Social Work - Practicum Liaison/Assistant Clinical Professor

About Sacred Heart University

As one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities and among the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. Nearly 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Performing Arts; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic universities as it was established to be led by the laity. This contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts and, at the same time, cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition and Best Business Schools: 2025 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio; a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu

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Position Title: Assistant Clinical Professor/Practicum Liaison

Department: School of Social Work (SSW)

Reports to: Associate Dean of SSW and dotted line to Director of Practicum Education

Length of Contract: 12 Months

Sacred Heart University’s School of Social Work seeks an Assistant Clinical Professor/Practicum Liaison for the upcoming academic year.

The Assistant Clinical Professor/Practicum Liaison oversees the process of matching social work students to Practicum placements, teaches Practicum and Seminar and serves as a link between the SSW, collaborating agencies/organizations Seminar Instructor and students. The Practicum Liaison will be located on campus.

The roles and responsibilities as the Practicum Liaison include:

• Interviewing students to determine readiness for Practicum;
• Review, suggest edits as applicable, and approve student resumes and applications for Practicum;
• Assisting students in identifying appropriate Practicum placements;
• Vetting Practicum placement organizations and completing related documentation;
• Onboarding and orienting new Practicum and Task Supervisors including entering in Tevera;
• Interviewing students to determine readiness for Practicum;
• Developing and maintaining new Practicum placements and matching students to placement organizations;
• Orienting students to Practicum Education policies and procedures;
• Helping Practicum and Task Supervisors design meaningful Practicum education experiences for students;
• Complete all documentation related to placement meetings, practicum and/or supervisor matching efforts, and challenges in accordance with Practicum Team standards and in a timely fashion.
• Support workshop development and implementation for Practicum and Task Supervisors

The roles and responsibilities as the Assistant Clinical Professor teaching Practicum and Seminar:

• Teaching student Practicum and Seminar courses across programs and instructional modalities;
• Grading and providing feedback on student Practicum seminar work requirements;
• Assigning final Practicum Education grades with consideration of the Practicum and Task Supervisors’ evaluation;
• Assessment of students’ demonstration of competency in CSWE and program standards in Practicum work;
• Providing feedback to students regarding their progress in Practicum education;
• Providing feedback to students when there are difficulties in Practicum education;
• Being available to students and Practicum and Task Supervisors for consultation and problem solving;
• Informing the student’s adviser and the Director of Practicum Education when the student is experiencing difficulty in Practicum education or is at risk of disrupting from and/or failing Practicum education;
• Making agency site visits (remotely via videoconference or in person) and maintaining ongoing contact with the Practicum and Task Supervisor and student;
• Providing ongoing evaluation of the placement agency and Practicum and Task Supervisors’ willingness and ability to provide learning opportunities and Practicum instruction consistent with the learning objectives of the curricula in accordance with accreditation.
• Attending both the student and Practicum supervisor orientation;
• Maintain documentation of student interactions and/or challenges through word, email, Teams and/or Tevera Student Concerns and Action Forms and Disruptions forms in accordance with Practicum Team standards and in a timely fashion.
• Preparing the Blackboard shells for practicum education before the start of each semester.

Additional responsibilities:

• Responsible for fulfilling all faculty responsibilities as outlined in the faculty handbook including:

o Assisting with administrative/office functions, review admission applications, and serve on program and SSW related committees;

o Providing academic advising as applicable;

o Participate in the development or revision of Practicum courses

o Interface with faculty and administrators individually and within appropriate group contexts including but not limited to faculty meetings and relevant committees;

o Working collaboratively and efficiently, in accordance with School of Social Work parameters, with program faculty and staff; including via Practicum Team Meetings, individual meetings/videoconference, phone calls and email, and

o Other duties, as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• MSW Degree from a CSWE accredited social work program
• Minimum of five years post MSW practice experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience as a Practicum instructor, knowledge of the role, and/or supervisory experience, preferred.

Application Instructions:

Qualified candidates are invited to submit 1) letter of interest 2) curriculum vitae, 3) statement of teaching philosophy, 4) contact information for three references (letters will be required from final candidates); 5) graduate transcripts, and 6) examples of course syllabi (if available). Copies of transcripts are acceptable during the initial stage, however official transcripts will be required upon a formal offer of employment. 

Review of applications will commence immediately, and the posting will close when the position has been filled.