Union Institute and University - Doctoral Degree Program

Prior to becoming president of Health Mate, Incorporated in southeast Michigan, Sandra Schiff attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, where she earned a master of social work in 1981. Sandra Schiff also earned a doctorate in geropsychology and organizational development from the Union Institute and University in 1996.

Started in 1964, the Union Institute and University is a pioneer in adult education, helping to create the format of traditional classroom education along with online classes. The university offers doctoral, bachelors, and masters programs and has over 15,000 alumni. The university also provides students from around the world the opportunity to study wherever you are with its flexible distance learning program.

The flexible scheduling for doctoral students allows them achieve educational goals without having to alter personal lifestyles or work schedules. The program requires students to complete a 66-hour program within seven years. The doctoral programs feature seminars in foundational and research studies to enhance the classroom and online training.

WSU School of Social Work: Transition to Independence Program

Dr. Sandra Schiff provides a variety of training, consulting, and coaching services as president of Health Mate Inc. in Southeast, Michigan.The recipient of a PhD in psychology and geropsychology, Dr. Sandra Schiff also holds a master of social work from Wayne State University (WSU), where she currently serves as an adjunct faculty member.

Wayne State University was founded in 1868, and is a highly recognized research institution with an extensive campus in Midtown Detroit. In 2012, the School of Social work became the third-highest ranked program at the university.

Wayne State University’s School of Social Work runs the Transition to Independence Program (TIP), which was designed to offer young adults in foster care better access to college and improve their graduation rates. One of the program’s services is the dissemination of education-related news that affects this population.

TIP recently undertook an analysis of tuition waiver programs, exploring their prevalence across the country and determining areas for improvement. The analysis presented seven areas of comparison between the programs, which exist in 21 states.

All but one of the programs cover the cost of tuition and school fees. One exception, in Connecticut, offers coverage of books and housing only.

In 17 states (81 percent), the programs specify an age at which children must have been in foster care in order to be eligible for coverage, and eight programs require youth to have been in care for a minimum number of years. The majority of states will consider adopted teens for the program.

Academic standing is taken into consideration by 14 of the 21 programs (67 percent). Applicants are required to uphold a minimum GPA or show satisfactory progress. Only a few states require candidates have extra-curricular involvement, such as community service.plea

About the Elizabeth N. Brehler Scholars Program

A PhD graduate of Union Institute and College and a member of the International Coaching Federation, Dr. Sandra Schiff has served as the president of Health Mate, Inc., for over 15 years. Additionally, Dr. Sandra Schiff is a part-time adjunct professor at Wayne State University’s School of Social Work.

One of the country’s top schools in its field, the School of Social Work at Wayne State University was established in 1935. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the school offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs that meet the five pillars of the field: education, human behavior, policy, practice methods, and research. To help students who participate in its programs, the Wayne State University School of Social Work provides a variety of financial aid and scholarship opportunities, including the Elizabeth N. Brehler Scholars Program.

Overseen by the Brehler Committee, the Elizabeth N. Brehler Scholars Program was created in 1991 to encourage personal and professional development through social work. Open to students who write a manuscript under the supervision of a faculty mentor, the scholarship requires the submission to incorporate at least two focus areas, ranging from diversity and ethical dilemmas to practice decisions and social policies. In addition to the $3,000 top scholarship, participants who follow the guidelines receive a gift card and a certificate.