MSW Field Resources
Weekly outline
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George Williams School of Social Work
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MSW Students should contact their MSW Field Coordinator with any questions they may have regarding their field placements. Field Coordinator contact information can be found below:
MSW Students with Last Names Beginning with A-L
Samantha (Sam) Heiden MSW,LSW
Field Coordinator
Institute for Collaboration Building, room 325
(630) 844-6847
Click here to schedule a meeting: https://calendly.com/sheiden/30min
MSW Students with Last Name Beginning with M-Z
Rita Braun, Assistant Field Director
Institute for Collaboration Building, room 325
(630) 947-8911
Click here to schedule a meeting: https://calendly.com/rwiermanski
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As an Aurora University Social Work student, you will automatically be eligible for a Tevera account. Tevera is a field management and assessment platform that will be utilized throughout your time with Aurora University, so an active account is a requirement for all students.
To activate your Tevera account, you will go to the MSW News and Resources Moodle page and click on the Tevera Registration link. You will then be redirected straight to Tevera, and can follow the prompts to complete the registration of your account.
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Before you register for field courses, you are required to attend a field orientation session to get familiar with the process and structure of field education. Field orientations are conducted about once every month and are held via Zoom. Please register for the field orientation session you plan to attend.
Upcoming Field Orientation Sessions
Wednesday, May 22 at 6:00 PM CST
Saturday, June 22 at 10 AM CST
Thursday, July 18th at 6 PM CST
Friday, August 2nd at 12 PM CST
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Field Applications for Spring 2024 are due to Tevera by November 1, 2023. Start your search today!!
Step 1: Click on the Tevera Link
Step 2: Once logged into Tevera, go to Site Placements> My Sites> Browse*
*Enter your zip code and distance preferences for a list of sites near you
Step 3: Click "+" to expand the site of sites and view their contact information
Step 4: On Moodle, view Current Field Placement Openings
Step 5: If you do not see any sites listed in your state, check out https://www.211.org/about-us/your-local-211, to reach out and inquire about internships with potential new sites for AU to affiliate with.
Step 6: Send a professional email * (from your AU email account) to the site with a cover letter and resume attached (in PDF form). See example on Moodle.
*If you do not receive a reply, follow up 1 week later
Step 7: If you receive a reply, set up a time to interview
Step 8: Continue the above process until you are offered an internship
Step 9: Once you have accepted an offer, log into Tevera and complete your field application
Site Placements> Internship> Follow the guided steps
Ready to get started?
1) Review the Current Field Placement Openings Page3) Utilize the "My Sites" tab in your Tevera account to view already affiliated agencies4) Utilize the Field Search Log (below)5) Review the Field Checklist (below), for a helpful timeline of events -
Students may request to use a current or recent employment position or a previous internship site as field placements. Students will initiate this request by contacting their field coordinator.
Assessment of an employment-based internship will be based on the following:
Role: The role of the student employee will need to fully accommodate the learning objectives required of the internship level the student is requesting to be approved. The student will be asked to complete an application for an employment-based internship with their supervisor that will outline in detail how their current role maps back to internship learning objectives. This application will be provided by the field coordinator once the student initiates an employment-based internship request.
Supervision: Ideally, the field placement should be supervised by someone other than a current supervisor for the student. If that option is unavailable, the current supervisor will be asked to create a separate supervision hour with the student specifically focusing on internship learning. The plan for supervision will be included in the employment-based application completed by the student and supervisor.
Affiliation Amendment: The agency will complete an amendment to the Aurora University Affiliation Agreement indicating their support of an employment-based internship for the student. The internship cannot be approved without the agency’s approval of this structure.
If the above conditions are met, a student can use their employment hours to count towards the internship hour requirement. Please note, employment-based internships have a weekly maximum number of hours that may be applied toward the field requirement. For BSW/Generalist year internships, students may use up to 16 hours per week towards the internship hour requirement; for Specialist year internships, students may use up to 20 hours per week towards the internship hour requirement.
Using employment hours to meet the internship requirement means students may exceed the internship hour minimums outlined by the Field Department. Students will still be required to be enrolled in both field courses associated with their respective internship level, and will be expected to maintain engagement and complete assignments even if hours have exceeded the minimum requirements.
Students will be asked to complete the Employment-Based Application in order to have this option vetted and approved by their Field Coordinator.
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From help on resume or cover letter, please contact the career service page.
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Use the example email (below) for outreach to sites. Be sure to customize the words written in blue.
You will send a professional email (from your AU email account) to the site with a cover letter and resume attached (in PDF form).
Example email:
Good afternoon,
I am a current MSW student at Aurora University. I am in the process of searching for an internship for the 2024 school year. If you are currently accepting interns for a Spring 2024 start date, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to interview with your site.
Please find my cover letter and resume attached to this email. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Kindly,
(Name)
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Deadline to submit your Field Application in Tevera!
Fall Term: June 1
Spring Term: November 1
Summer Term: March 1
Start and end dates for Field Placement per term:
- Fall: August 26- May 3rd.
- Spring 2025 : January 6- Aug 16 2025.
Guide to the Field Application Process
Once you’ve accepted an offer from an agency, you will complete the Site Selection process in Tevera to begin the field application process. Please begin this process as soon as you accept an offer from an agency to ensure that your start date is not delayed.
Please note: You will submit one field application in Tevera per internship. Your field application covers both semesters since your placement is required to be done over the course of two 16-week semesters. You do not need to complete a field application for each individual semester.
Applying for an AU affiliated site:
Step 1: Register your Tevera account with the Field Program. You will do this by clicking on the Tevera Registration link on your Program News & Resources Moodle page.
Step 2: You will log into your Tevera account and go to the “Site Placements” tile on your home page, and then go to “my site placements”. Note: Please click on the tab that corresponds with the term you are starting your internship. (Spring, Summer, or Fall).
Step 3: Site details & Supervisor details: You will select the site and supervisor from the already approved lists available in Tevera. You will then complete the Projected Start/End Dates form, keeping in mind that internships cover cover two 16-week semesters (32 weeks in total) and this should be reflected in your start and end dates.
Step 4: Once you have confirmed/submitted
1. the Site,
2. the Site Supervisor,
3. Field Track Form
4. Employment Based Field Form
5. Field Consent Form
6.Fill Out Your Projected Start/End Dates For Supervision
the field team will begin to review your site placement application. If these steps are complete, the field team will grant permission for you to register for your field instruction course.
Step 5: Final approval will include verifying site affiliation and liability insurance status, collecting the required pre-requisites, if applicable, and confirming student registration in the field courses. You will receive a notification in Tevera once your application has received final approval.
Applying for a site not affiliated with AU:
Step 1: Register your Tevera account with the Field Program. You will do this by clicking on the Tevera Registration link on your Program News & Resources Moodle page.
Step 2: You will log into your Tevera account and go to the “Site Placements” tile on your home page, and then go to “my site placements”. Note: Please click on tab that corresponds with the term you are starting your internship. (Spring, Summer or Fall).
Step 3: Site details: After completing your pre-application task, you will go to “select site” and scroll to the bottom of the page. You will select “Suggest a Site” and enter in the contact email for the agency contact who has offered you the internship position. This will initiate a New Site Information form the site will need to complete and submit.
Step 4: Supervisor details: Open Supervisor details and scroll down to "Suggest a Supervisor". Enter your site supervisor's email address and submit the form. This will generate a New Field Instructor Information form that will be sent to your site supervisor for them to complete and submit. You will then complete the Projected Start/End Dates form, keeping in mind that internships cover two 16-week semesters (32 weeks in total) and this should be reflected in your start and end dates.
Step 5: Once you have submitted1. the New Site Information form,
2. the New Field Instructor Information form
3. Field Track Form
4. Employment Based Field Form
5. Field Consent Form
6. the Projected Start/End Dates form,
the field team will begin to review your site placement application. If these steps are complete, the field team will grant permission for you to register for your field instruction course.
Step 6: Final approval will include verifying site affiliation and liability insurance status, collecting the required pre-requisites, if applicable, and confirming student registration in the field courses. You will receive a notification from Tevera once your application has received final approval.
See link for more support around the application process in Tevera: Tevera application tutorial
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After you submit your field application, you may begin completing pre-screening requirements if your agency has specifically outlined which tests they want you to complete. You must complete all agency requirements before a confirmation letter can be sent allowing you to begin your internship.
If the agency has not informed you of pre-screening requirements, please wait for an email from the Field Affiliation Coordinator before starting any pre-screening affiliation requirements. We do not want you to pay for any tests if it is not necessary.
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Professional social work education requires high standards of academic, personal, and professional conduct. The education program at the MSW level requires the development of ethics and values as well as knowledge and skills.
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Once the semester starts you will be assigned to a Field Liaison. In addition to being the instructor of your field course, their role will be to aid you in problem-solving with your site/supervisor, answer any questions you may have regarding your field placement, hours, requirements, etc.
***Liaison Plus***
As applicable, students whose supervisor does not have an MSW with 2 yrs experience in the field as outlined by CSWE will be required to participate in the Liaison Plus program, which consists of regular Moodle forum posts. Students can confirm if they are in Liaison Plus with their field liaison.