TECHNOLOGIES OF SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN US UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The article expands on the meaning of the concept of «social support» as a term that is often interpreted differently by social workers. The relevance of the study of social support of students arises due to the following factors: the diversification of problems typical for modern students; the increase in the number of students in need of social support; the presence of positive experience of social support for students in higher education institutions in the United States whose competent use in Ukrainian universities will contribute to the progress of the domestic education system. Scientific researches of social support as a direction of social work are analyzed. The problems of students include: the unavailability of higher education due to its high cost, which is also growing every year; socio-psychological adaptation of freshmen to new conditions of studying and living; the possibility of employment during training and after graduation; organization of leisure. The main sources of social support for students are identified: they are parents, teachers, classmates, friends and student social services. The student service of the institution can perform such types of work as recruitment of students or their transfer from other universities; assistance to students in creating thier individual study plan; consultancy; financial assistance to low-income students; provision of services to students with disabilities; assistance to students who have not yet decided on the choice of future profession or place of work; assistance to servicemen who are legally educated on preferential terms; assistance to those who are lagging behind in education; assistance to students who came to study in the United States from other countries; assistance to those who receive education mainly through the Internet; publication of diplomas and statements. Social support for students at US universities includes moral (emotional), financial (technical), academic (informational), service (professional), religious, and online support. The best option for a student is to form their own individual network of social support. In US universities, student social support is better developed as more support is provided and more specialized services and professionals are available. In addition, student services can use a wider range of resources, and therefore social support is longer in duration and better in quality.