Address
Form of workThe University of Tennessee
Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies
Knoxville, Tennessee
Field Experience Coordinator
The Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies is home to 29 faculty members and 9 staff members. There are two undergraduate majors: Kinesiology, and Recreation & Sport Management. In total, just under 2,000 undergraduate students major in our department. Our 120 graduate students specialize in exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport psychology/motor behavior, physical activity of epidemiology, sport management, therapeutic recreation, or socio-cultural studies. KRSS also serves approximately 5,500 students per year in promoting wellness and active living through course offerings ranging from swimming, jogging, conditioning, and strength training, to tennis, yoga, martial arts, golf, ice skating, softball, and soccer.
The Field Experience Coordinator is a critical team member of the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, & Sport Studies, supporting the experiential learning components of the department's mission. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Student Support, the Field Experience Coordinator will primarily support undergraduate field education in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies. Roles will include, but not be limited to, field placement identification, preparation, monitoring, and auditing of organizations and agencies with a strong focus on ensuring high quality field supervision within assigned program areas. The coordinator will also work in partnership with numerous local, national, and international stakeholders to develop and sustain a range of excellent Field Experience opportunities for KRSS students.
Duties/Responsibilities
Field Experience Coordination
Support the instructor of record for the undergraduate program area Field Experience courses including but not limited to:
In collaboration with the Assistant Director of Student Support, develop and set out how the student's learning and development will be implemented, recorded, monitored, and evaluated during their field education.
Suggest and recommend appropriate placements as they relate to individual student needs and desires.
Assist with developing and maintaining a transparent matching process for students and agencies and assign students to field settings consistent with students' learning and development needs in the program areas where it is deemed appropriate and beneficial for our students, our program, and our community partners.
Assist with developing and maintaining a database of community partners for each undergraduate KRSS program area where it is deemed appropriate to be used by students when searching for placement.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with partnering organizations and field instructors in assigned program areas to ensure high quality field education provision, including, but not limited, regular on-site visits, emails, phone calls, etc.
Assist with coordinating all placement processes for students and partnering agencies, and ensure all required documents are sent to appropriate parties.
Review student files ensuring they are complete and include necessary academic and nonacademic requirements of the program.
Assist with assessing all current and potential Field Experience provider requirements, issues and inquiries and resolve them in a timely and effective manner, informing the Assistant Director of Student Support in as necessary.
Possess knowledge related to all relevant accreditation and university policies regarding field education or clinical placements for students.
Assist with the development and administration of field education policies and procedures and ensure that the course design and delivery comply with accreditation standards, program requirements and university regulations.
Assist with updating the KRSS Field Experience Handbook annually.
Contribute to the effective handling of student discipline and suitability matters, Field Experience-related complaints and appeals as required.
Community Engagement
Participate in and develop external networks to contribute to influencing the regional/national KRSS program-area field education agendas or building relationships for future activities, particularly where attendance is beneficial to your role at the university.
Assist the KRSS Student Support unit with development, implementation, and evaluation of events hosted by KRSS, including annual internship fairs for each of the undergraduate KRSS program areas, events geared toward alumni engagement, and event hosted by CEHHS.
Additional Responsibilities
Attend departmental and program area meetings.
Serve on departmental and college committees as needed.
Participate in university-wide and external professional development opportunities as offered.
Other duties as assigned by the Assistant Director of Student Support.
Minimum/Required Qualifications (include education, experience, skills & abilities, licenses, & certifications):
Bachelor's degree
Outstanding ability to build and maintain positive relationships with students, parents, colleagues, and community partners.
Skilled in computer applications such as MS Office, Google suite, and various database programs to help manage student tracking.
Ability to manage time effectively, work independently with little direction, communicate with a variety of constituents, and prioritize projects.
Strong organizational skills including the ability to manage large data sets with accuracy.
Ability to multi-task.
Ability to travel for site visits.
Ability to work effectively on a diverse team.
At least one year of experience working with students.
Preferred/Desired Qualifications
Bachelor's or master's degree in a KRSS related field preferred.
Three or more years working in higher education.
Experience coordinating Field Experience/education (i.e., internships)
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
Experience with event planning and/or community engagement
