Roles and Responsibilities
The primary responsibility for designing and carrying out a successful field experience rests with the student.
Prior to beginning a field experience, the student must:
►Have completed INLS 201, 161, and 382 (undergraduates) or a minimum of 18 credit hours (graduate students) towards their program in SILS.
►Select a site that will meet your career goals, either from the list of Field Experiences on the website or by finding your own. Let the Career Services Coordinator know so you can be matched with a faculty supervisor.
►Develop learning objectives in consultation with your faculty supervisor that articulate the knowledge and/or skills you want to acquire during the Field Experience.
►Develop a draft Field Experience Agreement in which you:
♦Describes the role / assignment at the site, and describe how the Field Experience fits into your overall academic program.
♦Start the process of completing your Field Experience Agreement form here.
►The Agreement form must be completed and submitted prior to the first day of classes of the semester in which the Field Experience begins. Only SILS can register students for a Field Experience in ConnectCarolina.
During the Field Experience, students must:
►Participate in the required field experience seminars, either in person or by webconference.
►Spend 135 hours at your site in order to fulfill the Field Experience Agreement for a 3 credit hour experience.
►Maintain a daily reflective work log of the experience. Students should record in this log the activities that he or she has performed, and the events in which he or she has participated at the site. Students should also record in this log his or her reflections (opinions, questions, comments, etc.) on activities and events at the site. Submit a work log to the faculty supervisor after they have completed approximately 60 hours on site (about midway through the experience). Turning in your log then lets you know it is time to arrange a site visit (or telephone conference call) by the faculty supervisor to meet with the student and the site supervisor, to review the student's progress towards their learning objectives.
►Schedule a midpoint site visit with both supervisors and you. At this meeting, you can review your learning objectives and make any adjustments as necessary. It's also a good time to confirm with your faculty supervisor what they are expecting on your reflection paper.
At the end of the Field Experience, students must:
►Write a 6-10 page (double spaced) reflective paper on the aspect of the Field Experience previously agreed upon with the faculty supervisor. Submit the paper to the faculty supervisor.
►Meet with the site supervisor to review the site supervisor evaluation of his or her performance.
►Meet with the faculty supervisor to review the reflective paper and your overall experience at the site.
►Complete a Student Field Experience Evaluation form and submit it to Lori Haight.
In agreeing to take on this role, the site supervisor takes on responsibility for providing the student with a professional work experience and for mentoring the student in professional development. The site supervisor will facilitate and provide feedback on the student's learning and skill development. Specifically, the site supervisor:
►Works with the student to complete the Field Experience Agreement by helping to develop learning objectives; identifying areas, projects, and activities at the site that are appropriate for student involvement; and ensuring that the Agreement details the nature, rationale, methodology, responsibilities, and criteria for evaluation for the work that the student will do.
►Makes necessary arrangements with the site. This includes alerting co-workers and other appropriate personnel, and providing you with any necessary space, equipment, and supplies.
►Meets with you during your Field Experience as necessary for review and discussion.
►Completes a written evaluation form provided by the School at the end of the Field Experience, and meets with you to review the final evaluation.
►Contacts the Career Services Coordinator if any questions or problems arise.
If you are a site supervisor interested in hosting a SILS student through an internship at your site, please fill out the New Site Form so we can add your information to our website!
For helpful tips on running a smooth Field Experience, please refer to the ALISE Guidelines for Practices and Principles in the Design, Operation, and Evaluation of Student Field Experiences.
In agreeing to take on this role, the faculty supervisor takes on responsibility for acting as the link between the School and the Field Experience site. Faculty supervisors are permanent faculty members within SILS. Specifically, the faculty supervisor:
►Reviews and approves the Field Experience Agreement and learning objectives.
►Reviews the reflective work log, submitted by your student upon completion of 60 hours on site.
►At the approximate midway point of your Field Experience, helps the student to schedule a meeting with all three of you to learn more about the site and the student's activities there.
►Approves the topic and scope and provides feedback on the reflective paper,
►Reviews the site supervisor's evaluation, and discusses the overall experience relative to the learning objectives.
The Career Services Coordinator is the instructor of the Field Experience courses, as well as:
►Serves as a clearinghouse for potential fieldwork sites. This involves contacting potential and prior sites to solicit their participation in the Field Experience program, and serving as the point of contact for organizations seeking students.
►Serves as the point of contact within SILS about the Field Experience program. Responds to questions about policies and procedures.
►Facilitates the process of matching students with sites, and students with faculty supervisors.
►Recommends changes in policies and procedures as needed to the faculty.
►Maintains records on sites and site supervisors, student placements, faculty supervisors, Field Experience Agreements, site and student evaluations, and grade submissions.
►Maintains contact information about sites and site supervisors.
