Staff Associate, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (.80 Fte) - Worcester State University

About Worcester State University:
WORCESTER STATE UNIVERSITY is a liberal arts and sciences university with a long tradition of academic excellence dating back to 1874, as well as an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to reflect the diversity of its community. Our workforce is dedicated to academic quality, student-centered programming, engaged citizenship, open exchanges of ideas, diversity and inclusiveness, and civility and integrity. We are looking for job applicants who share these values and commitment to our students.

Worcester State is centrally located in Massachusetts, about an hour's drive from Boston, Springfield, and Providence, Rhode Island. Our 58-acre campus is nestled in the residential northwest side of Worcester--the second largest city in New England and home to 37,000 college students at more than a dozen colleges and universities. Over 6,000 of those students attend Worcester State--approximately 5,300 are undergraduates and 1,000 are graduate students. Learn more about us at worcester.edu/about .

Job Description:
OFFICIAL TITLE: Staff Associate, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (.80 FTE)
SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Department Chair, Occupational Therapy
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None

General Statement of Duties: The Staff Associate, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of Levels I & II academic fieldwork within the department of occupational therapy.

Responsibilities:

(E) = Essential

Documentation Responsibilities

1. (E) Initiates placement agreements (contracts) between the university and fieldwork sites and ensures they are properly executed and updated on an annual basis.
2. (E) Ensures that the university obtains adequate liability requirements of fieldwork sites, coordinating with the Director of Procurement.
3. (E) Develops and maintains Level I and Level II Fieldwork policies and procedures, in collaboration with the OT faculty, including but not limited to the Fieldwork Manual.
4. (E) Ensures all students meet all requirements for Level I and Level II fieldworks, including but not limited to immunizations, CPR, and National Background Check. These requirements must be maintained on an annual basis beginning just prior to the commencement of junior year.
5. (E) Responsible for the annual CORI process for all students, as it pertains to Level I and Level II fieldworks, and community experiences. students who are completing their spring semester
   of sophomore year; includes distribution and collection of forms, verifying and copying identification, reviewing results provided by HR, and providing signed letter to sites as needed.
6. (E) Maintains statistical data on occupational therapy students in Level I and Level II fieldworks.
7. (E) Maintains self-study records (Fieldwork II) and participates in the production of self-study document(s) for re-accreditation purposes.
8. (E) Collects and maintains site specific objectives for all Level II sites.
9. (E) Responsible for developing and/or maintaining course syllabus, course content, and learning management system for Level II FW courses.
10. (E) Responsible for updating and maintaining departmental software as it relates to Level I and II fieldworks.

Placement Responsibilities

11. (E) Develops and maintains contact with affiliating fieldwork sites and educators.
12. (E) Maintains current and accurate information and evaluations for Level I and II fieldworks for internal and external use; maintains Level I and II fieldwork files for students to review
    information about fieldwork placements.
13. (E) Develops and maintains fieldwork database for Level I and II sites.
14. (E) Collaborates with faculty to determine potential sites for Level I fieldwork, communicates and provides attestation agreements with program coordinators for Level I fieldworks, and
    subsequently provides verification certificates to Level I fieldwork educators.
15. (E) Ensures that Level II fieldwork experiences reflect the content and scope of the curriculum as to strengthening the tie between the didactic component and fieldwork.
16. (E) Develops and maintains, (through regular contact, site visits, professional organizations, committee work and training opportunities), a collaborative relationship with faculty and fieldwork educators.
17. (E) Responsible for ensuring student completion of Level II Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE) and communicate both incomplete and final grades for Level II fieldworks to the Registrar's office.

Student-related Responsibilities

18. (E) Meets with each Level II fieldwork student at least one semester prior to their first Level II placement regarding site preferences, requirements, special accommodations, and considerations for both Level II placements.
19. (E) Ensures students are aware of special requirements of any fieldwork site.
20. (E) Develops and manages the Level II fieldwork program, including handling student fieldwork placements, reservations, confirmations, withdrawals, and failures.
21. (E) Maintains open lines of communication with student's faculty advisor and program chair with any updates on issues arising with a Level II fieldwork placement that may interfere with
    continuing in that placement.
22. (E) Advises and supports students as they prepare for and pursue their fieldwork experiences.
23. (E) Meet with students in preparation for Level I and II fieldworks to communicate expectations on behalf of fieldwork sites and experiences.
24. (E) Responsible for conducting student exit interviews immediately following summation of second Level II fieldwork placement and one year following to gather feedback pertaining to employment and educational experience.

General Responsibilities

25. Attends various departmental events, meetings, activities, ceremonies, etc.
26. (E) Demonstrates civility and professional, customer-service oriented behavior, worthy of emulation by other staff and students.
27. (E) Responsible for contributing to the WSU Strategic Plan.
28. (E) Responsible for contributing to Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action objectives.
29. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements:
Required Qualifications:

Minimum of a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and a Master's degree in another field from a regionally accredited institution; or a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from a regionally accredited institution. Any occupational therapy degree must be from a program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Minimum three years of clinical experience as an OTR. Currently registered as an Occupational Therapist (through NBCOT). Must possess or obtain licensure as an OTR in Massachusetts. Minimum two years of experience supervising occupational therapy students in a fieldwork setting.

Additional Information:
This is a full-time (.8FTE/ 30 hours per week), benefited, exempt, professional APA position. The firm annual salary range for this position is $60,000- $65,000, commensurate with relevant professional experience and education.

Here at Worcester State University, it is strongly recommended that all employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 before they begin employment.

Worcester State University offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

a choice of 8 different pre-taxed, health insurance plan options
a choice of pension or 401(a), and supplemental plan retirement options
life insurance up to 8x the annual salary
long-term disability coverage
dental insurance
20 vacation days accrued per year
15 sick days accrued per year
5 personal days per year
paid holidays
tuition remission for self, spouse, and dependent children
and more...

We are an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. M/F/D/V. Members of traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions:
Applicants must apply online and may do so by visiting www.worcester.edu/careers, and submitting a cover letter, resume, and the contact information of three professional references.

For assistance with uploading materials, log a ticket via the HelpDesk link, or contact us directly at 508-929-8053.

URL: www.worcester.edu