Field Placement Policies

Field Placement (IV and V) Time Commitment  

Field placements operate on the field placement’s schedule in general alignment with NYU CSD’s requirements. Please be sure to also review the Incomplete Direct Contact Hour & Attendance Requirements policy.   

• Students must adhere to the field placement’s work schedule, including holidays, start/end dates, weekends, and extended hours as assigned, not the NYU academic calendar.

• Field placement schedules are determined solely by the field placement supervisor and may begin before the academic term, extend beyond the university calendar, and include weekend assignments.

• Students must be fully available to meet the supervisor’s assigned schedule.

• Students observing religious holidays should review the University’s Religious Observances Policy and notify the CFPT as early as possible to avoid placement delays.

Field placements require consistent and consecutive attendance with no gaps during the semester.

• Consistent attendance is essential for clinical development and for establishing effective therapeutic relationships with clients. 

• Personal travel, breaks, and vacations are not allowed during field placements.

• The CFPT and the field placement supervisor do not accommodate personal schedules. 

• Requests to accommodate personal schedules for later start dates, early end dates, reduced schedules, or multiple days off that are not formal accommodations through the Moses Center for Accessibility and Inclusive Culture will not be approved. Please see the Field Placement Accommodations section for further details.  

Students unable to meet the above requirements at any point during the placement process and during the field placement experience may not be selected for a given placement, have delayed placement participation, a reduced accrual of required direct contact hours, and/or may be removed from their field placement and referred to their academic advisor for an alternate Plan of Study.

The following Time and Attendance requirements apply to all field placements (Practicum IV and V):

• All field placements are for a full term (12 to 15 weeks), at the discretion of the field placement or field placement supervisor. 

• Students are required to attend each field placement until the predetermined end date, regardless of whether the direct contact hours target has been met and/or surpassed before that date.

• Students are committed to the daily and weekly schedules as determined by the field placement and/or field placement supervisor, in alignment with the Practicum requirements outlined below. 

Students are required to meet the following based on their Practicum level:    
Practicum IV, Pediatric-Focused & Practicum V, Adult-Focused: 

• Schedule: 3-5 days per week for a full term, but never less than 12 weeks. A minimum of one week of observation is suggested.   

• Direct Contact Hours Target: ~150 direct contact hours

Scheduling & Placement Sequence

• Calendars: Field placements operate on their own schedules and do not follow the NYU academic calendar (see the policy above).

• Advanced Placements (IV & V): These are interchangeable, and neither is a prerequisite for the other.

Placement Order: The CFPT determines the order in which you complete Field IV and V based on site availability and the matching factors mentioned above; students do not choose the sequence.

Absence Policy

To maintain the integrity of the field placement experience and to ensure that all students meet the Department of CSD’s and ASHA’s clinical requirements and standards, students must follow the absence and make-up policy of the field placement site and/or supervisor.  If the field placement does not have an absence policy, students will adhere to the NYU CSD’s absence policy, detailed below. 

• Students must promptly notify their supervisor of any absence and its duration via the supervisor’s preferred contact method.

  • It is suggested that students schedule appointments (medical or other) outside of their field placement obligations. 

  • Field placement absences are only excused for personal illness, family bereavement, religious holidays, or pre-approved extenuating circumstances

    • In rare instances, when students anticipate an unavoidable scheduling conflict (e.g., doctor’s appointments, field placement interview, etc.) that will impact their attendance at their field placement, the student must submit a written request to their immediate field placement supervisor.

• Students with Moses Center attendance accommodations should coordinate with their supervisor and the CFPT in advance to establish a plan for managing absences and making up missed time or assignments.

• The CFPT should be kept informed if there are any changes to the student’s expected end date.

• At the supervisor’s discretion, students are responsible for making up any missed days to ensure they fulfill the required field placement clinical learning expectations and direct contact hours. 

• NYU policy permits members of any religious group to excuse themselves from clinical and academic obligations without penalty when required for compliance with their religious obligations.  The policy and principles to be followed by students and faculty may be found here: The University Calendar Policy on Religious Holidays.

Impact of Excessive Absences 

Excessive absences may prevent you from meeting clinical competencies or successfully completing your placement. In these instances, a meeting with your supervisor and the CFPT is required to determine next steps, which may include:

• Developing a Practicum Success Plan (PSP).

• Extending the placement period.

Evaluations & Best Practices: Your communication and attendance habits directly influence your midterm and final CALIPSO evaluations. Supervisors will assess your professionalism based on timely notification and your adherence to agreed-upon make-up plans.

Support & Resources: Students experiencing difficulties that impact their attendance should seek support from the CFPT, Academic Advising, and/or the Moses Center. These resources can assist in creating strategies to manage and mitigate the impact of absences.

Unexpected Endings

If a field placement supervisor ends early due to unforeseen circumstances, such as resignation, illness, or emergencies, the supervisor is not obligated to complete the term or provide an opportunity for any remaining direct contact hours. The CFPT, in consultation with the  Academic Advising Team, will review these cases individually to determine an appropriate plan of action.

Summer Field Placements

Field placement schedules and availability are typically limited over the summer due to school closures, supervisor vacations, low patient census, and frequent cancellations, etc. The Clinical Field Placement Team will make reasonable attempts to find field placements that can accommodate student field placement needs; however, direct contact hour accrual may be impacted, and field placement timelines may be less than the standard of a minimum of 12 weeks in length. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss their hour needs with their supervisor(s) and exercise flexibility to maximize all clinical learning opportunities. This may include a supplemental field placement, if available. If assigned, students are required to participate in both their primary and supplemental field placements. 

Travel Liability & Safety

NYU’s professional liability insurance does not cover students while traveling in a supervisor’s personal or company-owned vehicle. Students: 

• Are strongly discouraged from traveling in the same vehicle as their field placement supervisor.

• Must arrange independent transportation to and from all experiential learning sites, field placements, team meetings, and professional conferences.

On-Campus Travel Expectations

Field placements are located throughout the five boroughs, Long Island, Upstate New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Attempts to consider field placements based on a student’s location and travel means are made. However, it does not guarantee field placements to be near the student’s home, the NYU campus, or points in between. All travel to and from the field placement location(s), including but not limited to lodging, is at the student’s expense. The Department of CSD will not arrange out-of-state field placements for residential students outside of the aforementioned area.

• Students who move during the field placement experience, resulting in longer commute times, must continue to complete their field placement responsibilities. Students who are planning to move from the address indicated on the Field Placement Supplemental Form must inform the Clinical Field Placement Team at least 14 weeks before the field placement begins.

Travel Expectations: Bilingual Extension Track (BET)

Students enrolled in the Bilingual Extension Track (BET) must meet specific state-mandated supervision requirements that may necessitate significant travel.

• NYC Area Requirement: BET students are required to travel to the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area up to 5 days per week during one or more terms (Practicum III–V) in order to complete the required minimum of 50 bilingual direct contact hours under the supervision of a NYS licensed/certified bilingual SLP.

  • If a student is unable or unwilling to commute to their NYC-area assigned field placement, this will impact their ability to meet the BET clinical requirements.  In this case, they will be referred to the Director of the Bilingual Extension for further discussion and determination of next steps. 

Tasks not explicitly named in our scope of practice are still allowable as long as they do not conflict with the ASHA Code of Ethics, and are considered Multiskilling (see definition below).  

Multiskilling: "Cross-training of basic patient care skills, professional nonclinical skills, and/or administrative skills is a reasonable option that clinical practitioners at all levels of practice may need to consider depending on the service delivery setting, geographic location, patient/client population, and clinical workforce resources."

Some examples of this include, but are not limited to: diapering and toileting. ASHA recognizes that SLPs may be involved in activities not directly related to our scope practice, however, SLPs can continue to facilitate functional communication during f these tasks (when appropriate). For example, many hospital-based SLPs will utilize the time patients need to complete activities of daily living (i.e., washing, dressing, and toileting) by incorporating functional communication goals into the activity. On the other hand, multiskilling should ideally not interrupt the flow of skilled service. Time and skills are of high value, and it is ineffective to have a graduate student, clinical fellow, or fully licensed speech-language pathologist,  fulfilling the role of an aide or other care professional. If the client's goals cannot be addressed during the multiskilling activity, it is encouraged that the licensed SLPs further discuss with management (e.g. direct supervisor, department director, etc.) to re-negotiate this aspect of their role.

ASHA's Practice Policy Technical Report on Multiskilled Personnel (asha.org) notes that speech-language pathologists must consider the following:

• consider the complex questions regarding multiskilling, 

• identify when the use of multiskilled personnel is or is not in their patients'/clients' best interests, and

• determine how it may or may not apply to the profession of speech-language pathology and audiology. The need for and appropriateness of multiskilling options is likely to vary with the discipline, level of practitioner, setting, population served, other professional resources available, and the mission of the service delivery organization. 

  • In this era of cost reductions and redesign, the potential benefits and risks to our patients/clients and our professions associated with multiskilling must be carefully and thoroughly explored.

ASHA’s Code of Ethics, Principle I, Rule A, states, that “Individuals shall provide all clinical services and scientific activities competently,” but also makes clear in Principle II, Rule E, that, “Individuals in administrative or supervisory roles shall not require or permit their professional staff to provide services … that exceed the staff member’s certification status, competence, education, training, and experience.”

Therefore, graduate students must undergo a prescribed training protocol and receive written documentation attesting that they have documented competency in performing an activity that falls under “multiskilling.” Obtaining training is consistent with Principle of Ethics II, Rule D, which states, “Individuals shall enhance and refine their professional competence and expertise through engagement in lifelong learning applicable to their professional activities and skills.”

Additional resources: 

• What’s My Scope?: Some employers may ask SLPs to perform tasks outside their training or scope. Here’s what you need to know.: The ASHA Leader: Vol 22, No 8

• Frequently Asked Questions: SLPs Working in Health Care 

Prac III & second to last term students (e.g., Prac IV OR Prac V) who do not meet the minimum of 50 direct contact hour requirements at the end of the semester OR do not attend their field placement for the minimum of 12 weeks will earn a grade of Incomplete for their Practicum Seminar Course until the hours and/or  weeks are completed.  Specific situations may lead to outcomes that may include stepping out of the Clinical Practicum and Field Placement Sequence and extending their Plan of Study until outstanding requirements are met, creation of a Practicum Success Plan (PSP), weekly meetings with specific teams, etc.  Students who receive an incomplete will be subject to the Incomplete grade guidelines for Practicum courses outlined in departmental guides. 

Last Term Graduating Students

New York University mandates that all graduating students complete clinical and academic requirements, including all direct contact hours, no later than the last day of final exam week of their graduating term.  

Students in their last term who have less than the required 375 direct contact hours by the last day of final exam week OR do not attend their field placement for a minimum of 12 weeks by the last day of final exam week: 

• assigned a grade of  “Incomplete” and are 

• required to register for CSCD-GE 2119 Field Placement Practicum VI* the following term regardless of the amount of hours needed.  

  • Students will be financially responsible for Practicum VI**. 

  • A plan of study update is needed due to Practicum VI delaying their graduation/degree conferral to the following term if/when the 375 direct hours are completed.
    
    

The Clinical Field Placement Team (CFPT) cannot accommodate student requests for secondary sites or guarantee that all direct contact hours will be earned by the term end date. In order for the CFPT to provide students with optimal guidance throughout the field placement sequence,  it is critical that students log direct contact hours daily. This allows the CFPT to have the best representation of the remaining hours a student may need at any given point in the term (this has also been detailed and reinforced in MS Seminars). Students who anticipate not being able to meet the required direct contact hours OR do not anticipate being able to attend their field placement for the minimum of 12 weeks by the end of the term should inform both the CFPT and Academic Advising Team as soon as possible.

*The Practicum IV or V “Incomplete”  and Practicum VI grades will be updated to P/F in accordance with your Practicum IV or V syllabus upon completion of attaining the 375 direct contact hours. 

The Moses Center for Student Accessibility and Inclusive Culture

Our Department collaborates with the Moses Center for Student Accessibility and Inclusive Culture to uphold New York University's commitment to provide equal educational opportunity and participation for students with disabilities. The Moses Center works with NYU students to determine appropriate and reasonable accommodations that support equal access to a world-class education.

Clinical Practicum and Field Placement Accommodations

When seeking clinical practicum or field placement accommodations, students with hearing and visual, mobility, learning and attention, chronic illness, psychological and temporary needs are required to present the appropriate documentation and register with the Moses Center for Student Accessibility and Inclusive Culture. 

If accommodations are required, the Moses Center will provide formal documentation that the student should use to communicate with their clinical and/or field placement supervisors and/or the Clinical Field Placement Team (CFPT) as appropriate. For field placement accommodations, Students must meet with a member of the CFPT to discuss their preferred method of addressing their accommodations with appropriate parties (e.g. the field placement site/supervisor, etc.). 

Eligible accommodations are supported after an analysis of the student’s disability-related needs, the University’s programs and curriculum, and the University’s legal obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The intent of reasonable accommodations is to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity, not to lessen or undermine academic standards or course requirements.  The program will then do its due diligence in attempting to identify a field placement that meets all of these considerations. Considerations for the field placement program are ultimately at the discretion of each field placement.

Students should be proactive in seeking accommodations.  If you have accommodations for your academic courses (e.g., extended time to complete assignments) this does not directly transfer out into the field and you will need to discuss field placement specific accommodations with an Accessibility Specialist. 

Although field accommodations are supported at any point during the Clinical Practicum and Field Placement Sequence, the Department encourages students to explore experiential learning accommodations ideally during CSCD-GE 2111 Clinical Practicum I in order to allow the Clinical Field Placement and Academic Advising Teams sufficient time to coordinate efforts within the clinic, community and/or field placements that align with the formal accommodations. Although the above is the encouraged timeline, accommodations established after this will continue to be taken into consideration and are not retroactive. If a field placement is unable to meet the reasonable accommodations as determined by the Moses Center, the Department and Moses Center representatives will facilitate a reasonable course of action to best support a student’s success. In some cases, this may include postponement of the clinical and/or field placement experience.

If students have established accommodations in either field and/or academic that you would like to make any changes or updates to, please contact your Accessibility Specialist at the Moses Center.  Students' established accommodations are an integral part of the search process and field placement continuity for the current term, and the Clinical Field Placement Team (CFPT) will ensure they are doing their best to meet your accommodation needs. 

Students will earn an “F” in their Practicum course and be placed on Notice of Academic Concern for any of the following:

• Students who formally withdraw from their field placement and associated Practicum course without prior approval from the CFPT.

• Student is terminated from their field placement, or by the Clinical Field Placement Team (CFPT) in conjunction with Department leadership, due to:

  • Failing to meet the clinical competencies set forth by the Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) despite implementing a Personal Support Plan (PSP) **

  • Not meeting the requirements of their practicum course due to unsatisfactory attendance and/or participation of the field placement

  • Engaging in behaviors that compromise client safety, well-being, and care 

  • Refusal to adhere to field placement guidelines and agreed-upon protocols, and failure to respond when needed

  • Disorderly, disruptive, or antagonizing behavior that interferes with the safety, security, or health of the community

  • Negatively impacting the field placement supervisor’s productivity

• Students who abruptly self-terminate (i.e., stop attending their field placement prior to their committed end date or prior to the term ending, grade concerns, supervisor conflict, etc.) for any reason without CFPT consultation and approval must immediately alert and schedule a meeting for further discussion with CFPT. 

The CFPT will review extenuating circumstances on an individualized basis and may consult with relevant professionals (e.g., MS Department Leadership, Student Progress and Awards Committee (SPAC), relevant university resources (e.g., Student Affairs, Wellness Center, Moses Center), field placement supervisors, and the Academic Advising Team) to determine appropriate next steps.  

Students may not officially or unofficially withdraw from Practicum III, IV, or V without the approval of both their Academic Advisor and the applicable Director of Field Placements or Clinic Director (whichever is applicable). Notably, if a student is notified that they will be receiving an “F,” a withdrawal will not be permitted to secure a “W,” even if the university withdrawal deadline has not yet passed. When a withdrawal request is denied, the student will receive an “F” on their transcript. Students wishing to contest the grade may follow the Grade Grievance process outlined in their MS Guide.

Students who are terminated or self-terminate will not be placed at another field placement for that term and cannot remain in the Practicum Course without a field placement. All direct contact hours earned at the field placement will not count towards graduation and the student will be placed on Notice of Academic Concern.  Students will need to consult with the Academic Advising Team as terminations may have additional financial and/or Plan of Study (POS) implications (i.e. class or term withdrawal, leave of absence, etc.) that will result in an extension of the student’s graduation timeline.

Students may be at risk for academic dismissal if they delay the Clinical Practicum and Field Placement Sequence for more than two terms and/or meet the criteria for academic dismissal.

Considerations

Students who self-terminate prior to the end of the term due to an unexpected, extenuating medical, physical health concern, and/or personal circumstance that impacts their ability to remain in the field placement (i.e., Practicum Sequence III [DE], IV, and/or V)  will be granted a Withdrawal or an Incomplete for that term.  The field placement’s final grading outcome is based upon the student’s level of performance up to the point of self-termination (i.e., to be determined based upon attendance timeline and/or number of direct contact hours earned), the supervisor’s updated and/or final evaluation, and/or progress with a Practicum Success Plan (PSP), if applicable.  All direct contact hour approvals are determined by the field placement supervisor and based upon their assessment of the student’s clinical and professional practice competencies. These decisions are made in collaboration with the MS Department Leadership. 

Students expressing concerns about their mental or physical health are strongly encouraged to connect with the Wellness Center and the Moses Center for Student Accessibility and Inclusive Culture for potential accommodations as additional support. Field placements may require a medical note for unexpected medical concerns or absences. Students might be asked to complete an individualized Practicum Support Plan for their needs before re-enrolling in the Practicum Course. Additionally, students are encouraged to consult with the Academic Advising Team to discuss any academic, financial, and/or Plan of Study (POS) implications that might extend their graduation timeline. 

Students who are considering withdrawing from the Practicum Course or self-terminating from their field placement once the term has begun for any reason should be aware of the possible financial implications. They should discuss these implications with the Academic Advising Team before making any decision.  Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) cannot be maintained if a student does not participate in the Practicum Course and corresponding field placement through the 7th week of the term and/or does not have enough credits to continue on a full-time track during the term.