Field Practicum Information

Welcome to our new section designed with Practicum Students and their Fieldwork Agencies in mind.

Here we have compiled the information and forms that you will most often need to reference. We have attempted to put them in catagories that are specific to what each of you maybe looking for i.e. Evaluations includes the forms that both Fieldwork Instructors and Practicum students will need to fill out whereas Student has information that the Practicum student might need to access. Here we go.

IMPORTANT FIELD DATES 2009

St. Olaf College Social Work Program

Sept. 9 (Wed) Classes begin for students
For the month of September senior social work students take SW373 Culturally Competent Practice on Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Fri.

Sept. 15 (Tue) First day for practicum agency orientation – 8:00-3:00

Also Sept 22, & 29 (8 hours each day)
Note: Students have classes several hours each day Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Fri. They will go to the agency on Tuesdays only.
Seminars: Mondays 6:30-9:30 pm; Oct. 5, 19, Nov. 2, 16, 30, Dec. 14.

Sept. 15 (Tue) Field Supervisors Support and Information Meeting
3:00-5:00 pm, St. Olaf College, Buntrock Commons 3rd floor, Black Section of the Ballroom
3:00-4:00 pm Field Supervisors Information Meeting
4:00-5:00 pm Supervisors and students to work together to create the Learning Plan.

Oct. 5 (Mon) Full-time Field Practicum Begins

Full-time means 40 hours per week of quality, generalist social work activities, primarily involving and focused on contact with clients—individuals, families, & groups; the organization and the community; if the agency considers 37 ½ hours “full time” the student is responsible for scheduling appropriate activities to “make up” the remaining 2 ½ hours per week.
Total hours required: 400 hours minimum

Oct. 26-27* (Mon & Tues) St. Olaf Fall Break

Nov. 2-3 (Mon & Tues) Mid-term evaluations due (Beginning of the second half of the semester)

Nov. 26-27 (Mon & Tues)* St. Olaf Thanksgiving Break

*The Program acknowledges Fall and Thanksgiving breaks as official college breaks and does not require practicum attendance, but encourages students to consider responsibilities to clients and the agency and to use one or more of these days, if necessary, to fulfill required hours.

Dec. 14 (Mon) Field Supervisor Recognition Celebration - 4:00-5:00

Field Supervisors are invited to a “thank-you” meeting with the students on campus. Supervisors and students are invited to enjoy dinner together in the cafeteria following this meeting.

Dec. 15 (Tues) Last day of scheduled classes

Students are required to fulfill responsibilities at the agency through this date and should have completed the minimum 400 clock hours by this date. Students may continue in the agency beyond this date for programmatic reasons, such as completing the school year or some other similar responsibility.

Field Practicum Responsibilities