Student Clubs and Organizations
Macro social work in action: Whitney Marris, Kristen Hibit, Hector Chaidez Ruacho and CRISP President Dr. Charles E. Lewis Jr., pictured at the CRISP Political Boot Camp and Media Training in Washington, D.C. Learn more about their experience.
The UB School of Social Work has a variety of student clubs and organizations that any social work student can join. Want to start a new club? Reach out to Student Services.
Information for the 2023-2024 academic year.
UB Association of Black Social Workers
Established in March 2021, UBABSW aims to promote the welfare and survival of the Black community with a foremost focus on Black people, with the means of Black unity. We have pledged to organize and develop our community by creating, providing and expanding information regarding minority concerns in social work.
Contact: Vanity Withrow, president, at ubabsw@buffalo.edu
UBSSW Graduate Student Association
The UBSSW Graduate Student Association (GSA) is a group of elected student representatives that serves as the voice for social work students at both the school and university level. GSA representatives attend faculty council meetings monthly, facilitate the selection of the commencement speaker and support commencement planning. The GSA also hosts periodic events and manages a funds budget comprised of the “Graduate Activity Fee” that all seated students pay.
Contact: Megan Battista, president, at mbbattis@buffalo.edu
2SLGBTQIA+ Affinity Group
In 2023, a group of UB MSW students formed 2SLGBTQIA+, an affinity group to share resources, check in, vent, organize and have a giggle. They created the UBSSW Alphabet & Allies chat group for current students. From here, the group may decide to become an officially recognized student organization. For now, we hope to have a few gatherings and participate in mutual aid in the greater Buffalo area.
Contact: Nic DeSmet at ndesmet@buffalo.edu or Peyton McConville at peytonmc@buffalo.edu
Macro Social Work Student Network
The Macro Social Work Student Network aims to broaden students' understanding and appreciation of macro social work. The network is an open forum for discussing systemic issues and the power that macro social work holds in creating structural support and removing systemic barriers for individuals, families and communities in long-standing, far-reaching ways.
Contact: Alisa Chirico at alisachi@buffalo.edu
The School of Social Work supports advocacy and macro social work experiences through participation in various events. Many are held during Social Work Month in March, plus a Campaign School for Social Workers in February.
Advocacy and educational events that qualify:
- Campaign School for Social Workers in Hartford, Conn.
- Legislative Advocacy and Education Day in Albany, N.Y., or for out-of-state students, your state capital's event
- Student Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
- Social Work Day at the United Nations in New York, N.Y.
- Other campaign schools for social workers may be held in other locales. For students outside New York State, contact us about your eligibility for funding for comparable programs.
Any UB School of Social Work student is eligible, including online students. You will receive specifics for the simple funding application when each event is announced through emails from Student Services or the Doctoral Program Director.
Each year, a few students receive funds, after being chosen through a short but competitive application process.
The school can only reimburse expenses after the event. Students must pay for expenses upfront and submit original/digital receipts for reimbursement. We know this poses a barrier to those without financial resources; this is an New York State requirement for using state funds.
Travel costs covered: airfare or mileage, hotel or other lodging, subway, surface transport. Registration fees are also reimbursable. No sales tax can be reimbursed; be sure to obtain a tax-exempt form (for New York State travel only) from the school resource management department.
You must have the original or scanned receipt for reimbursement. Each occupant in shared accommodations should have their own receipt.
Please note: You are responsible for obtaining excused absences from field placements and classes. The final decision is up to your field educator or course instructor. Consider offering to make a short report to the class or the field instructor following the event, which may help in being excused from class and retaining credit for field hours and provide benefit to the class, agency or office.