Field Placement Manual (2008-2009)

PART VIII: PROCEDURE FOR THE SP2 AGENCY VISIT

Field practice is a central component of social work education, providing learning opportunities related to all parts of the curriculum, and reinforcing and enhancing classroom learning. The School appreciates the valuable contribution of the field instructor to students’ professional education, and is committed to sustaining a supportive and collaborative partnership with the field through ongoing contact regarding curriculum information and students’ learning experiences and educational progress throughout the academic year.

There are several ways in which faculty and field instructors will have the opportunity to communicate during the year. The principal opportunity to meet and discuss the student's learning and field placement will be during the fall field visit to your agency. During the early part of the first semester, the practice professor/field liaison will call to arrange a three-way meeting with you and the student at the agency. The meeting will last approximately one hour. The purpose of this meeting is:

To discuss the student’s overall progress thus far;
To review and/or modify the student’s field learning objectives and goals relative to identified learning needs of the student;
To review the structure of the field instruction process, including expectations of both students and field instructors (e.g., the use of process recordings, agendas, and other field educational teaching tools in supervisory conferences);
To determine opportunities for integration of field learning opportunities with the curriculum, including planning for second semester;
To answer any questions regarding the syllabus and assignments for the year; and
To answer any questions regarding the end-of semester evaluation process.

In preparation for the meeting, it will be helpful to have reviewed the course syllabus and to have a copy of the student’s learning contract on hand. Prior to the visit, the student is expected to have provided their practice professor with a copy of a process recording of an interaction at field that has not been used for a class assignment. This will give the professor a feel for the student’s work at placement.

Some time during the second semester, the practice professor will call the field instructor to review the student’s continuing progress and learning needs in the classroom and field. The field instructor may also call the field liaison/ practice professor at any time during the year with questions or concerns. Should circumstances warrant additional three-way and/or individual meetings, these can be arranged at any point during the year at the request of field instructor, practice instructor and/or student.