Clinical Psychology
Clinical Placements Policy and Procedures
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General Purpose of the Policy and Committee
This page provides guidance for graduate students, faculty, and placement supervisors with regard to Placements. The Placement Committee oversees all psychology-related activities, including paid or volunteer clinical, research and teaching activities. The Committee’s primary objective is to ensure that students engage in experiences appropriate to their training and that they receive adequate supervision in those experiences. Both factors have significant implications for future professional activities, including, but not limited to, licensure. The Committee strives to ensure that Placement-based clinical training meets the standards of the Program and the needs of its students.
Placement Committee Functions
The practical functions of the Placement Committee are to facilitate the optimal arrangement for the procurement of student placements, ongoing evaluations of student placements (by the student and the placement supervisor), and provide a mechanism for the clinical area to oversee various placements and students who are occupying such placements. Although the term "Placement" below refers to both paid and unpaid positions, it is typical for unpaid positions to be referred to as externships.
Membership
The Placement Committee is typically composed of the Director of Clinical Training, the Placement Chair (typically the Director of PSC), an additional Clinical faculty member, and three Clinical graduate students.
Placement Policy and Procedures
Eligibility for Placements
Priority for paid placements or unpaid externships will be given to students who are in years 6 or below at the start date of the position. Students who will be in their 7th year or above in the following year, cannot apply for any placements until all of the more junior students are funded. Students in years 7 and above will be strongly encouraged to primarily consider teaching and research positions. Unpaid externships are available only to students in years 3 and above.
Placement Fair and Placement Application
Each Spring Semester, a Placement Fair will take place that consists of external agencies meeting with our students to discuss potential positions for the coming year. In general, this will occur in the last week of March. All students and faculty are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting.
A specified period of time (generally two weeks following the Placement Fair) will be designated each year for outside agencies to conduct interviews. Following the completion of interviews, a specified period of time will be designated for outside agencies to make offers and for students to evaluate and accept offers. Agencies and students should adhere to these dates for conducting interviewing and for selection activities.