Good afternoon PEL students,
*PLEASE NOTE, THIS MESSAGE IS FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK TRACK /POST MSW PEL STUDENTS LOOKING TO START THEIR PEL-SPECIFIC INTERNSHIP DURING THE FALL 2021 SEMESTER*
We understand that this has been a very difficult time for students to secure a school field placement for the upcoming school year. Due to decisions made outside of Aurora University, there are fewer opportunities for students to complete a school internship during the 2021/2022 academic school year. To the best of our knowledge, school districts have filled school social work internship positions, as the majority of school districts fill their internship openings by the April prior to the upcoming school year. Factors such as the impact of the current pandemic on school systems and the time of the year are also impacting availability. While we continue outreach to school districts to assist students in the process, we have made small gains.
The field team will continue to email postings if we are made aware of any internship opportunities. As we prepare for the reality that some students in the School Social Work Track may not secure an internship for the 2021/2022 school year, we want to highlight options for students to continue with their coursework, including school social work courses, and complete the school internship requirement during the 2022/2023 school year.
The following options are offered to support students who are unable to secure a school placement by the beginning of the Fall semester:
MSW Advanced
- Complete the coursework, including courses for the School Social Work track, and push back the school field internship requirement until fall 2022.
- The School Social Work Practice & Policy courses provide content and the completion of assignments that relay back to a student’s school field placement. To assist students who continue in SWK 6410 & SWK 6420, instructors will provide modified and alternative assignments to support the continuation of learning and the opportunity for students to apply tools learned in the classroom setting.
- Complete the MSW program without the PEL/School Social Work Track by dropping the track and completing your advanced field placement at a site other than the school setting. Then return and complete the Post-MSW PEL program in Fall 2022/Spring 2023.
- Request a Leave of Absence and return to complete the coursework and internship requirements in fall 2022.
Please work with your advisor to discuss the details and select the best option for you moving forward.
Post-MSW PEL
The following options are offered to support students who are unable to secure a school placement by the beginning of the Fall semester:
(1) Complete the School Social Work Track coursework and push back the school field internship requirement until fall 2022.
- The School Social Work Licensure course provides content and the completion of assignments that relay back to a student’s school field placement. To assist students who continue in SWK 6430, the instructor will provide modified and alternative assignments to support the continuation of learning and the opportunity for students to apply tools learned in the classroom setting.
(2) Request a Leave of Absence and return to complete the coursework and internship requirements in fall 2022.
Please work with your advisor to discuss the details and select the best option for you moving forward.
Warmly,
The SSW Field Team