Hi Natalie,
We do a Field Concern Report/Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). We advise the student it is a way to document our conversation about the problematic issues and put into writing how they will be corrected. Everyone signs it, and gets a copy, (field director, student, faculty, field instructor/ task instructor). We follow up in two weeks, and four weeks with all parties. My experience has been that in the vast majority of the cases, the students corrected the issue and goes on to be successful in field. I had a couple situations over the past 10 years when the student did not correct the issues, but we had documentation and when the student was terminated from the practicum they knew why. They are not offered a second placement that semester and must reapply for field at a later date. When they do reapply, we ask how the student has addressed the issues that caused the dismissal, and what plan they have to be successful in a new practicum. When we started doing this, it has reduced the number of students were terminated from the practicum.
I am happy to send you a template of the form if you think it would be helpful. We also have this policy written in our field manual.
Happy Friday,
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Bonnie Rinks
Director of Field Education
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville IN
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