey at Barry. By now, you have received communication from your respective Program Directors describing how your courses will be delivered. My communication to you seeks to confirm and provide some clarification about how, together we will approach the fall semester. I ask for your continued patience and flexible attitude and we promise the same.
Start Dates:
- BSW Classes August 31, 2020
- BSW Field Education August 31, 2020
- MSW Classes Tues. Sept. 1, 2020 / Thurs. Sept 3, 2020/ Sat. Sept. 5, 2020
- MSW Field Education August 24, 2020
- MSW Online Classes September 5, 2020
- PhD Classes September 2, 2020
- DSW Online August 10, 2020 Asynchronous Model August 15, 2020 Synchronous Model
New Student Orientation:
- BSW August 18 – August 20, 2020
- MSW August 22, 2020
- MSW Online August 22, 2020
- DSW Online August 8, 2020
- Field Education Orientation August 22, 2020
University Support Services
We know our new students will need to learn how to connect on our Barry platforms, learn how to access library services, and how to become involved in our Center for Human Rights and Social Justice, Social Work Student Association, and our LEADay advocacy initiative. All of this information will be provided to you at your New Student Orientation.
Understanding many of our new students will engage in remote or online instructions, I invite you to take a virtual tour of our campus and facilities and discover the beautiful campus community to which you belong and the many educational support services available to you.
Expectations
You will be expected to follow your program’s expectations for class participation and attendance. If you are registered for a Field Education course, it is expected that you will follow the expectations of our Field Education Department. There are limitations on the number of hours you can earn through assignments. You will be provided the opportunity to complete your field experience with an agency that has met our safety standards. You will need to adhere to the health practices that we have become accustomed to: daily symptom self-check, physical distancing, face coverings, handwashing, and any other health and safety precautions of the agency. When offered this opportunity, if you are unable to engage in an in-person field internship, or choose not to so engage, please contact the Director of Field Education immediately to discuss how this will impact your progression in the program.
An acknowledged and distinguishing feature of our School is our dedication to student learning within and outside the classroom. Throughout the year, as an extension of your learning experience, your Program Director, Field Education Director, and your Coordinator of Student Services have planned a series of virtual professional development opportunities. You are expected to actively participate in these events. If you want to develop and present a professional development opportunity to your fellow students based on your area of interest, knowledge and/or expertise, please feel free to contact your Coordinator of Student Services, at STheile@barry.edu.
For our BSW and MSW out of state students.
If your personal situation requires you to remain remote, you have the option to do so.
- We have worked hard to enable you to engage in your coursework from the location of your choosing and attend classes remotely (“FlexLearning”). Please notify your Program Director immediately.
- All BSW Social Work courses will be offered using a combination of synchronous (real time) delivery and person-to-person in class instructions. This means if for compelling reasons you cannot attend classes person-to-person, you may advise your Program Director accordingly to attend remotely for the fall semester.
- If you are taking classes remotely, you will need your computer, internet access, a camera, and a headset with a microphone.
For our MSW and PhD Students whose classes are traditional person-to-person
- All courses will be offered via remote instructions. Classes are scheduled in accordance with your usual on-campus schedule and attendance policy and protocol will apply.
For our MSW and PhD students
If you learn best outside of your home and prefer to come to main campus or the Palm Beach site,you have the option to do so! Your classes are all remote except your Field Education Internship.
- The University is designating spaces on our main campus that allow students to gather, however, all health safety precautions are required; daily self-check, masks, physical distancing, accessing sanitizer stations, and hand washing. Your program will also have similar designated spaces that you may access in Powers Hall or in the Palm Beach Office.
- You may come to study, engage in coursework remotely, or “meet” with others. Stay for part of the day or all day – the choice is yours. Your program staff will work with you to plan your time on campus – please contact your Program Director for further discussion.
- You will also need your laptop computer, a camera, and a headset with a microphone.
There are many Barry staff, faculty and students working together to create physical environments for our community that promote health and well-being. From changes to our classroom layouts, to enhanced cleaning protocols, and even augmented building engineering controls, we are creating “layers of protection” to promote a culture of safety. For general information about how the University is preparing for the fall, please visit Back to Barry. If for any reason, something in your situation has changed and you suddenly need a residence, visit Barry Housing and feel free to contact your Program Director.
As conditions allow, we look forward to seeing more of you in-person. Our programs have a strong history of helping our students grow new relationships, build professional networks and establish strong connections with the faculty and staff. That has not changed! Even though we may be physically distant this semester, we will not be socially distant. We have every confidence we will get beyond this unique moment in our history and come out on the other side Generation Strong.
We are excited to welcome our new students and our returning students to Barry University School of Social Work! If you have any questions or concerns please contact your Program Director.
Be the Voice of Change
Respectfully,
Phyllis F. Scott
Phyllis F. Scott, PhD
Dean