Adjunct Practicum Liaison Advisor for On-ground MSW, School of Social Work

Located in Bostons historic Fenway area Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Bostons only womens undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.

Youre joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. Youll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values diversity equity and inclusion Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating developing promoting and enhancing inclusive hiring practicesat all levels for all positionsensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty staff student body and curriculum.

Adjunct Practicum Liaison Advisor for On-ground MSW School of Social Work

Simmons University School of Social Work (SSW) is now accepting applications for a part-time adjunct faculty position (non-tenure track) in Practicum Education as Practicum Liaison Advisor to on-ground students in our MSW program. This position requires the candidate to be located on the Simmons campus in Boston. This position will start on or around August 26 2025.

Simmons University is a small highly collegial and dynamic university located in the heart of Bostons world-renowned Longwood Medical Area. Simmons is comprised of an undergraduate liberal arts education program for women and those who identify as women plus professional graduate schools with masters and doctoral programs for all genders presenting unique and rich opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The Simmons School of Social Work offers degrees at the Bachelors Masters and Doctoral levels (BSW MSW DSW PhD). Our MSW Program is offered via robust on-ground and online platforms. Areas of current SSW faculty expertise include: dynamics of diversity family and intimate partner violence immigration health and health policy health disparities aging behavioral health substance abuse suicidality child maltreatment social policy and innovations in social work education.

Practicum Liaison (PL) Advisors provide Practicum advising for up to fifteen students. The role of the PL is to be a resource to agencies and Practicum Instructors and to help students achieve their educational goals in the Practicum and in the classroom. All Practicum Liaison Advisors report to a designated Practicum Education Faculty member who collaborates with the Director of Practicum Education.

Primary Responsibilities
Check in/introductory phone call or email to the Practicum Instructor in the first week of
placement;
Individual meetings with advisees:
Minimum of 3 times a year - 1 introductory and 1 Practicum visit per semester - these typically occur via Zoom but can take place in person;
Monthly email contact with student to check-in;
For the purpose of getting information to students efficiently set up and utilize email lists according to their status (Foundation Year Advanced Year Advanced Standing);

One Practicum site visit per semester with Practicum Instructor and student at agency
Practicum visits generally occur November-December and March-April. Please note there are variations in this timeline for students in 16 hour-per-week placements.
Extra visits are scheduled if there are issues or concerns.
Read comment on and return required written student assignments;
Assist with planning for Year II placement (for Year I students) including learning goals and resume review and if applicable provide career planning support to graduating students;
Convene Level 1 student meetings to mediate and address Practicum concerns;

The Practicum Instructor may be consulted or invited to attend the meeting;
Learn and utilize Starfish to document specified student encounters and to access student academic information;
Learn and utilize Tevera to review student assignments (including the Learning Plan and Evaluations) and monitor student hours at placement;
All PLs are required to have a working knowledge of the MSW curriculum and the resources on campus to support student success. Additionally PLs should encourage students to seek their academic advisors involvement when academic concerns arise;
More in-depth program questions (i.e. leaves of absence and changes in programs) should be directed to the Academic Services Center;
Other duties as assigned.

Liaison Availability

Liaisons are expected to schedule virtual meetings at times that are convenient to the student. This may include evening hours.
Confidentiality should always be considered when determining locations for virtual meetings.
Liaisons should be easily accessible to students via Simmons email. Liaisons are expected to check both phone messages and email regularly and in general return messages within 24 hours Monday-Friday.
When making appointments with students take into consideration that:
Students are in classes Tuesdays Wednesdays and Fridays during the day. There are also classes held on Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Practicum days are as follows:
Generalist Year (YR I): Monday Tuesday Thursday
Specialist Year (YR II): Monday Thursday and a variable 3rd day (depending on their class schedule and/or agency needs)
Students in 16 hour-per-week placements may have variable Practicum days. There has been an increasing number of students with some variations in their placement days at the request of an agency. Please check with your advisees to verify their Practicum schedule and to make sure this is reflected in their Learning Plan in Tevera

Documentation
Although documentation is minimal Practicum Liaison Advisors are asked to keep the following documentation:
Initial student meeting and a summary of placement site visits will be entered into Starfish at the conclusion of each Practicum visit.
Placement planning: For Year II placement purposes the Practicum Education Department will need your informal assessment of your advisees.
Agency information/assessment:

Brief paragraph description of each agency/placement.
Supplemental assessment of agency and/or Practicum Instructor(s).
Level review meeting documentation (if one is held).
References (as requested by students).

Qualifications
Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited CSWE program required;
A minimum of 5 years post-MSW clinical experience required;
Highest level of licensure (LICSW in Massachusetts or be eligible for LICSW);
Experience as a Practicum Instructor (clinical instructor) for MSW interns is required;
The ability to provide a copy of a current social work license and references as requested.

Required Application Materials
Please upload the following documents with your application:
CV
Cover letter
Names and contact information for three references

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv cover letter writing sample teaching philosophy etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 (My Experience) of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individuals community experience. As a university committed to diversity equity and inclusion Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating developing promoting and enhancing inclusive hiring practicesat all levels for all positionsensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty staff student body and curriculum.