Program Manager, Practicum & Field Experience

Staff - Non Union

Job Category

M&P - AAPS

Job Profile

AAPS Salaried - Student Management, Level C

Job Title

Program Manager, Practicum & Field Experience

Department

Administrative Leadership | Teacher Education Office | Faculty of Education

Compensation Range

$6,378.58 - $9,189.17 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

September 21, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The UBC Faculty of Education offers BC s most comprehensive teacher education program that includes all teaching specializations. There are approximately 750 Bachelor of Education students and 800 Education Diploma students enrolled in the programs annually.

The Program Manager, Practicum & Field Experiences (Secondary), in conjunction with their counterpart, Program Manager, Practicum & Field Experiences (Elementary & Middle Years), is responsible for developing and implementing the Practicum and Community Field Experiences (CFE) Programs for the UBC Teacher Education Program to meet teacher candidates and their potential employers needs. This position plays a key role in designing, delivering and evaluating the overall practicum and field experiences programs which is required for teacher candidates to complete the Teacher Education Program. This position negotiates with school- and district-level partners to secure practicum placements; with community organizations to secure CFE placements; and, with faculty advisors to match placements with teacher candidates. The incumbent prepares, advises and mentors teacher candidates and faculty advisors, school advisors and CFE partners in all aspects of practicum and field experiences. This position also liaises and collaborates with over 250 community partners throughout the Lower Mainland and other parts of BC to secure approximately 700 placements for the annual 3-week CFE program.

This position is multi-faceted and requires a high level of skill and in-depth and relevant experience in communications, advising, teaching, and research as it involves practicum advising, career advising, addressing and solving complex problems, and negotiating with school administration to secure placements in schools and districts. The role also includes liaising with staff and faculty across the Faculty of Education and UBC, while working directly with students with differing life experiences. Effective liaison skills and knowledge of public and independent schools, government agencies, regulatory bodies (Teacher Certification Branch for instance), community organizations and other institutions are necessary.

There are approximately 750 BEd students (apprx. 50% in the Secondary cohort and the other 50% in the Elementary/Middle Years cohort), as well as a number of dual degree program and updating teacher program students, and each one of these students has specific and individual needs that must be considered in securing the right practicum placement and the CFE placement (these are two separate placements that double the number of negotiations and communications).

The Program Manager requires an understanding of UBC policies, Faculty of Education policies and must be well versed in graduation requirements outlined by the BC Teacher Certification Branch. The incumbent must also have excellent spoken and written skills and effective conflict resolution skills. The Program Manager must also have experience with and in-depth understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems and the BC curriculum. Personal experience as an educator, along with familiarity with strong practices as an educator, is critical for this understanding and advising.

Organizational Status

Within the Teacher Education Office, there are five Program Managers: two Program Managers for practicum and field experiences, one part-time Program Manager for the international community field experience, and two Program Managers for student services. Each of these positions works under the assignment of the Associate Dean (Teacher Education) and reports to the Director of the Teacher Education Office.

Work Performed

Oversight of Practicum Program Design and Program Delivery:

• Sets educational standards for the delivery of practicum education to meet the BC Teacher Council s standards, the academic goals of the Faculty of Education, students educational goals, and employer needs, and contributes to the ongoing accreditation of the Program every 2 years.
• Conducts site visits to practicum placement hosts and conducts other feedback sessions to assess overall practicum program delivery, effectiveness, current educational trends and future employer requirements.
• Directs the development of annual pre-practicum workshop curriculum to meet BCTC s standards and student and school district needs.
• Develops and implements policy regarding student discipline issues, adjudicating student appeals and advising coordinators a school administration on performance issues in the practicum placement. Oversees these processes and ensures resolution.
• Liaises with key stakeholders including: local school districts, government agencies and ministries of education, and the private sector, individually and through employer associations, to foster relationships between the University and the external community, seeking their advice, perspective, and support.
• Works strategically with partners at other university practicum programs in BC, Canada and internationally with the goal of improving the Teacher Education program and research best practices about practicum programs through active membership in provincial and national Education Associations.
• Analyses the major key performance indicators of the program on term basis and evaluates the overall success of the Program on annual basis. Based on the qualitative and quantitative data analysis, proposes changes to the program to the Associate Dean, Teacher Education, and implements needed changes in management and goals of the Program in collaboration with the Associate Dean, the Director and the other Program Managers to ensure the program is reaching its strategic objectives.
• Works in close collaboration with all Program Managers to ensure there is optimal synergy in the overall delivery of services among all TEO practicum programs.
• Deals with all workplace safety concerns, employment issues (including harassment and employment equity), intellectual property rights and confidentiality concerns raised by practicum students and/or employers.
• Engages in partnership activities with other units within the Faculty and throughout the university that will augment the practicum and CFE programs, and also may create new opportunities for students throughout the Faculty and University.
• Works collaboratively with other Program Managers and staff to oversee the continued strategic growth and development of the practicum experiences in ways that compliments the initiatives of the Teacher Education Office.

Oversight of Practicum and Field Experiences:

• Oversee practicum placements for 370+ secondary teacher candidates, including candidates from the provincial updating program and those repeating their year. This involves:
• Collect and analyze survey data from teacher candidates and community partners to inform and improve practices.
• Create, update and post all practicum materials on school advisor blog; maintain blog for teacher candidates and faculty advisors. Participate in creating promotional videos to showcase the practicum and CFE for new applicants to BEd program.
• Recruit, liaise and nurture relationships with approximately 250 CFE partners to secure placements for 350+ teacher candidates (in addition to aforementioned practicum placements).
• Create and deliver monthly, large-group seminars to prepare teacher candidates and faculty advisors for practicum and field experiences; and lead orientation and ongoing professional learning sessions for 75 faculty advisors.
• Forging and nurturing relationships with Lower Mainland school district personnel related to practicum placements, collaborating on professional learning activities, etc.
• Work with software programmers to negotiate, co-create and provide ongoing evaluation and revision suggestions for an electronic observation/reporting software program.
• Manage an annual budget of approximately $200,000 allotted by UBC-Central for recognition of school-based practicum supervisors (tuition fee certificates, recognition gifts, incentives) for school district partners and advisors.
• Seek and secure innovative funding opportunities to support student travel and housing (e.g., Centre for Community-Engaged Learning, Rix donor funding, etc.).
• Coordinating practica for visiting exchange students (often international);
• Negotiating with district- and school-based administrators to secure school advisors from schools throughout the lower mainland;
• Hiring and preparing a large team of part-time faculty advisors, matching advisors with teacher candidates, and monitoring performance;
• Review all final reports submitted by faculty advisors and recommend Pass or Fail grade for each practicum on behalf of Associate Dean, Teacher Education.
• Establish funding partnerships and associated budgets for the academic year.
• Determine supervision assignments for faculty advisors in accordance with contractual obligations.
• Coordinate CFE placements for approximately 350+ teacher candidates and 75 faculty advisors; this includes registration, matching candidates to sites (about 250 partners)
• Coordinate specific accommodations related to practicum with the Teacher Certification Branch and the Center for Accessibility for those candidates requiring those
• Securing placements at eligible International Baccalaureate schools for all teacher candidates admitted to the IB (Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme) cohorts;

Advising:

• Provide information to the relevant committees in the case of student appeals.
• Advise and guide teacher candidates through complex relational and situational problems and/or concerns during the practicum, ensuring that they receive due process with regard to placements, supplemental practica, failures, deferrals and appeals. Counsel candidates who withdraw or fail in their practicum placement. Mediate discussions between school advisors, teacher candidates, faculty advisors and/or administrators when concerns arise.
• Develop action plans to strengthen student knowledge and skills prior to a second practicum attempt.
• Counsel students prior to, during and after the practicum; some counselling includes very complex cases involving medical, mental health, financial, familial challenges.
• Meet with individual students in the program to offer career advice and guidance.
• Participate in program advising for those teacher candidates who experience challenges in the programme.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Promote UBC s Teacher Education Program at district, and provincial committee levels.
• Advise admissions team on special applications to the BEd Program as required.
• Promote practicum advances and innovations at BC and Western Canadian conferences..
• Other duties as assigned by the Associate Dean, Teacher Education.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Failure to effectively advise students regarding practicum placement and performance, interact with school- and district- personnel or make planning decisions in accordance with established policy, regulations and criteria would damage the credibility of the Teacher Education Program, the Faculty of Education and the University.

Advises undergraduate candidates, school advisors and faculty advisors based on interpretation of established University policy and the certification requirements of the Ministry of Education Teacher Regulation Branch. Acts as initial contact regarding appeals.

Supervision Received

Works with considerable autonomy. Reports to Director, Teacher Education Office.

Supervision Given

No direct supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.Minimum of four to five years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.- Extensive knowledge of and familiarity with the BC school system.

• Experience providing mentorship in educational settings. - Ability to create strong networks of K-12 educators and administrators
• Ability to work in a self-directed manner and collaboratively with other professionals in the Teacher Education Office.
• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to listen effectively, interact respectfully, and act transparently.
• Experience with educational technologies and/or administration would be an asset.
• Possess excellent management and organizational skills.