Resources and Services
Facilities
The Social Work Library
The Social Work library, located on the first floor of Edith Abbott Hall, is one of the Crown Family School’s outstanding educational resources. The Library’s collection covers all aspects of social services and social work, as well as related material from other disciplines. Reserve readings for Crown Family School classes are located here.
The Library provides online access to thousands of ejournals and ebooks, as well as hundreds of databases. Computer workstations are available in the Library, which provide access to all of our online resources as well as various software products to assist you with your individual research.
The staff of the Social Work library are available to help researchers locate appropriate materials in the Social Work library and elsewhere in the University Library System. The Social Work Librarian can also provide research consultations and assistance with citation management tools upon request.
Students can access real time help with their research questions through the "Ask a Librarian" chat service. Students can also contact the Social Work Librarian, Holiday Vega, directly at holi@uchicago.edu to set up research consultations, ask questions about searching for peer-reviewed literature, or help with citation management.
Computer Laboratory
The Crown Family School provides a computer laboratory that is equipped with 13 PC-compatible machines. This lab has been established for the exclusive use of Crown Family School students and staff, Crown Family School computer-based courses, and other instruction. The Crown Family School has 16 PC-compatible laptop computers for in-class instruction use. Each computer offers the latest software provided by the University for coursework and any applications required by classes at Crown Family School. In addition, the lab computers have high-speed connections to the Internet for browsing and email services. Students also have access to the Wireless Internet that is available throughout The Crown Family School buildings for use with their personal devices. The Crown Family School employs its own in-house IT staff for technical support.
Students use the lab to work on their own assignments and research; they also use the lab for statistical analysis for quantitative research courses. All students make use of the lab at one time or another for either required coursework or individual research and each student is provided with a limited amount of password-protected storage to use while attending the School. In addition, for a low per page fee, students are able to print coursework and other pages from our computer lab machines or their personal device on the University Library’s tap-to-print system with their ID card and can print at Edith Abbott Hall or at any location where Library system printers are available on campus.
The lab is available during all hours when Edith Abbott Hall is open. Additional computing University resources are also available throughout the campus, including the Crerar Library Cyber-Cafe and Regenstein Library computing lab.
Services
Advising
All enrolled graduate students at the Crown Family School receive general academic advising through the office of the Dean of Students. When students enter the Crown Family School as a first year student,they are assigned a faculty advisor with whom they are encouraged to discuss their academic program and career plans. Faculty advisor assignments are generally made at random and are assigned by the Curriculum and the Dean of Students offices during the Autumn quarter each year. Throughout their attendance at the Crown Family School, students will keep the same faculty advisor, however, are also encouraged to engage any faculty member for advice or information regarding their interests or career goals. The student tab of MyCrownSchool (https://mycrownschool.uchicago.edu/)contains many helpful advising tools, including course schedules, degree maps,writing supports, and more. The Dean of Students web page (http://www.crownschool.uchicago.edu/dean-students/) provides additional information regarding academic support and advising.
Career Development
The Office of Career and Leadership Development provides career and professional development programs for master’s and doctoral students, including skills-building workshops, individual career counseling, job-search strategies, leadership development programming, and posting of jobs in the Chicago area.
Quarterly workshops provide students with the skills needed to develop efficient job-search strategies, to convey transferable skills, to write effective resumes and cover letters, and to learn sound interviewing techniques.
To help provide networking opportunities, Alumni Relations offers a database of more than 1,000 recent Crown Family School graduates who have volunteered to be resources by offering advice and guidance to job-seekers. Several of these alumni also serve on quarterly career panels sponsored by Career and Leadership Development to discuss their transitions from school and their current career paths, as well as to offer advice to graduating students. Alumni and students also participate in a shadow program during the summer to provide one-on-one direct workplace experiences.
In order to better inform Crown Family School students about potential career paths, the Office of Career and Leadership Development sponsors an Employer Information Session series throughout the academic year. Employers representing the broad spectrum of post-graduate opportunities will join students at the Crown Family School for informal information sessions detailing the nature of the work performed by their organizations, how they may best fit Crown Family School graduates, and what the organizations are seeking in successful candidate applications, as well as application information and contacts. Some of these employers will also conduct onsite interviews at the Crown Family School and subsequently hire graduating students.
Throughout the academic year, Career and Leadership Development will also alert students to several summer, year-long, and post-master’s internship and fellowship opportunities. In addition, we will host several information sessions with representatives of these organizations along with Crown Family School alumni who have been past recipients of these internships and fellowships.
During Spring break, students can participate in the Crown Family School’s Washington Week. This program brings together Crown Family School alumni in the Washington, DC area with currently enrolled students. Often meeting at alumni work sites, students learn about careers in the public and non-profit sectors, as well as about careers in research, advocacy, lobbying, and program management.
Additional Career Development services and programming for all students are coordinated with UChicagoGrad.
Professional Learning Opportunities
The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice provides a variety of meaningful programming to a diverse community of value aligned learners. We seek to equip practitioners with the ability to change harmful or ineffective systems at the national, local, and personal level. Our goal is to provide lifelong learners new skills and knowledge to integrate into their individual and organizational practices, and opportunities to connect with other providers.
Our professional learning opportunities are designed primarily for licensed social workers and other human service professionals. To learn more about professional learning opportunities at the Crown Family School visit us at: https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/academic-programs/professional-learning-opportunities
U-Pass
The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice offers all eligible master's and doctoral students in the Social Work program a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) U-Pass. The U-Pass program allows cardholders unlimited rides on CTA trains and buses during the academic year, while classes are in session. Students who opt into the program will be assessed a $125/quarter fee for U-Pass privileges.
Organizations
Student Organizations
The student organizations of the Crown Family School provide students with opportunities to engage in leadership and action on a variety of issues important to the School and the professions we represent, while also providing the student body with structures for community and relationship-building. Crown Family School student organizations play an active role in discussions of academic, professional, and political issues within the School. Student organizations also sponsor various social activities that enrich the graduate school experience. All registered master’s students are members of the Crown Family School Student Government Association, and all registered doctoral students are members of the Crown Family School Doctoral Student Organization. Listed below are all the student organizations that have been active within the School. A sample list appears below. Visit https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/student-organizations for current student organizations and up-to-date descriptions, or contact the office of the Dean of Students to revive or start a new group.
Advocates’ Forum
Asian Student Association
Black Student Association
Crown Family School End Detention Project
Crown Family School Without Borders
Crown Family School Yoga
Crown International Student Network
Crown Student Support Peer Group
Crown Tennis
Disability Student Association
Doctoral Student’s Organization
Doctoral Student’s Social Club
Doctoral Student Wellness Group
Doctoral Student Writing and Research Club
(The) Elephant (Student of Color Created and Historically Led)
End Immigration Detention Project
Justice Works
Latinx Student Association
Neurodiversity Alliance
OUTSpoken
Payment 4 Placements (P4P)
Poetry Club
Praxis
Social Q's
Social Workers Against Genocide (SWAG
Student Alumni Representatives
Student Association on Aging
Student Government Association at the Crown Family School
Student Movement and Mindfulness
White Accountability Group
The Alumni Association
Established in 1929, the Crown Family School's Alumni Association strengthens and maintains links between the School and its more than 8,000 graduates. The Alumni Association furthers the interest of alumni, provides a bridge between alumni and the School, and promotes the School’s goals and objectives through volunteer service and generous financial support. The Alumni Association offers a full range of programs and activities that engage its members with the School and that contribute to individual and institutional advancement.
Crown Family School Alumni Board of Directors
Paul Colson, AM’82, PhD’90, President
Ronda Franks, AM’74, MAT, LCSW, Vice President
Natalie Jones AM '23, Secretary
Dana Franceschini, AM’17, Alumni Engagement Committee
Karen Kozlowski Graham, AM’82, Board Development Committee and Alumni Awards Committee
Kai Guterman, AM’10 / MPP’10, Board Governance Committee
Kimberly McGee, AM’14, Board Governance Committee
Briahna Williams, AM’21, African American Alumni Committee and CASE Mentor Program
Members at Large
Dagené Z. Brown, AM’13
Teresa Leary Handy, AM’92, EdD
Amy Hurd, AM’03, DSW
Youngjo Im, AM’93, PhD’13
Peter Kamps, AM’85
Joanne Medak, AM’74
Denice Murray, AM’95
Charles Scurr, AM’75, PhD
Quenette Walton, AM’04, PhD
Jenny Weiser, AM '99
Jerry Wolf, AM '74, MBA'75
Emeritus Alumni Board Members
Jacob Dancer, III, AB '89, AM '04
Louise Doss-Martin, AB '59, AM'63
Peter Gaumond, AM '93
Marshall Jacobson, AM ’65
Alison Weston, AM ’08
Publications
Advocates’ Forum
The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice's Advocates’ Forum is one of only a few student-run social work journals in the country. It provides Crown Family School students with an opportunity to express their scholarly interests through carefully written, well-researched articles on innovative topics in social service. Advocates’ Forum welcomes articles in all areas of social work, including clinical practice, administration, and current social welfare policy. The journal represents the tradition of academic excellence.
The goal of this annual publication is to inform social workers in all areas of practice of the administrative and clinical interests of master’s students. The journal also supports Crown Family School students in communicating effectively and participating in the valuable exchange among students and professionals in the field.
Social Service Review
Founded in 1927, Social Service Review (SSR) is committed to examining social welfare policy and practice and to evaluate its effects. Providing multidisciplinary analyses of current policies and past practices in the United States and elsewhere, SSR publishes critical research from social welfare scholars and practitioners, as well as from experts in other fields. Articles include a wide array of such topics as child welfare, health care, social welfare policy, homelessness, the organization of services and communities, clinical practice, and juvenile delinquency. In addition to thought-provoking essays, SSR provides book reviews to keep readers informed of current critical research.
The University of Chicago Press offers subscriptions at reduced rates for Crown Family School students and alumni. Social Service Review is edited by Associate Professor Jennifer Mosley and the faculty of the Crown Family School. The journal is available at journals.uchicago.edu/toc/ssr/current.
Research Centers
Center for Climate, Health and Society
The Crown Family School's Center for Climate, Health, and Society (CHAS) advances health equity in climate-vulnerable urban communities. We conduct interdisciplinary research, train future leaders, and partner with communities to co-create solutions rooted in justice, resilience, and inclusive development.
CHAS brings together scholars, clinicians, practitioners, and community partners to address the health impacts of climate change in urban settings.
The Center focuses on communities experiencing disproportionate exposure to extreme heat, air pollution, flooding, and chronic disease. We combine community knowledge with academic research to generate solutions that can be sustained through public systems.
Kersten Institute for Urban Education
The Kersten Institute for Urban Education's mission is to transform education by connecting research, practice, and policy to ensure equity and success for every student.
The Kersten Institute for Urban Education is home to five key units: the Consortium on School Research, IMPACT, the Network for College Success (NCS), the To & Through Project, and the Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP). Together, they work toward a shared mission of improving educational outcomes and promoting equity in schools and communities.
Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development
In February 2021, the University announced a $25 million gift from the Kiphart Family Foundation that would establish the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development. The Kiphart Center, led in partnership with the Biological Sciences Division, will bring together expertise from around the University in support of collaborative efforts with partner communities to alleviate disease, improve infrastructure, and promote community health and well-being. It will build upon the University’s global health initiatives, shape the overarching policies and structural inequities that impact health, and help achieve breakthroughs and improvements in the well-being of children, families, and communities around the globe.
Information and Application
For further information and application materials, contact the Office of Admissions, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, 969 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637; telephone: (773) 702-1250 or by visiting the Crown Family School website at https://crown