An Operational Guide to the Faculty Field Liaison Role

Abstract

Faculty liaison activities help maintain high practicum standards in education and support agency efforts to educate students. Funding cutbacks have tempted schools and agencies to reduce their commitment to this function. The authors describe how the liaison function facilitates field instruction and student learning.

Creating Effective University-Field Partnerships

“…While the literature on the liaison role and responsibilities (Fellin, 1982;Gordon, 1982;Rosenblum & Raphael, 1983), stresses the importance of this function, there is evidence to suggest that, in fact, many teaching faculty are reluctant to take on this assignment, and those who do, do not carry it in a uniform manner. It may be that there is considerable discrepancy between the concept as presented In the literature and actual practice (Raphael & Rosenblum, 1987).…”

“…The student's educational experience is generally organized by the setting's mandate and service delivery programs, and more specifically by the service functions and practice methods of the field instructor. A faculty field liaison from the university is assigned to each student/field instructor pair to monitor the student's leaming and progress (Raphael & Rosenblum, 1987;Rosenblum & Raphael, 1983). In this model the commitment to education is dependent primarily on the field instructor.…”

Creating Effective University-Field Partnerships

“…While the literature on the liaison role and responsibilities (Fellin, 1982;Gordon, 1982;Rosenblum & Raphael, 1983) stresses the importance of this function, there is evidence to suggest that, in fact, many teaching faculty are reluctant to take on this assignment, and those who do, do not carry it in a uniform manner. It may be that there is considerable discrepancy between the concept as presented in the literature and actual practice (Raphael & Rosenblum, 1987).…”

“…The student's educa-Downloaded by [University of Calgary] at 01:31 03 February 2015 tional experience is generally organized by the setting's mandate and service delivery programs, and more specifically by the service functions and practice methods of the field instructor. A faculty field liaison from the university is assigned to each studentffield instructor pair to monitor the student's learning and progress (Raphael & Rosenblum, 1987;Rosenblum & Raphael, 1983). In this model the commitment to education is dependent primarily on the field instructor.…”

Promoting Integration of Theory and Practice in Field Education

“…Within the agency setting, field instructors help students understand the role of social work in the agency, how to use social work skills with clients, and how to draw upon social work theory to inform their actions. Field educators, often referred to as faculty or field liaisons, have the responsibility of expanding on these connections outside the agency setting, typically in the form of an integrative seminar (Brownstein, Smith, & Faria, 1991;Raphael & Rosenblum, 1987;Rosenblum & Raphael, 1983).…”