Field Directors

 View Only

  • 1.  Question about BASW seminar

    Posted May 25, 2023 08:18
    We are considering or being asked to consider a couple of changes to our program.  I am seeking out wise counsel from each of you on these suggestions:

    1.  Combining our Field Seminar (1 credit) and our Field Practicum (3 cr) into one 4-credit course.  
            a. Are there Pros/Cons that you see?
    Currently our BASW holds a separate field seminar, however for our MSW, we combined the seminar with the generalist class, but kept it at 3 credits.  
    2.  How many students do you have in each section of Field?  
            a.  We have 15 and would like to cap it at 12 but getting some understandable pushback.  I'd appreciate your Input for drafting a rationale for this.
    This is dependent on the # of students.  We currently have 15 in each section and this is manageable. 
            b. Also, do you meet with the whole section once a week, or with 1/2 the group, every other week?
    We have 2 sections and they meet weekly 
    3.  Our Practicum is only 3 credits which seems low to me. However to increase it would mean:
           a.  greater cost to students
           b.  changing our program from 60 to 63 credits OR
           c. eliminating an elective to keep the program at 60 credits
    Ours is 3 credits.
    4.  Course load for Field Director 
          a.  Do you receive a course load relief for the position? If so, what?
    25%
    Thank you for helping me to think through some of this to be able to present a good rationale for or against any of the above.


    Take care, 

    Tonya 

     

    Tonya Teal Slawinski, Ph.D., LCSW, BCD 

    Director, Office of Field Education 

    Field Assistant Professor

    University of Pittsburgh 

    School of Social Work 

    T:  412-648-4533 

    E: tslawin@pitt.edu 

    Pronouns: she, her, hers 

     

    Please schedule an appointment with me by clicking the link below:  

    TonyaSlawinski@pitt.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/" data-auth="NotApplicable" title="https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/TonyaSlawinski@pitt.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/" data-loopstyle="link">Schedule a meeting

    FOR STUDENTS only:  If you would like to speak with me, please  book an appointment on the scheduling link listed or call my office #: 412-648-4533.  I am in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, so feel free to drop by.  







  • 2.  RE: Question about BASW seminar

    Posted May 25, 2023 23:48
    We are considering or being asked to consider a couple of changes to our program.  I am seeking out wise counsel from each of you on these suggestions:

    1.  Combining our Field Seminar (1 credit) and our Field Practicum (3 cr) into one 4-credit course.  
            a. Are there Pros/Cons that you see?  We combine Field Practicum and Field Seminar at all program levels into one 6-credit course each semester.  The seminar instructor is also the field coordinator/liaison for the student.  Seminar sections are formed based on either geography (we have a statewide program across several campuses) or agency type (at our main campus).  The combination provide a wonderful integrated and coherent experience.
    2.  How many students do you have in each section of Field?  
            a.  We have 15 and would like to cap it at 12 but getting some understandable pushback.  I'd appreciate your Input for drafting a rationale for this.  Our sections range in size between 8 and 20.  We are working very hard to get sections across the program to 12 students. 
            b. Also, do you meet with the whole section once a week, or with 1/2 the group, every other week?  For in-person seminar we meet every 2 weeks.  In larger sections 12+ we typically divide the students in half and meet with each half every two weeks, with occasional combining.  Thus, the seminar instructor is meeting every week, but the students are only meeting every 2 weeks.  For online delivery of seminar we have a weekly module.
     
    3.  Our Practicum is only 3 credits which seems low to me. However to increase it would mean:
           a.  greater cost to students
           b.  changing our program from 60 to 63 credits OR
           c. eliminating an elective to keep the program at 60 credits.
          Considering the amount of time that students dedicate to practicum 3 credits seems mighty low.  The credit hours for us were actually calculated with a formula that the University uses to determine these things, so our control was limited.
    4.  Course load for Field Director 
          a.  Do you receive a course load relief for the position? If so, what?
          Yes, I am both the BSW and MSW director of field (250+ total students across 8 campuses).  I receive a course reduction each semester and 3 summer months pay.  CSWE has requirements for this and they will hold your program to it.  We just went through re-accreditation and they sought specific clarification from us about how we are meeting the standard.


    ------------------------------
    CJ Sorenson
    Director of Field Education
    Utah State University
    Logan UT
    ------------------------------



Related Content