Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Faculty of Occupational Therapy

The opportunity

Beloit College invites applications for a founding Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) and faculty member for its new Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (OT) program. This is an opportunity to design a fieldwork education program from the ground up and to build the clinical partnerships, structures, and culture that will define students' transition from classroom to practice at a liberal arts institution that genuinely values faculty expertise and intellectual vision.

The founding AFWC will have significant latitude to develop a fieldwork program that is both rigorously ACOTE-compliant and distinctively Beloit. We are seeking an occupational therapist who understands that fieldwork is not an add-on to the curriculum; it is where professional identity, clinical reasoning, and community-responsive practice come together.

The program's animating commitments include experiential and community-based learning as core program features rather than afterthoughts; attention to the occupational therapy workforce needs of south-central Wisconsin and the broader region, including Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison; interprofessional and interdisciplinary education, consistent with Beloit's institution-wide pedagogical identity; and a commitment to serving underserved communities.

About Beloit College

Beloit College is a selective liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin. Nationally recognized for intellectual rigor and innovation, Beloit was ranked #18 among the nation's most innovative schools by U.S. News & World Report in 2026. Its graduates are known for their capacity to think across disciplines, engage with complexity, and connect knowledge to real-world impact.

The School of Health Sciences, established in 2023, reflects Beloit's commitment to preparing health professionals who are not only clinically excellent but broadly educated and community-minded. Interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, and community-based practice are foundational to everything we do. The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy will lead the School's growing portfolio of graduate programs as it pursues accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

Role and Responsibilities

The Academic Fieldwork Coordinator is the full-time faculty member appointed to the occupational therapy program who is responsible for the development, implementation, management, and evaluation of fieldwork education, as required under ACOTE Standards. This is a 12-month faculty position with documented release time sufficient to ensure the needs of the fieldwork program are met, and with teaching responsibilities commensurate with the coordinator's expertise and program needs. The Academic Fieldwork Coordinator reports to the Program director for the Occupational Therapy Program.

Fieldwork Program Development and Management

• Design, implement, manage, and evaluate the program's fieldwork education, including Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences
• Establish, formalize, and sustain fieldwork placement partnerships across the region to ensure sufficient, high-quality sites for all students
• Develop and maintain fieldwork agreements, memoranda of understanding, and site documentation in coordination with institutional leadership
• Develop the fieldwork manual and the policies, procedures, and student assessment systems that govern fieldwork
• Prepare, orient, and support fieldwork educators at clinical sites, including training in the roles and responsibilities of a fieldwork educator

ACOTE Compliance

• Ensure the program's compliance with the fieldwork requirements of ACOTE Standards.
• Contribute fieldwork content and documentation to the Candidacy Application, Self-Study, and ongoing accreditation reporting
• Maintain the data, records, and evaluation systems that demonstrate fieldwork outcomes and continuous improvement

Teaching and Faculty Responsibilities

• Teach occupational therapy courses in areas of professional expertise as needed by the program
• Advise students and participate in student assessment, retention, and professional-behavior processes
• Contribute to curriculum development, program evaluation, and faculty governance

Community and Institutional Engagement

• Build and sustain relationships with clinical partners, site supervisors, and community organizations
• Collaborate with faculty across the School of Health Sciences and the broader College to advance interprofessional and interdisciplinary programming
• Represent the program in professional occupational therapy organizations and within the institution

Required Qualifications

Candidates must meet the ACOTE academic fieldwork coordinator requirements for a master's-degree-level occupational therapy program. Specifically, the successful candidate must:

• Be an occupational therapist who is licensed or otherwise regulated as an occupational therapist in Wisconsin, or be eligible for Wisconsin licensure
• Hold a minimum of a master's degree awarded by an institution accredited by a USDE-recognized institutional accrediting agency
• Have at least two years of documented experience in the field of occupational therapy, which must include clinical practice experience as an occupational therapist and professional experience as a fieldwork educator, or documented training in the roles and responsibilities of a fieldwork educator
• Be prepared to take responsibility for the program's compliance with the fieldwork requirements of ACOTE Standards.

Beyond ACOTE requirements, Beloit College requires:

• An earned doctoral degree (OTD, PhD, EdD, or related), which aligns with ACOTE Standards for full-time occupational therapy faculty who teach OT content
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, including the ability to manage many clinical relationships and detailed documentation simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain community and clinical partnerships
• Demonstrated commitment to serving diverse communities
• Capacity to function effectively in a startup environment: the program is being built from the ground up, and the coordinator will likewise be building its fieldwork infrastructure from the ground up.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as an academic fieldwork coordinator or in fieldwork site coordination
• Experience developing fieldwork or experiential-education programs, including involvement in ACOTE accreditation processes
• Experience with rural or community-based practice, interprofessional education, or health disparities
• Experience recruiting, teaching, and mentoring diverse graduate student populations

Appointment and Compensation

This is a full-time, 12-month faculty position with documented release time for fieldwork coordination. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The anticipated start date is June 1, 2027, consistent with the program's accreditation timeline.

Application Materials

Applicants should submit the following materials through Beloit College's online application system:

• Cover letter addressing qualifications and vision for the fieldwork program
• Current curriculum vitae, including clinical, teaching, and fieldwork-coordination experience
• Statement (2–3 pages) describing experience with fieldwork or experiential education, clinical partnership development, and, if applicable, accreditation
• Teaching philosophy statement
• Names and contact information for three professional references (references will not be contacted without candidate permission)

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. We strongly encourage applications from candidates whose backgrounds, identities, and experiences reflect the communities our program aspires to serve.

The intent of this job description is to provide the general nature and level of work required of employees who are assigned to this classification and shall not be construed as an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities. Employees may be instructed to perform job-related duties and responsibilities other than those specifically presented in this description.