Master of Occupational Therapy Program - Governors State University

Governors State University
College of Health and Human Services
Occupational Therapy Department
Policy: Assignment Cancellation Number: OT 601 Page 1 of 2
Effective: 5/29/04
Reviewed:
Supersedes: Revised: 3/4/11
Policy:
Occupational therapy students are assigned to fieldwork I and fieldwork II sites in keeping
with the objectives of the specific fieldwork assignment. Cancellation of fieldwork either by
the site, the MOT Program or the student is a serious situation, which will not occur without
careful consideration. When there is a cancellation, there will be no guarantee of the practice
areas, location or timing of the replacement fieldwork.
Purpose: Fieldwork supervisors, students and fieldwork staff spend extensive time planning
and organizing contracts, confirmations and pre-requisite materials for fieldwork to be
successful. Selection criteria for fieldwork sites include congruence with our curriculum which
reflects communication, advocacy, critical reasoning and advocacy. Cancellation may occur
when a site does not evidence these criteria, if the site experiences unforeseen circumstances or
if the student experiences extenuating circumstances.
Procedure:
1.0 Student Cancellation of fieldwork occurs only in extenuating circumstances, when there
is an unpredictable student crisis, defined below.
1.1 Unpredictable student crisis – a major life change related to health,
finances, or family emergency preventing successful completion of fieldwork
1.1.1. The fieldwork coordinator must be notified immediately, at the first sign
of crisis or the potential for crisis. This notification should be personal, in
the form of an e-mail or phone call.
1.1.2. There must be documentation on file with the Academic Fieldwork
Coordinator (AFC) prior to the official cancellation of the assignment.
This documentation will consist of a letter addressed to the AFC
explaining the circumstances and any other supporting documentation
requested by the AFC.
1.1.3. The AFC will review the documentation to make a final decision
regarding cancellation and the appropriate steps to follow with the
registrar related to course withdrawal, a grade of incomplete or failure.
1.1.3. If approved, the AFC will work with the student to obtain another
placement. There is no guarantee that time completed will be credited
toward the required minimum of 24 weeks of full time Level II fieldwork.
2.0 Fieldwork Site Cancellation There are many reasons for site cancellation of a student's
fieldwork assignment. When a reservation/confirmation is canceled, it is often due to
unpredictable circumstances:
2.1 Unpredictable circumstances such as staffing (i.e., maternity leave,
emergency leave, staff cut backs, staff vacancies, etc.) or reorganization of the
facility (i.e., restructuring, labor union disputes, corporate buy-out, etc).
2.1.1. It is a fair assumption that the student will be better served
in a new placement rather than entering a facility experiencing
large-scale changes