An orientation is held for first-level students before they enter practicum. Before this orientation, students may purchase from KU bookstores a field practicum manual explaining all related policies. For each practicum placement, the student is assigned to an M.S.W. practicum instructor who plans assignments and serves as a teacher in the field. A faculty member is assigned as liaison to work with practicum instructors in each agency, to help integrate practicum and class instruction, to evaluate student performance, and to assist if difficulties arise. Field placements are off-campus, mainly in the Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita areas, with a limited number of settings in Lawrence, Leavenworth, and other Kansas communities.
Students are responsible for transportation to the assigned field practicum.
Most settings also require a student to have transportation available for agency assignments. Because of the necessity for continuity in both client service and learning, the maximum time for a break between semesters in practicum instruction is three weeks, regardless of time allowable according to the university calendar. When the student's current employment includes work with clients, practicum for the foundation may be postponed by approval of the associate dean until other courses of that level have been completed. A summer practicum requires enrollment and fee payment. No one should expect to complete a practicum exclusively on nights and weekends.