Learning beyond the classroom at the School of Social Welfare

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Toward Infinite possibility

July 16, 2024

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Learning beyond the classroom at the School of Social Welfare

Emily Becker

Senior Digital Media Strategist | KU Endowment

Completing a practicum or internship is one of the most vital pieces of social work education at KU. Not only does this program give students the opportunity to gain real-world experience, but it also allows students to form connections and explore different career paths.

“Being placed in these agencies and getting that experience and demonstrating what you know and what you can do and how you assist and how you can benefit their clients, could lead to future employment,” said Gary Lasley, Associate Director of Practicum Education at the School of Social Welfare.

KU students complete their practicums with a wide variety of organizations, including nonprofits, for-profits, hospitals, child welfare agencies, residential facilities and schools. But, Lasley says, no matter the organization, students often come back feeling like they’ve built relationships far beyond what they imagined.

“The common thing that I often hear from students is that connection piece, building relationships and being part of a family with the agencies that they’re placed in,” he said.

However, while some practicums are paid opportunities, many are not. With students working up to 16 hours a week at their placement agencies, they often have to cut back on other employment in addition to experiencing expenditures like the cost of transportation and buying a professional wardrobe. Currently, the School of Social Welfare is actively working to find funding that would support students while they complete this vital part of their social work education.

“It would be life-changing for students to be able to get some funds,” said Laurie Hart, Senior Associate Director of Practicum Education. “They have school, work, practicum, all of that layered, so that financial stress can just be one more burden, and if we can alleviate some of that and make that easier for them, that’s huge.”

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