Field Experience Specialist

Overview

Who We Are:

 

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service.  We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

 

What You Will Do:

 

The Field Experience Specialist is responsible for securing and monitoring field placements for a caseload of students across all majors, minors, and concentrations in the department. This position serves as a key support person on the Undergraduate Field Experience team to ensure students meet requirements and secure placements which will lead to the successful completion of their fieldwork, graduation, and fulfillment of their endorsement and/or credential requirements in a specialized area of teaching. Additionally, this position will collaborate with a variety of team members and departments to build new partner locations and strengthen existing relationships. This role represents the university externally with partners and conveys a high level of professionalism at all times.

 

This position requires collaboration and communication across programs, units, and colleges and as such, the Field Specialist has excellent communication and conflict resolution skills. Additionally, this role works in close collaboration with faculty across the department and interfaces with graduate-level field experience team members in the National College of Education (NCE) to ensure processes, protocols and policies are consistent, where applicable. This position supports Undergraduate Educator Preparation students as they complete and refine Career Milestones, ensuring they are well-prepared for employment after degree attainment. This aspect of the position requires collaboration and alignment with Career Bridge team members. Lastly, the Undergraduate Educator Preparation Field Experience Specialist supports the recruitment and marketing for the department and represents the department at internal and external events (including, for example, Major Experience days, Admit Days, and Career Bridge events).

Essential Responsibilities

• Secure and Manage Field Placements: Provide direct support to a caseload of undergraduate educator preparation students in securing placements in a variety of field sites including early childhood centers, school districts, and other school locations as needed. Ensure students are eligible for placements by tracking applications, medical documentation, and site approvals. In collaboration with Student Success Coaches and Advisors, follow up with students on missing paperwork to meet deadlines for field placements in their course sequence. Ensure that students meet the requirements within their placement locations for their major and minor areas in order to obtain related endorsements and/or credentials. Manage field placements through a liaison role between the students, faculty, Field Coach, and Cooperating Teacher.  Address conflicts in a timely and diplomatic manner as they arise to achieve positive outcomes for students while maintaining our relationship with partners. 
• Support Student Success: Collaborate with team members in the department, college, and field site to ensure students have access to wraparound supports available as needed in order to meet the field requirements and be successful in their placements. Attend team, SSC, Field Coach, college, university, and cross-college (with NCE) meetings regularly in order to stay informed, bring forward student challenges, and create innovative student-centered solutions. Participate in Student Success Plans as necessary, to ensure student success across coursework and field experiences.
• Relationship Building: In collaboration with team members, develop and strengthen relationships with external partners to expand field experience placement sites. Review the potential partner sites for their match to NLU UGC teacher candidates and program needs. Troubleshoot with Cooperating Schools/Centers, Cooperating Teachers and Field Coaches when issues arise with a teacher candidate in the field.
• Data Entry and Tracking: Enter and track applicable data in the field placement database.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• At least 1 year of prior experience teaching in an educational setting or in a related education adjacent role
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