Agencies and Community Partnerships

about field learning sites

Over 500 social service and health agencies, schools, and other organizations in the five boroughs of New York City, in New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island, and other New York counties, are affiliated with the School as field learning sites. They represent a wide range of services in many fields of practice.

You can review a sample of agencies (PDF) that have served as field instruction sites; however, keep in mind that while some agency affiliations remain consistent, other settings vary from year to year (i.e., if situations at agencies change, the number and type of placements available to NYU students may be affected).

Masters students can also apply for a range of Policy/Practice Field Options as part of the Specialized Field Opportunities offered for the Advanced Concentration Year.

information about becoming a field learning site

The School welcomes agencies to apply for consideration as field learning sites. In order to qualify as a placement site, agencies must have a social work student program with standards and philosophy acceptable to the School, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and the professional community. Agencies must be committed to training social work students and willing to meet school requirements outlined in the Field Learning Manual.

Please see the following links for more information:

• Field Learning Manual: MSW
• Field Learning Manual: Bachelor of Science in Social Work
• Field Learning Required Hours
• Benefits for NYU Field Instructors

Please complete the following Request Form, Questionnaire, and Field Instructor Information Form.

• Field Placement Request Form: Indicates the number of NYU students you will host and any specifications or requirements for the students.
• Field Placement Questionnaire: Provides general agency information, including transportation to field site(s).
• Field Instructor Information Form: Submit form for each social worker providing Field Instruction for an NYU student.

interested in becoming a field instructor?

Field Instructors play an essential role in the education and professional development of our students. Primary Field Instructors review and comment on students' process recordings, complete evaluations, meet with students' Faculty Advisors on their site visits, and provide crucial guidance on social work practice.

• Does your agency already host NYU students? Contact the Educational Coordinator at your agency (i.e., the person responsible for coordinating student field placements) and let him/her know you are interested in providing field instruction. He/she will contact us to arrange the field placement. If your agency does not have an Educational Coordinator, email field.learning@nyu.edu and you will be contacted about the possible field placement.
• If your agency has not hosted NYU students before: Please email field.learning@nyu.edu and you will be contacted about the possible field placement.

seminar in field instruction

Field Instruction is a vital part of Social Work Education. In order to be a Field Instructor, a Social Worker must meet the following criteria: 1)graduate from an accredited MSW Program a minimum of three years prior to becoming a Field Instructor2) pass the LMSW examination, and 3) enroll in the Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI).

The Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) provides training for new Field Instructors and enables them to effectively meet the educational responsibilities of this new role. Lectures, presentations, and role plays are utilized to train SIFI participants the skills necessary for teaching field-based Social Work Practice.

The SIFI educates Social Workers on adult learning styles and provides them with methods and techniques that are essential in teaching the skills required for competency in the Field.

In order to receive certification from the SIFI, participants must attend all sessions, submit a minimum of two process recordings, and actively participate in the class. SIFI Certified Social Workers will be credentialed to provide Field Instruction to students from any school of Social Work.

Orientation

The orientation for first-time NYU Field Instructors will be held on Monday, September 8, 2008, at the Washington Square campus. Field Instructors who will be taking SIFI classes at branch campuses will be include in this meeting as well. Attendance at the orientation meeting is required for all new Field Instructors and for experienced Field Instructors supervising NYU students for the first time (or after a lapse of several years). Continuing Field Instructors and Educational Coordinators are welcome to attend.

At this meeting, we will provide updates on educational policies and programs at the school as well as provide you with the opportunity to meet the Department of Field Learning and Community Partnerships. In addition, the first SIFI session will be held.

Orientation Schedule

• 9:30 am – 10:30 am - Continental Breakfast & Welcome NYU Kimmel Center for University Life, 60 Washington Square South, NY, NY 10003 (Directions: www.nyu.edu/travel.nyu)
• 10:30 am – 12:30 p.m. - Meeting for New Field Instructors: This will be the first meeting of the 13-session SIFI. Room assignments will be available during check-in.

field learning required hours

benefits for nyu field instructors

As an expression of the School's appreciation of your contribution to our program, we are pleased to be able to offer benefits for hosting our students at your site, including:

• Current Field Instructors receive 25% tuition remission in the Ph.D. program and in Continuing Education programs (e.g., breakfast workshops, certificate programs);
• Employees of your agency who enroll in our part-time MSW program are eligible for a half-rate tuition scholarship;
• Special seminars and workshops at no cost;
• Field Instructors are appointed at the rank of Adjunct Lecturer. They are eligible for promotion to the rank of Adjunct Assistant Professor after the fourth year of service; and eligible for promotion to Adjunct Associate Professor after the sixth* year.

*Effective 9.1.06: An adjunct fieldwork faculty member who is appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor may be eligible to be promoted to the rank of Adjunct Associate Professor after 4 years of field instruction or advisement (i.e., eligibility after the eighth year).

Field Instructors who are granted Adjunct Lecturer, Assistant or Associate Professor status receive the following privileges upon the issuance of their NYU ID card:

• NYU gym membership (you must pay applicable membership fee);
• Read-only access at Bobst Library;
• Use of the Bobst bike rack;
• Discount movie/theater tickets via Ticket Central;
• A 15% discount at the NYU bookstore; and
• Access to the Kimmel Center: www.nyu.edu/community.