We are dedicated to working together with public health experts and our state to maintain a quality UConn educational experience while keeping our community healthy. The University of Connecticut is committed to transparency as it communicates information pertaining to COVID-19 to all members of our community. The COVID-19 dashboard has been designed to accurately reflect the health of our campus in a clear and concise manner. More information on the COVID-19 dashboard is available at University of Connecticut | COVID Dashboard (uconn.edu)
The UConn School of Social work follows all University COVID-19 guidelines.
COVID Information Center
UConn has launched a COVID-19 Information Center to direct individuals to appropriate resources at UConn to address particular, non-emergency questions and concerns related to COVID-19. The Information Center is available to students, faculty, and staff at the Storrs and regional campuses 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 860-486-COVI or by emailing covidquestions@uconn.edu.
Students, faculty, and staff who test positive for Covid-19 must follow University and School of Social Work policies and procedures depending on whether they are participating in in-person classes, remote learning, or field placements. View FAQs for prospective and incoming students and regarding field education below.
Information for BSW, MSW, and Ph.D. Students
Information on COVID-19 vaccinations, COVID-19 testing and campus guidelines can be found at covid.uconn.edu.
Detailed instructions for isolation and self-quarantine for both on-campus and off-campus or commuter students is available on the Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) Covid-19 page.
View the Covid-19 Field Education FAQs below for further information on quarantine during Field Placements.
Information for SSW Faculty and Staff
For the most current information on UConn employee COVID health and safety, academics, research & instruction and human resources, visit the dedicated faculty and staff website.
Exposure (or Potential Exposure) to Covid-19 and Field Placements
What policies and guidelines should I follow regarding COVID-19 and how will that influence my ability to be in a field placement?
Students are expected to follow all policies and guidelines related to COVID-19 from UConn (which are based on state and CDC policies) and their field agencies (if applicable). If a student’s field placement site is open, the student should plan to attend field as scheduled while closely monitoring their own health and safety. As emerging professionals, students are empowered to make an informed decision and consider options regarding attendance in field related to health and safety. As per CDC and State of Connecticut guidance, students should consult with their personal physician regarding their own health situation. We support the informed decisions that students will make. However, some decisions may impact the student’s eligibility to enter into or remain in a field placement.
For updates from UConn, visit the University's Covid-19 site.
If I test positive for COVID-19 or must quarantine, how will this affect my field placement?
- A student who tests positive for Covid-19 should immediately stop going in person to their field placement and should self-quarantine in accordance with their physician’s instructions. The student should alert their field instructor and faculty advisor immediately and notify the field agency of their status.
- The field placement agency may have their own guidelines regarding exposure, contact tracing, or other steps that the student should follow.
Disruptions to the Field Placement
What should I do if my Field Placement in an agency or field unit is disrupted during the year?
It is possible that some field placements may be disrupted during the year due to various factors, including Covid-19. If that happens, affected students would engage in remote field experiences provided either by their field agency (e.g., telehealth or remote field activities).
What will remote field experiences provided by the UConn SSW involve?
These remote field experiences may include the following:
- Online trainings that can be taken at any time according to your own schedule. We have compiled many hours of free online trainings on our SSW field education HuskyCT site and have a menu of training offerings. We have identified which trainings are applicable to different cohorts of students (based on whether you are in the BSW or MSW program, and for MSW students, your year in field and concentration).
- Other remote field activities or assignments with approval from the student’s faculty advisor.
How will I access and engage in the remote field experiences provided by the UConn SSW?
The online trainings and other remote field activities or assignments provided by the UConn SSW will be posted on the Field Education HuskyCT (Blackboard) site. All MSW and BSW UConn SSW students enrolled in field education will have access to that site. Students will keep a log of their remote field hours and email their hours log and their Certificates of Completion for the online trainings to their Faculty Advisor and the Field Education Department (sswfielded@uconn.edu).
Students can earn field credit for completing remote trainings/assignments while they are not in a field-based placement (up to 15 hours per week for MSW students and up to 14 hours per week for BSW students).
How many hours of field will I be required to obtain during the academic year?
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, given the significant disruptions faced by our agency partners and the challenges in obtaining and sustaining field placements, we reduced the number of required field hours in keeping with guidance from our accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). As we look to the 2021-2022 academic year, as protocols are in place related to Covid-19 and as more students and community members are becoming vaccinated, we are easing back toward our pre-Covid requirements for field hours as follows:
- MSW students: All MSW “in-field” students are required to complete a minimum of 435 hours of field in the 2021-2022 academic year (29 weeks of field at 15 hours-per-week). This is true for students engaged in a field unit or agency-affiliated field education (whether at the agency or remote) and those engaged in remote field experiences.
- BSW students: All BSW “in-field” students (i.e., seniors) are required to complete a minimum of 406 hours of field in the 2021-2022 academic year (29 weeks of field at approximately 14 hours-per-week). This is true for students engaged in a field unit or agency-affiliated field education (whether at the agency or remote) and those engaged in remote field experiences.
How many hours per week will I be engaged in field education during the academic year?
MSW Students: All MSW “in-field” students are required to complete a minimum of 15 hours per week in field education. This is true for students engaged in a field unit or agency-affiliated field education (whether at the field unit / agency or remote) and those engaged in remote field experiences. Some agency placements may require a student to do up to 20 hours per week in their placement.
BSW Students: All students are required to complete approximately 14 hours per week in field education. This is true for students engaged in a field unit or agency-affiliated field education (whether at the field unit / agency or remote) and those engaged in remote field experiences.
When will my field education end?
We expect that most students will finish their field education hours April 22 in 2022. Some agencies may require additional hours or have a later end date.
How many field hours will be required to in order to graduate?
MSW Students: REMINDER: All MSW students MUST complete 435 hours in field during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Advanced Standing students must complete a minimum of 765 field hours to graduate in Spring 2022 (combining hours from their BSW program and the MSW program). All other MSW students must complete 855 field hours to graduate in Spring 2022 (combining hours from their first and second year field placements).
BSW Students: BSW seniors need to complete 406 field hours to graduate in 2022.
Will the number of field hours that I earn in UConn’s MSW program meet social work licensure requirements in Connecticut and elsewhere in the United States?
In order to get licensed in Connecticut, a basic requirement is graduation from an MSW program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The UConn School of Social Work is accredited by CSWE.
The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) reported in Spring 2020 that no state’s regulatory requirements exceed CSWE’s temporary guidelines for reduced field hours during the coronavirus pandemic. This means that students who graduated with their degree from UConn during the pandemic were not limited in terms of where they could apply for licensure in the United States based on graduating with reduced field hours authorized by CSWE. Students are encouraged to check with each state’s licensing body for details and up-to-date information.
Will remote field activities (including telehealth), field supervision, and field seminar hours count toward the required field hours?
During the 2021-2022 academic years, in keeping with the CSWE guidelines, the SSW will allow for remote field activity, field supervision, and field seminar hours to count toward MSW students’ field hours.
If I am working in a social service agency, may I do my field placement in the agency where I am employed?
You may be able to do an Employed Social Work (ESW) placement. In keeping with CSWE’s updated guidance on employment-based field in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, the SSW will be more flexible in the use of ESW placements in 2021-2022 academic years. Please contact the Field Education Department at sswfielded@uconn.edu if you are interested in exploring this.
Will my Field Seminars meet in person or be held online in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years?
Field Seminars will be held in person during the 2021-2022 academic year. Students will receive information from the Field Advising Seminar instructor.
Will my faculty advisor make in-person or remote site visits in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years?
During the Covid-19 pandemic, faculty advisors are authorized to conduct remote rather than in-person site visit(s) with field instructors and student advisees (e.g., conducted by WebEx, Zoom, or some other video conferencing mechanism).