Contacting Fieldwork Sites and Fieldwork Interviews
The AFWC and CEPSA are responsible for establishing relationships with fieldwork sites and developing the program’s fieldwork educators. In keeping with the program’s philosophy that fieldwork education is an extension of the academic program, efforts will be directed at developing a network of fieldwork facilities and fieldwork educators committed to working with this program to provide quality professional education.
- Contacting Fieldwork Sites
Students are strictly prohibited from contacting any fieldwork education facilities, regardless of whether the Institute currently holds a contract with the site, until they have been granted explicit permission to do so by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) or Clinical Education Placement and Student Affairs (CEPSA) staff. Unauthorized contact with sites prior to receiving permission may jeopardize fieldwork opportunities and the Institute’s relationships with clinical partners.
If students have site-specific questions during the Level II exploration process, they must direct all inquiries to the IHP fieldwork team.
Communication with fieldwork sites will be initiated and authorized by the IHP fieldwork team. Students will be directed, as instructed by the fieldwork team, to follow up with their assigned site to confirm placement timing, logistical details, or to schedule an interview if required.
- New Site Development
To meet the needs of students, it is possible to develop new fieldwork sites under a limited set of circumstances.
If you are interested in discussing new site development, please schedule a meeting with the AFWC or CEPSA. If the IHP fieldwork team decides to pursue a contract with the new site, they will reach out directly to the site. Students should not reach out to the site unless instructed otherwise by AFWC or CEPSA.
Students who initiate new site development will be obligated to proceed with fieldwork placement arrangements once the AFWC or CEPSA have initiated communication with the fieldwork facility and the contract affiliation process is underway.
Once the contract negotiation business has been initiated, all formal communication occurs directly between the IHP and the prospective fieldwork site. Students should not expect to be included in this legal business communication and negotiation.
- Fieldwork Interviews
Many fieldwork facilities require a pre-placement interview as part of their process to confirm a good fit between the student and the site. Increasingly across the United States, some fieldwork sites require an interview even before considering a student for placement, while others conduct interviews after an assignment has been made. The interview's purpose is to clarify expectations, discuss qualifications, explore potential matches, and confirm fieldwork arrangements.
Interviews may or may not be competitive. However, it is important to understand that assignment to a site does not guarantee final acceptance. Clinical sites reserve the right to determine whether a placement is appropriate based on the interview process.
If a student identifies significant concerns about proceeding with a placement based on the interview, they may submit a formal petition to the AFWC to request reconsideration of their Level II fieldwork assignment. Petitions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Clinical sites retain the right to cancel a reservation for any reason, including changes in staffing, resource availability, or unforeseen circumstances that impact the site’s ability to provide an appropriate learning environment.
In the event of a cancellation after a student has been assigned, the IHP Fieldwork Team will promptly communicate the change to the affected student(s) and work collaboratively with clinical partners to identify and secure a replacement site that meets the student’s educational needs.
Every effort will be made to find a suitable alternative that aligns with the student’s placement preferences; however, flexibility regarding location, setting, or type of placement may be required.
The IHP Fieldwork Team is committed to supporting students through any unexpected changes and ensuring the successful completion of all required fieldwork experiences.