Best Practices

Roles and Responsibilities

What is the placement site’s role?

Placement sites provide a learning environment where students actively engage in the day-to-day operations of the site and have opportunities to observe and connect with professionals in the field. Supervisors provide 1:1 supervision, feedback and mentoring. 

What is the student’s role?

The role of the student at most placement sites is that of a participant observer. Students are expected to be professional, engaged, inquisitive, and ready to learn and contribute.

What are the supervisor’s responsibilities?

Recruit and accept qualified students on a quarterly basis for 1 full academic year. Sites that are accepted mid-year are expected to continue through June of the following academic year.

• Notify all students who apply about availability of opportunities
• Structure the field work to provide a learning opportunity directly related to curriculum in Social Ecology
• Develop and assign responsibilities, so that students may learn both technical and non-technical skills
• Clearly communicate expectations and responsibilities to students.
• Adhere to program deadlines
• Schedule hours during the placement period so that student can complete the hours required.
• Provide training, supervision and feedback to each student -approximately 1 hour per week
• Confirm students in field study placements are authorized by Social Ecology by reviewing field study Agreement Forms
• Provide a verbal and written evaluation to the student and certify the number of hours the student completed via the evaluation form
• Contact Field Study Staff if there are any problems or issues that cannot be resolved with the student
• Nominate outstanding students for recognition

How should opportunities be structured? 

• Ideal placement sites provide students with a pre-professional experience and structure activities that allow the student to:
• Observe current social problems and evaluate intervention strategies
• Contribute to the day-to-day activities of the organization by working on duties and tasks related to Social Ecology curriculum
• Develop an understanding of organizational goals and objectives
• Perceive relationships between theories learned in the classroom and practice experienced in the field
• Develop interpersonal and technical competencies required in the workplace
• A supervisor must be available (in person or remotely) during students' fieldwork hours for addressing questions or issues
• PLEASE NOTE: No more than 25% of a student's fieldwork should be comprised of administrative/clerical work (e.g., answering phones, filing, organizing, repetitive paperwork, etc.)

What are students NOT permitted to do as part of their field study placement?

• Work without supervision 
• Deliver in-home services without a professional staff present
• Work 1-on-1 in closed spaces with a minor (in-person or remotely).  
• Be asked to purchase items with their own money, on behalf of the organization, without a reimbursement
• Run personal errands (pick up coffee, food, etc) on behalf of a supervisor. 
• Transport clients in their personal vehicles. 
• Should not replace a paid employee without compensation.  
• Complete more than 25% of their fieldwork engaged in administrative/clerical work (e.g., answering phones, filing, organizing, repetitive paperwork, etc.)

Are students allowed to complete hours prior to the beginning of the placement period? 

• Yes, students are allowed to complete, and get credit for, up to 8 hours prior to the start of the placement period to take care of: 
  • Necessary training 
  • Background checks 
  • TBT test (or other medical clearances) 
  • Other related pre- placement period, onboarding, items 

How do I update our listing? 

• Complete the Catalog Listing Update Request Form
• Allow 5-6 business days for your changes to be reflected on your listing. 
• Email us at sefieldstudy@uci.edu