Supporting Students, Growing Professionals: Social Work Interns at OGE GradSupport
For OGE’s GradSupport team, hosting interns from local universities has proven beneficial for both MIT and the students.
Hailing from Boston College’s School of Social Work, current interns have taken on some student support tasks while they work toward their degrees. The social work program is an excellent fit with GradSupport, as the interns receive academic credit in return for their work, which meets part of their training requirements.
Daniel Lu and his fellow intern have been meeting directly with students experiencing a wide range of personal and academic challenges, including those requesting extensions or excused absences and those who could benefit from additional support in meeting deliverables. They connect students with resources, and conduct assessments and process applications for the OGE Emergency Hardship Fund and the MIT Health Miller Fund. Both interns have also provided support to students in the MIT Summer Research Program as they adapt to their new setting on campus.
This past year, Lu joined the planning team for Graduate Student Appreciation Week, conceiving and executing a novel scavenger hunt to encourage graduate students to learn more about MIT’s various support offices.
In working with interns, OGE follows a path well established by other Institute offices, including undergraduate Student Support Services (S3). S3’s Don Camillo was particularly helpful in sharing connections and materials such as onboarding documents.
Suraiya Baluch, team lead for OGE’s GradThriving unit (where GradSupport is embedded), notes that it’s been a pleasure to share some of her past clinical experiences with the interns, and she truly enjoys the energy and perspectives that they bring. Fresh from their own studies, the interns are current with the latest developments in the field and can empathize with those they’re helping, as they are fellow graduate students.
On their part, both interns are glad to engage with the broad range of cases at MIT. As they conclude their internships, their experiences now include leveraging resources for clients with many issues. They have also gained exposure to the MIT health care system, working relationships with campus partners such as Violence Prevention & Response, the CARE Team, and Disability and Access Services, as well as varied departmental cultures. Opportunities to connect with other MIT interns were another benefit.
Their time with OGE has not only enriched their professional development, but also strengthened MIT’s capacity to support graduate students with empathy, insight, and care.
—Heather Konar, OGE