COVID-19 Social Work Updates
Together, we are stopping the spread.
The School of Social Work cares deeply about the health and academic progress of our students, as well as the safety of our faculty, staff and their families. We are committed to supporting the SSW community, while working together to take the necessary precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We encourage everyone to stay informed of the latest COVID-19 research and guidance. New information is emerging every week. We ask that you be kind, communicate what you need and take care of yourself.
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Face Coverings on Campus and University Provided Masks
- A face covering must be worn at all times including outdoor spaces on UB’s campuses, to further reduce the risk of transmission as people travel from place to place.
Mandatory Health Screenings
All faculty, staff and volunteer faculty/staff who come to a UB or UBMD campus must also complete the Daily Health Check.
Volunteers, adjunct faculty, tenants/affiliates residing in UB facilities, vendors, visitors and invited guests to campus who are otherwise not affiliated with the university are required to complete the Daily Health Check prior to their arrival on campus.
Please note that UB students, faculty and staff who are not required to complete the Daily Health Check are strongly encouraged to do so out of concern for their personal health and the health of the entire community.
When to Complete the Daily Health Check
You should complete the Daily Health Check early in your day. If you plan to be on campus on a given day, you must complete the Daily Health Check before you arrive.
Students living on campus must complete the Daily Health Check before leaving their residence hall for the day.
Signing up for text message notifications makes it easy to complete your Daily Health Check. You’ll receive a reminder between 7-8 a.m. with a link for that day.
After being cleared for on-campus activity, you will receive a notification badge for that day.
The Daily Health Check will ask, at minimum, whether the participant:
- Has experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the past 10 days.
- Has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the past 10 days.
- Has had contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case in the past 14 days.
- Has returned to New York State within the past 14 days from a location on New York State’s COVID-19 Travel Advisory list after having stayed in that location for more than 24 hours (round-trip Canadian travel excluded).
Source: Human Resources
Guidance for Admissions and Newly Accepted Students
Newly Accepted Student FAQ (updated 06/30/2020)
To all UBSSW prospective students – despite the current situation surrounding COVID-19, our application process for 2021 continues without interruption, and we welcome your application.
BSW grade changes and field hour reduction
- BSW students receiving “Passing” or “Satisfactory” marks rather than a letter grade will be considered to have met our minimal grade requirements in our Advanced Standing eligibility policy.
- We support the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) decision permitting reduction of field hours for successful completion of bachelor and master level field placements. Any BSW student who completed their field placement with reduced field hours and also received a “Passing” grade will be considered to have successfully met that requirement for the purpose of eligibility for our Advanced Standing MSW program.
- Additionally, should you be graduating from a BSW program with a CSWE approved reduced hour field placement, please be assured that as an MSW student with the UB School of Social Work, there will be no requirement for you to complete additional foundation field hours to receive your MSW degree – you will be all set.
A message from Dean Nancy Smyth to newly accepted students and applicants [2:31 min]
Guidance for Continuing Education
inSocialWork Podcast Update
The University at Buffalo School of Social Work’s inSocialWork Podcast will be taking a hiatus due to COVID-19 and our need to prioritize distance education. We will keep you posted on when we will return. Be kind to one another, and stay safe and healthy.
Student Emergency Funds
Some of our most vulnerable students—those who rely on the university for food, income or housing—are experiencing significant hardship due to the current crisis. Student emergency funds are available to help ensure these basic needs are met.