Procedures for the Assignment Process
For Specific Types of Fieldwork Experiences
The process of assigning students with fieldwork facilities involves the AFWC, CEPSA, the fieldwork sites, and program faculty.
Level I Fieldwork Experiences
The AFWC and CEPSA complete all Level I Fieldwork assignments taking into consideration the sequence and content of the curriculum, as well as the scope of each student’s prior fieldwork experience.
Level II Fieldwork Experiences
The AFWC or CEPSA meets with students upon matriculation into the program to begin the fieldwork advising process. Students who are seeking placements outside of the local area (beyond 60 miles from the IHP) are strongly encouraged to begin exploration by early Fall 1 because many fieldwork facilities are booking at least two years in advance of placement start dates. The interactive process of Level II fieldwork advising occurs during the first year of the academic program. The initial survey of each student’s general interests begins the process of advising and identifying those who wish to explore non-local fieldwork options. Placements beyond the 60 mile radius of the IHP are typically determined during a student’s first year.
Some fieldwork sites, require students’ names to secure a reservation or mandate a student application process. It is important to note that once a student commits to an out of state placement, a site's application process or their name is submitted to reserve a spot, they are obligated to follow through with that placement.
While some sites consistently offer reservations to our program each year, others have more complex requirements such as necessitating an application or specifying a student's name to secure a spot. Each month an updated listing of sites that are more than 60 miles from the IHP, require a student name for a reservation and/or involve and application process will posted to the OT Level II Fieldwork Program and Resources Page under your classes folder. Students are encouraged to regularly review these updates and adhere to the instructions provided if they are interested in any of the placement opportunities. It's important to note that the IHP fieldwork team retains the discretion to include even local placements in these monthly postings.
All students complete a Level II Fieldwork Application form in the Spring semester of their first year of the academic program. Fieldwork Application forms must be returned to the designated individual by the specified date. The AFWC and CEPSA consider this student input in the assignment process, along with site availability. However, there is no guarantee that a student will receive an assignment from their listed preferences. The Program’s timeline to notify students of their Level II Fieldwork site assignments occurs by the end of the Fall semester of the second year of the IHP Program.
Fieldwork Site Information
Information on all fieldwork sites is maintained by the program using the E*Value software platform.
Fieldwork Site Information Form
Each fieldwork education site is responsible for completing and submitting the Fieldwork Data Form (FWDF) to the program. This form provides comprehensive details about the facility, including health status requirements, descriptions of the practice environment, and types of clients/patients served. Additional site-specific information, such as learning objectives, dress code, and required forms, are posted to the individual site in the EValue system. As you prepare for Level II fieldwork, be aware that although there is a history of requirements listed in EValue, these may be outdated. Direct communication with the site coordinator (an assignment in OT 760) or a site representative (such as human resources or health services) should be considered the most current source of information. Please note that sites may update their requirements, and these updates will supersede previous listings in the E*Value system. Students can review the experiences of previous students by accessing the Student Evaluation of Fieldwork Experiences (SEFWE) forms, which are posted by each site in E*Value. When examining these completed forms, it's important to remember that each student's experience can vary. Therefore, these evaluations should be considered as just one part of your information-gathering process.