Adele
Weiner, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.
Professor
Metropolitan
College of New York
Audrey Cohen
College of Human Services and Education
75 Varick
Street
New York, New
York 10013
(212) 343-1234
ext. 2221
Dear Supervisor:
I am writing to introduce myself as the faculty
assigned to oversee an MCNY student intern at your agency. I want to take this
opportunity to clarify some of my expectations and to explain our fieldwork
program to you.
A copy of the course syllabus is being sent with
this letter and the MCNY Field Manual can be downloaded from http://www.mcny.edu/pdfs/oel/Supervised_Fieldwork_Policies_&_Procedures_Manual.pdf.
The student working for you is in her/his last
semester of college. The student needs to work a total 14 hours per week for 15
weeks this semester. A time sheet is enclosed to help you keep track of the
student's hours. I will request a copy of this time sheet at the end of the
semester. If the student is a regular employee of your agency, the time sheet
is not required.
During this semester, the student's class work
focuses on learning how to facilitate organizational change. I have attached a
copy of the course syllabus to this emailed letter. The student may develop a
new program or significantly redesign a current program. We approach this
performance area, or Purpose, through discussion of actual field experiences
and theory. The students' course work is broad based; that is, they study
organizational dynamics and change, and non-profit management. In addition to
these courses, students attend a three-hour field seminar weekly. In this
seminar, we discuss the student's progress at your agency. We also teach
students how to plan, conduct and document a work place initiative. The College
terms this project a constructive action.
The focus this semester is on organizational change. Students are
expected to spend approximately 4 hours per week during their field placement
working on their constructive action projects. It is hoped that the effects of
these projects will enhance the agency and will continue in the organization
after the semester. Some potential projects include:
·
Development and/or implementation of a new program
·
Outreach and services to a new client population
·
Revision, design and/or implementation of an
organizational policy or procedure
·
Revision, design and/or implementation of a system
for managing records, intakes, referrals, services etc.
·
Development of an inter-agency team
·
Development of an intra-agency task force or
working arrangements
·
Staff development projects
·
Grant writing
The student's Constructive Action project is the centerpiece
of his/her work during the semester. The student is expected to spend a total
of 4 hours of the total 14 weekly hours conducting this project. The project
should be conducted over a 14 week period. During the time --the 11-12 hours
weekly when the student is not working on this project--the student will work
on all the tasks you assign that are part of his/her placement experience at
your agency. The Constructive Action project should be designed to answer a
specific workplace need, which you perceive and on which the student is capable
of working. In the purpose class, the student is taught a detailed methodology
for planning, implementing and evaluating this project. This includes: basic
needs assessment techniques, the development of objectives, strategies and an
evaluation plan, and documentation skills including weekly logs.
In order to complete the project, the student
will need your guidance in the following key areas:
·
The first part of need assessment involves understanding the
agency. The student will need any written material you have about the history,
mandate and mission of your agency.
·
The student will need to meet with you to conduct a needs
assessment for the project.
·
The developing project becomes a series of work tasks for the
student and will fall under the aegis of your regular supervision.
·
At the end of the semester you will give the student a brief
written evaluation and a record of the weekly time in your agency. These
materials will be part of the student's Constructive Action document. However,
if the student is an employee and works more than 14 hours a week, a time sheet
will not be required.
I have made it clear to my students that they
work at the discretion of your agency and that professional conduct is
required. This includes completing homework at home. If at any time, you have
questions or want to discuss the student's progress, please call (212/343-1234
x 2221) or email me (aweiner@mcny.edu). Since I am only
on campus on Mondays and Thursdays, email may be the better means of
communication.
Many thanks for your cooperation and effort. You are
providing our student with an invaluable experience in professionalism.
Sincerely,
Adele Weiner, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.
Professor
Audrey Cohen College of Human Services and Education
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