This article has been updated to reflect changes to the Weekend Workshops–previously known as Intensive Weekends.
As a part of the Online MSW program of study, students on the traditional track are required to attend two weekend in-person events. One Weekend Workshop will be for SOW5308 Social Work Practice - Individuals & Families, and the other for SOW5324 - Social Work with Groups and Communities. Generally, students will take these two classes in their second and third semesters of the program. Students in the Advanced Standing track do not attend any of the Weekend Workshops, but are required to attend the mandatory Zoom virtual session for SOW5807 - Clinical Practice.
Now that I have completed the requirement for both workshops–my first in Fall 2022 and second in March 2023–I wanted to share a few tips that I’ve learned along the way.
5 Tips for a Low Stress Budget-Friendly Weekend Workshop Trip:
- Start researching travel plans and book your stay early
- Make sure to sign up for an FSUCard and bring it with you for possible discounts
- Have all of your coursework for the week completed before you leave for Tallahassee
- Bring something to take notes with (notepad & pen/pencil, tablet, laptop, etc)
- Consider taking an extra day or half-day for sightseeing and exploring campus during office/business hours
Both of the Weekend Workshops are held inside the College of Social Work, which is located in Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Coming from Stadium Drive, you’ll turn into the stadium parking on Hendry Street and the CSW and visitor parking will be straight ahead (Building C). Your professors and TAs will provide more details as the date of your workshop gets closer. Be sure to read through all of that information, as there may be changes specific to your weekend.
Image: devoe l. moore university center building c sign
Lodging:
For my first workshop, I stayed with a family friend in the Eastside area of Tallahassee, which was about 20 minutes away from the College. The drive to class in the morning was smooth and there were very few cars on the road. After class was done for the day, the drive back took a bit longer as roads got busier as the day progressed. For my second weekend, I opted for a chance to experience staying a bit closer to campus and booked a room at Hyatt House. It’s right across the street from the FAMU campus, and a short eight minute drive from the College.
There are quite a few hotel options that are near FSU, all a short drive away–Hotel Indigo is even closer and just a brief 10 minute walk to Campus. Many of my classmates also opted to stay at home rentals (AirBNB’s). Whichever option you choose, you’ll want to book early–prices tend to rise as Workshop weekend approaches. The hotel I was at was a bit further than I would have liked–I had been hoping to have the option to walk to class–but I forgot to book early and didn’t have many options that fit in my budget by the time I was making my reservation.
If you are planning on booking lodging for either of the workshops, learn from my mistake and start looking at locations and comparing prices once the dates have been announced. The dates for each workshop will be listed on the Registration Table in Canvas the semester you register for either SOW5308 or SOW5324. You can navigate to that page by clicking on the “Canvas Org: CSW Class of YYYY…” course option, and then selecting “Home: Front Page”. For example, my Canvas course is called CSW Class of 2025 (SU22 TRAD) as I am in the Class of 2025 and I started Summer 2022 on the Traditional track.
Your professor will also list the date of your class’s assigned workshop dates on the Syllabus. The first few weeks of the semester would be an ideal time to start checking on prices. It might also be a good idea to call up the hotel and see if they have a price-match policy. Sometimes, prices go down after you’ve booked. You’ll want to check what the policy is before making your reservation, as many hotels now offer a lower “non-refundable” pricing tier which may not be eligible for price-matching.
Dining:
Lunch is provided on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. Lunch options included some sandwich and salad options; breakfast included bagels, pastries, and coffee. Be sure to bring a refillable water bottle; a water fountain with a water bottle refill station is located near the classroom. If you have any food specifications, please reach out to your professor or TAs for more details. There will also be snacks available–usually chips, cookies, and crackers.
I recommend taking the time to have breakfast before heading to class, even if breakfast is not usually part of your daily routine. While the provided lunch was nice, being in class learning all morning consumed a lot of brain power and I would find myself feeling very hungry by the time lunch rolled around.
There are lots of dining options near the school for dinner. A cost-effective option could also be going to the nearby grocery stores and buying some groceries for the weekend. There are a couple Publixes and a Target near the College, as well as some mom & pop shops.
Image: gaines street pies pizza box
Things to Do:
If you’re interested in purchasing some FSU merch, the Garnet & Gold store and the FSU Bookstore are great options.
The campus is very close to the Capitol. The Florida Historic Capitol Museum is open until 4:30pm Monday-Friday and is about a 10 minute drive, or a 35 minute walk, from the College. Admission is free, but a donation is appreciated and helps to support the educational programs the museum offers.
Image: the florida capitol sign
Check online to see if FSU Circus or the School of Theatre have any performances the weekend you’re visiting. Tickets can be purchased online and picked up at the venue. If you selected the Student Ticket option, you will need to have your FSUCard with you when picking up your ticket.
If you’re able to extend your trip either one day before or one day after the workshop, there are lots of on-campus resources that students can access for free when the offices are open. This might include visiting the College and/or scheduling an in-person appointment with your professor(s), visiting the FSU Career Success Center to update and print out your resume, or attending an on-campus event. Keep an eye out on the FSU Student Announcement emails for a schedule of events that will be happening during your visit!