General Fieldwork Information and Requirements
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory for all scheduled fieldwork education days. The fieldwork educator and academic fieldwork coordinator at 91¸£Àû must be contacted personally by phone notifying them of an absence before the start time for that day for an absence to be excused. All absences must be excused by your fieldwork educator and academic fieldwork coordinator and arrangements made to make up all time missed as appropriate. Failure to notify both the fieldwork educator and academic fieldwork coordinator prior to start time of a missed fieldwork day is considered an unexcused absence.
Students are to use their judgment as to whether they can safely arrive at their fieldwork site in inclement weather. If they cannot safely arrive at their assigned site, they have to follow proper call off procedures (notify the site and the Fieldwork Coordinator) and must arrange to make up for the missed time. Many students live and/or attend fieldwork sites that are a significant distance from campus, including out of state. Students should respond to the specific weather conditions at their home and fieldwork site. The Program Director will serve as the campus contact on days when classes have been cancelled due to weather.
Religious Holidays
The University welcomes individuals from all different faiths, philosophies, religious traditions, and other systems of belief, and supports their respective practices. In compliance with University policy and the Ohio Revised Code, the University permits students to request class absences for up to three (3) days, per semester, in order to participate in organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or other religious or spiritual organization. Students will not be penalized as a result of any of these excused absences.
The request for excusal must be made, in writing, during the first fourteen (14) days of the semester and include the date(s) of each proposed absence or request for alternative religious accommodation. The request must clearly state that the proposed absence is to participate in religious activities. The request must also provide the particular accommodation(s) you desire.
You will be notified by me if your request is approved, or, if it is approved with modification. I will work with you in an effort to arrange a mutually agreeable alternative arrangement. For more information regarding this Policy, you may contact the Student Ombuds (ombuds@kent.edu).
Fieldwork Hours
Students are required to make the necessary arrangements to be able to travel and participate in the clinic hours of their assigned fieldwork educator. Most clinics’ work hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however, some clinics may schedule patients as early as 6 a.m. or as late as 6 p.m.
Students are not required to participate in fieldwork days with more than 8 hours of scheduled patient care. If a fieldwork supervisor normally works a 10- to 12-hour shift, the student, fieldwork educator and academic fieldwork coordinator must agree on a schedule that meets the minimum requirements of the fieldwork experience and is acceptable to all parties.
Campus Closures
91¸£Àû OTA students may need to attend fieldwork on days outside of the academic calendar and when classes are not in session due to inclement weather and holidays. These circumstances occur on scheduled or unscheduled campus closures or days when classes are cancelled, but the campus remains open. Students will be notified of how to reach OTA Program Staff during campus closures.
Student Emergencies
A student who becomes ill or injured at a hospital will be seen in the Emergency Department of that hospital. In other fieldwork sites, such as an outpatient or nursing home setting, the facility policy will be followed. Fieldwork education sites enter into a contractual agreement with the OTA Program to provide
emergency treatment in case of accident or illness to students assigned to their facility at the student’s expense.