How Do I Secure a Field Experience Placement?
For Spring Field Experience Placements and Participation in the Formal Interview Process:
- Review the 'Field Experience Sites' page of this website for a description of each available Field Experience Placement.
- If needed, meet with your faculty advisor during the last two weeks of September to discuss the sites that interest you.
- The Program Coordinator will email a form requesting your top Field Experience sites. You will complete this form and include a copy of your most recent resume.
- Participate in virtual interviews.
- Have an updated resume prepared for interviews.
- Submit a preference sheet to the Program Coordinator.
- Complete a Field Experience Contract by the end of the semester before beginning the Field Experience. You should work with your Field Experience supervisor to complete this contract. You can find copy of a blank A contract is only complete when signed by the student, Field Experience site supervisor, and CSA program coordinator.
- Registration in the Field Experience Seminar Course requires a special permission number that will only be provided to the student who has a completed contract.
For Fall and Summer Field Experience Placements:
- Research the opportunities that are available to you and ones that you would like to consider that are not on the approved list. If you're having trouble finding the office or the kind of experience that you are interested in, ask your classmates and supervisors, talk with your advisor or check with Dr. Brescia who might have suggestions and/or contacts for you to make.
- Contact the Field Experience Site you are interested in.
- Approved Sites (i.e., they are listed on this website): You will need to inform them you are interested in a Field Experience for a particular semester, send them a resume, and request an interview.
- Non-Approved Sites (i.e., no history of having prior field experience students): You will need to explain what the Field Experience is and why you are interested in the site. You should also send a copy of your resume and ask if they will set up a meeting to talk with you about possibilities for completing a Field Experience at their agency. If they are interested in working with you, advise the Program Coordinator so that they can help facilitate the process of approving the site for Field Experience placement.
- Interview with the site.
- If the supervisor indicates that you can do a placement at that site, fill out the contract together, sign it, and submit it to the Program Coordinator for approval.
Special Summer Internships and Work Experiences:
- Professional organizations such as ACUHO-I, NODA, NACADA and NASPA, among others, provide summer internships which are approved Field Experiences in the CSA program.
- You should discuss these opportunities with your advisor.
- If selected, you must present a copy of the job description from the appropriate college or university for approval as a Field Experience. The contract will be lieu of a signed Field Experience contract. Submit it to the Program Coordinator who will then help you enroll in the Field Experience Seminar course. The summer Field Experience Seminar course is offered in an online asynchronous format.
- Students frequently seek employment in Student Affairs offices during the summer months. Most of these jobs could be considered appropriate experiences for Field Experience.
last updated: 7/26/2022