The Student in the Fieldwork Agency

Student Requirements to Begin Fieldwork

All students must complete the Social Work Practice sequence (SWK 311 and SWK 312) and the Human Behavior in the Social Environment sequence (SWK 305 and SWK 306) with a minimum grade of “C” before entering Fieldwork and Fieldwork Seminar. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Assignment of Students to Fieldwork Agencies

During the spring semester of the junior year, the Director of Field Education meets with all Social Work Practice II (SWK 312) classes to discuss the requirements for Fieldwork

and the expectations of students in Fieldwork. Students have the opportunity to raise questions and issues related to the Fieldwork sequence. Fieldwork applications (see

Appendix 4) are distributed. This application is also available online.

Students are given the opportunity to indicate a preference for specific fields of practice.

The Director of Field Education, in consultation with the Social Work faculty, considers the student’s requests, as well as the student’s learning needs and previous social work experience. The faculty then makes a determination about the setting that will best serve

the student's learning needs.

When students are notified about their agency assignment, they should contact the agency to get travel directions and make an appointment to meet with their Fieldwork Instructor or with the Educational Coordinator. They should set up a schedule of days and hours for

placement, discuss dress code, and learn about any special requirements the agency may have, such as physical exam or clearances, that need to be completed prior to the start of

Fieldwork. This is also a good opportunity to read agency brochures and other publications that present the mission of the agency and its role in the community.

Student Responsibilities

The student must assume responsibility for participating in the educational experience provided at the fieldwork placement. This requires receptivity to the learning process and an openness to suggestions and directions. Students are expected to inform their Faculty Advisor of any problems they may be experiencing in the Fieldwork placement.

All students are required to:

A.Complete a minimum of 220 hours of Fieldwork per semester. Students are required to be in their Fieldwork agency 14 hours a week (excluding lunch) during both the Fall and Spring semesters. All students are required to be in Fieldwork the entire month of January; half of this time

is counted towards the Fall semester fieldwork hours, and half towards the Spring semester fieldwork hours. Students are required to work

continually through this month even if they have accrued 220 hours in order to provide for continuity of the fieldwork experience.

B.Under special circumstances, the student’s placement may include some evening or weekend hours. However, all students are required to schedule at least one full day of their total of 14 hours per week during regular agency hours between Monday and Friday. Placements including evenings and/or weekend hours are limited and subject to availability.

C.Regular attendance at the field placement is expected of all students.

The student is expected to be prompt in arriving at work. Chronic lateness (or leaving early) is unacceptable. The student must notify the agency if he/she is unable to report on a given day. All hours and days missed must be made up. In the case of a personal emergency, students need to consult with their Fieldwork Instructor to make special arrangements.

D.The student and Fieldwork Instructor must meet at a regularly

scheduled time each week for at least one hour of supervision. Students are responsible for raising issues of concern. Written supervisory agendas must be prepared by the student.

E.A minimum of one process recording each week is required. However, Fieldwork Instructors may require additional process recordings. The student is responsible for providing the Fieldwork Instructor with process recordings sufficiently in advance of his/her weekly supervisory meeting so that the Fieldwork Instructor has the opportunity to review them prior to the supervisory meeting. The Program expects that students will be given reasonable time to write their process recordings during their

scheduled hours at the fieldwork agency. The process recording form is in Appendix 4 and is available online.

F.Student must complete the Fieldwork Attendance Sheet each week; the form is to be initialed by the Fieldwork Instructor weekly. The form is given to the student’s Faculty Advisor at the end of each semester.

G.The student is responsible for adhering to all policies and customary practices (including dress code) of the fieldwork agency. Students are expected to discuss any issues of concern with the Fieldwork Instructor and, if necessary, with the Faculty Advisor.

H.Students may be required to make home and community visits as part of their fieldwork assignment. The student and Fieldwork Instructor are expected to discuss the process of home and community visiting prior to the first visit. See “Guidelines for Home and Community Visits” on page

32 of this Handbook. Students are expected to request money for travel expenses prior to the visit.

IThe student is expected to function at the agency in a manner that is accountable to the agency, the school, and the profession. Students are required to demonstrate professional behavior consistent with the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. The NASW Code of Ethics, which is printed in its entirety in Appendix 1.

Students who request reasonable accommodations for documented disabilities should contact the Office of Special Student Services, Shuster Hall, Room 238, (718) 960-8441.

Policies Regarding Termination of a Student in a Fieldwork Agency

If a problem arises at the fieldwork agency, it is initially the responsibility of the Faculty Advisor to attempt a resolution, working with both the Fieldwork Instructor and the student. If a satisfactory solution cannot be reached, the matter is referred to the Director of Field Education. If it is decided to remove a student from an agency, it is the

responsibility of the Faculty Advisor and the Director of Field Education to represent the Social Work Program in arranging for the student to leave the agency. The student may be invited to meet with the Social Work faculty to discuss the circumstances leading to the removal and to discuss future plans.