Faculty Spotlight: Sera Grantz, Off-Campus and Online Programs

Over the last three years I have had the privilege of teaching in the Fall River and Chelmsford/Bedford off campus programs. This Spring I’m looking forward to teaching a course at the Cape Cod program and presenting a training on starting groups in different settings. There is something special about teaching within the cohorts. Teaching group practice within the off campus programs is especially exciting given all of the group dynamics that come with the cohort model. Every cohort I have taught has brought such energy, experience and laughter to the classroom. All of those Fridays driving away from the city to spend time with these social work students gives me a renewed enthusiasm for the work and I can’t wait to get there. I truly feel lucky to be with each group, they often teach me more than I think I teach them.

I have also had the opportunity to teach in the online program over the last few years. I was worried at first not knowing how I would translate the work into an online format. However, I was surprised when I realized that we could have the same process online as we do in the classroom. There is an intimate and personal element that is unique to the online classroom. We are in each other’s living rooms, after all! Not only do I make it a priority to help students integrate the course content but to also find connection with each other. The best part of online teaching is supporting students, who are sometimes across the country from one another, in developing a community and social work identity together.

As a BUSSW alum I am so grateful to be part of the OCP and online program, and hope to continue to support students in their social work journey!

-Sera Grantz

Sera will be leading a group training in each Off Campus location this spring. The title of the training is Ready, Set, Groups! Starting Groups in Your Agency or Practice. Group work is a powerful and effective intervention for many of the people we serve; however, few social workers create new groups in their agencies due to barriers in the development process. This training will illustrate how to best develop groups in various settings and will include information on structural frameworks, billing, member recruitment and maintaining participation. Multiple examples of innovative and exciting groups will be discussed in the hopes that social workers will be inspired to begin their own group work development journey!