Adjunct Practicum Liaison Advisor for On-ground MSW, School of Social Work

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all. 

You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

Adjunct Practicum Liaison Advisor for On-ground MSW, School of Social Work

Simmons University School of Social Work (SSW) is now accepting applications for a part-time ajunct faculty position (non-tenure track) in Practicum Education as Practicum Liaison Advisor to on-ground students in our MSW program. This position requires the candidate to be located on the Simmons campus in Boston. This position will start on or around August 18, 2026.

Simmons University is a small, highly collegial and dynamic university located in the heart of Boston’s world-renowned Longwood Medical Area. Simmons is comprised of an undergraduate liberal arts education program for women and those who identify as women plus professional graduate schools with master's and doctoral programs for all genders, presenting unique and rich opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The Simmons School of Social Work offers degrees at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels (BSW, MSW, DSW, PhD). Our MSW Program is offered via robust on-ground and online platforms. Areas of current SSW faculty expertise include: dynamics of diversity, family and intimate partner violence, immigration, health and health policy, health disparities, aging, behavioral health, substance abuse, suicidality, child maltreatment, social policy, and innovations in social work education.

The Practicum Liaison (PL) serves as the primary connection between the School of Social Work (SSW) Practicum Education Department and community-based agencies, supporting, monitoring, and evaluating MSW student practicum experiences.  The PL provides ongoing guidance, mentorship, and support to students while collaborating closely with Practicum Instructors to promote high-quality learning environments. The PL ensures that practicum sites and experiences align with accreditation standards and program expectations. Responsibilities include conducting site visits, assessing student competency development, reviewing required documentation, and addressing practicum-related challenges through consultation, mediation, and problem-solving. All Practicum Liaison Advisors report to a designated Practicum Education Faculty member who collaborates with the Director of Practicum Education.

Primary Responsibilities

Initial Contact with Practicum Instructor

• Connect with the Practicum Instructor within the first two weeks of placement to establish communication and clarify expectations.

Student Advising and Meetings

• Meet with each advisee a minimum of three times per year via Zoom, including:
  • One introductory meeting within first month of placement
  • One meeting per semester aligned with practicum visits
• Maintain monthly email check-ins with all assigned students
• Develop and manage cohort-specific email lists (Generalist Year, Specialist Year, Advanced Standing) to ensure efficient communication

Practicum Site Visits

• Complete one practicum site visit per semester with the student and Practicum Instructor in person or via Zoom, with the option to meet individually with either party as needed
• Site visits are generally scheduled November–December and March–April
• Note: Scheduling may vary for students in 16-hour/week placements
• Schedule additional visits when concerns or challenges arise

Student Work and Evaluation

• Review, provide feedback on, and return required written student assignments
• Learn and utilize Moodle to collect, review, and grade written assignments

Departmental Participation

• Attend all monthly Practicum Department meetings
  • Meetings are typically held on the first Wednesday of each month (September–June, excluding January) via Zoom from 12:00–1:00 PM, with in-person sessions held once per semester
• Attend New Practicum Liaison Orientation, if applicable
• Attend Practicum Instructor Orientation when possible (strongly recommended)
• Attend and Participate in Student Practicum Orientation on campus in August (required)
• Attend the Spring Practicum Showcase on campus (required)
• Learn and utilize Starfish to document specified student encounters and to access student academic information
• Learn and utilize Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC)to keep track of student hours and evaluations

Practicum Planning and Career Support

• Support Year I students with Year II placement planning, including learning goals and résumé development
• Reach out to graduating students to offer support with career planning and transition preparation

Problem Solving and Support

• In collaboration with Practicum Education Department faculty, convene Level 1 or Level 2 meetings to address practicum-related concerns
• Practicum Instructors may be consulted and/or invited to participate in these meetings as appropriate

Other Duties as assigned.

Documentation

Although documentation is minimal, Practicum Liaison Advisors are asked to keep the following documentation:

• Initial student meeting and a summary of placement site visits will be entered into Starfish at the conclusion of each Practicum visit.
• Placement planning: For Year II placement purposes, the Practicum Education Department will need your informal assessment of your advisees.
• Agency information/assessment:
  • Brief paragraph description of each agency/placement.
  • Supplemental assessment of agency and/or Practicum Instructor(s).
• Level review meeting documentation (if one is held).
• References (as requested by students).

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited institution required;
• A minimum of 5 years post-MSW clinical experience required;
• Highest level of licensure (LICSW in Massachusetts, or be eligible for LICSW);
• Experience as a Practicum Instructor (clinical supervisor) for MSW interns is required;
• The ability to provide a copy of a current social work license and references as requested.

Required Application Materials

Please upload the following documents with your application:

• CV
• Cover letter
• Names and contact information for three references

Compensation: $305 per student per semester. The typical caseload is 15 students for two semester (Fall and Spring)

In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws effective October 29, 2025, Simmons University is committed to pay equity, transparency and clear communication throughout the hiring process.

This is non-benefits eligible position.

Compensation for adjunct faculty is established at a set rate per course and does not vary based on experience, education, or other factors. Our compensation philosophy is centered around a comprehensive package that includes pay, retirement savings, and other offerings that can be seen here, as well as work-life balance initiatives such as flexible hours and remote work opportunities. We are committed to offering a package that empowers individuals to thrive in their roles, contribute meaningfully, and lead with confidence.

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.