Persons selected to be Field Instructors must have an MSW; have three years of experience beyond the master's degree;
be employed by the agency for at least 6 months prior to becoming a Field Instructor; and be licensed, at least at the
graduate level (LGSW - Maryland), in the state in which they practice. This person is expected to be on site for at
least 50% of the time that the student is assigned to be there.
New Field Instructors are required to attend a Field Instructor's Orientation. Orientation sessions are generally
held in the summer and fall. Continuing Education Units (CEU'S) are awarded for attendance.
Field Instructors should become familiar with and consistently use the appropriate field education curriculum in
developing clear expectations of student performance. The course objectives for each level of placement are contained
in the Field Education Manual.
The Field Instructor will develop learning opportunities in relation to the curriculum, and make specific assignments
in consultation, as needed, with the Faculty Field Liaison.
The Field Instructor must provide individual instruction via a regularly scheduled weekly conference: one hour at a
minimum. Assessment materials must be prepared by the student and reviewed weekly by the Field Instructor (i.e., process
recordings, audio or videotapes, case presentation and projects).
Field Instructors will provide clear feedback to the students on an on-going basis about their performance, using
assessment tools such as process recordings, audiotapes, minutes of meetings, etc.
The Field Instructor will develop, in conjunction with the student, an individual learning contract within the first
month of the student's placement. A copy of this contract should be submitted to the student's electronic Field Notebook.
The Field Instructor must follow school guidelines in recommending grades by assessing performance relative to the
learning objectives outlined in the syllabus, not effort or potential.
The Field Instructor should involve the student in preparation of the mid-semester assessment and the end-of-semester
evaluations. The student is expected to sign these evaluations. The student's signature indicates that he/she has
read the evaluation.
The evaluation must be submitted to the student's Electronic Notebook on the required date in order for the
Faculty Field Liaison to submit the student's grade.
Field Instructors may act as a resource for students as they complete agency-based class assignments. Students are
expected to have consulted their Field Instructors concerning confidentiality of agency and client information.
Field Instructors should provide feedback on the student's progress to the Faculty Field Liaison.
The Field Instructor is expected to inform the Faculty Field Liaison promptly of any problem with the student's
performance or change in the agency's ability to meet the expectations for providing a field placement for the student,
including the Instructor?s extended leave or absence from the agency.
