Chicago Semester

Nancy Fox: 18 Years with Chicago Semester

Posted by Nancy Fox in Special Tracks in Staff Stories | Aug 14, 2010

Little did I know when I participated as a student on the “Chicago Metropolitan Study” (which is the former name for Chicago Semester) that I would eventually end up spending the bulk of my professional career here! I began working at Chicago Semester back in spring of 1992 when we had our first group of six BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) students. It wasn’t until 2003 that we began offering the BSW “track” in the fall as well as spring semesters. This coming spring we will welcome our 384th BSW student to Chicago Semester!

Because of hour requirements set by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), social work students interview for their internships prior to the start of the semester. This enables students to begin their internships during Orientation Week and ensures enough hours at the site. We tailor all interviews to the individual interests of each student, and have the advantage of being located in a large urban area with a variety of social work opportunities.

While in Chicago BSW students are at their internships four to four and a half days per week, take a weekly two-hour Social Work Seminar plus one additional Chicago Semester Seminar. My role as the Social Work Coordinator is to make sure that all requirements are met in order for students to earn their BSW degrees.

Clinton Stockwell asked in his blog “why am I still here?” For me it is largely because of the immense thrill and satisfaction I get when I see former students launched into meaningful social work careers as a direct result of their time at Chicago Semester. Like the email I got today from a student I had last semester who had interned at an international adoption agency, and will be leaving for Haiti this month to work with orphans. Or the student from last fall who I had lunch with a few weeks ago, who is now working at the agency where she interned, finding employment options for newly settled refugees. Or the student I had in 1994 who is a school social worker and has now supervised four Chicago Semester BSW students and helped to initiate their careers in school social work.

It has truly been a privilege to work at Chicago Semester, and to head up and develop the Social Work track. Working with motivated, dedicated students is what keeps me going!