Dean Osteen Welcomes Students Back to School
Dear Social Work Community,
If you’re registered to start classes next week, work in a school, have school-age children, or if you’ve walked past the seasonal aisle in any grocery store, you know: it’s back to school time! For the College of Social Work, that means our atrium and hallways will soon be electrified by a din of enthusiastic students.
At pretty much every level, school is about exploring new areas, challenging yourself,
finding your spark, accomplishing goals, and growing into the person you want to become.
It’s about learning how to think critically and with empathy. And it’s about learning
to care for yourself.
School can be stressful! Reading, tests, papers, field placements, family commitments, and social pressures can quickly pile up. School helps us learn how to plan around assignments, but it’s also a chance to learn how to balance our lives, how to recognize when we need additional support, and how to ask for help.
The College of Social Work and the U are invested in providing embedded support for our students, and I urge you to utilize these resources.
- Social work tutoring and student support with Aundrea Dilanchian
- MSW Student Wellness Program with Wellness Fellow Sara Valerious
- Food, childcare, clothing, and more from the University of Utah’s Basic Needs Collective (campus-wide resource)
- SafeUT crisis chat/text line (statewide resource)
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (national resource)
Remember, whether you’re brand new to a school or have been there for decades, there is always something new to learn and always someone willing to help.
Philip Osteen, PhD
Dean