University of Alberta
Faculty of Education
FIELD EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATE: THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants are asked to discuss their intention to apply for a Field Experience Associate position with the responsible
administrative officer in their school district. Applicants are asked to inform the administrative office that the secondment
rate is currently $100,000.
All applicants are required to submit:
1. A cover letter
2. A curriculum vitae (resumé)
3. Two letters of recommendation
The cover letter
The cover letter should provide a brief summary of your qualifications.
Curriculum vitae (Resumé)
Applicants have considerable discretion in the manner in which they develop and present their curriculum vitae.
Letters of recommendation
Two recent letters of reference are requested. References should be written by persons who have considerable knowledge of
the applicant's work as a teacher and have good insights into the skills, attributes, and background needed for success as a
Field Experience Associate. Letters of recommendation should be received by the application deadline.
Reference letters should include the following information:
1. Name of applicant
2. Position for which the candidate has applied
3. Number of years you have known the applicant
4. Nature of association with the applicant
5. Comments regarding the applicant's classroom teaching abilities, leadership activities in education, abilities related
to nurturing the professional development of student teachers, and attributes related to the duties of a Field
Experience Associate
The Selection Process
 We will review all applications against the selection criteria to create a short-list of candidates.
 Short-listed applicants will be contacted by telephone to arrange interviews for the week of March 7, 2016.
 All short-listed applicants will be informed of the selection decisions by March 24, 2016.
 Applicants who are not selected for an interview will be informed by email, no later than April 15, 2016.
All application packages and letters of reference should be sent to:
Robert Smilanich
Assistant Dean, Field Experiences
Faculty of Education
Undergraduate Student Services
1-107 Education North
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G5
DEADLINE for receipt of applications is Tuesday, February 9, 2016
University of Alberta
Faculty of Education
FIELD EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATE: SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT
Each year, ad hoc selection committees are established to recommend the appointment of Field Experience Associates to the
Dean of Education.
Field Experience Associates are appointed for a one-year term. The initial appointment date is August 30, 2016 and may be
extended for an additional year by mutual agreement of the Field Experience Associate, the Faculty, and the employing
school board. Field Experience Associates and the Assistant Dean, Field Experiences must inform each other of their interest
in an extension by February 3, 2017.
Funding for the secondment of Field Experience Associates is administered through the agreement between The Edmonton
Area Field Experiences Committee and The Faculty of Education, University of Alberta. This agreement applies to schools in
Alberta (City of Red Deer and north) and thus the competition is limited to those qualified teachers from this area.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Required qualifications
 Recent experience as a Mentor Teacher, School Coordinator or other involvement with a teacher education program
 Experience in providing effective leadership in an educational context
 Relevant graduate courses in Education
 Record of excellence in teaching
 An Alberta permanent professional teaching certificate and a minimum five years of recent, successful teaching
experience in Alberta schools
Desirable qualifications
 Professional involvement in such activities and organizations as ATA specialist councils, Alberta Education
committees, school district committees, school committees, etc.
 Involvement in the development of curriculum
 Current involvement in personal professional development activities
 A demonstrated ability to collaborate well with others and work on a team
 Experience in providing leadership in the fields of curriculum, mentoring, supervision and teaching
University of Alberta
Faculty of Education
FIELD EXPERIENCE ASSOCIATE: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Field Experience Associates (FEAs) are teachers seconded to the University of Alberta to participate in the development and
implementation of the Field Experiences programs administered by the Faculty of Education.
FEAs are major contributors to Faculty liaison activities as well as being involved with students and staff in a variety of contexts:
working with individual Student Teachers and University Facilitators, instructing students in undergraduate courses, working with
Mentor Teachers to prepare them for their responsibilities, and working with Field Experiences partners in professional
development activities. The Faculty, in designing and developing its programs, seeks to integrate theory with practice and FEAs play
a key role in achieving this integration of on-campus coursework with the Field Experiences.
The specific responsibilities of a FEA are as follows.
1.
Serving as leader for a cohort of University Facilitators
FEAs determine school assignments for Edmonton area University Facilitators, act as group leaders for a cohort of University
Facilitators, and conduct bi-weekly meetings with the cohort. FEAs provide in-services for University Facilitators, collect and
review Weekly Visitation Records, and provide leadership to regional University Facilitators.
2.
Teaching in the Undergraduate Program
FEAs are responsible for teaching courses in the Undergraduate Program. The specific responsibilities of a FEA will be assigned
based on the needs of the Faculty of Education.
3.
Assisting in program development and implementation
In addition to teaching and supervision, FEAs are involved in a range of activities that relate to the planning and design of the
field experiences program, such as:
 Participating in the preparation and delivery of orientations for Student Teachers and University Facilitators
 Assisting in the placement of Student Teachers;
 Communicating with and assisting with recruitment of schools and Mentor Teachers;
 Providing in-service sessions for Mentor Teachers and School Coordinators;
 Developing and revising materials and informational packages associated with the Field Experiences;
 Completing special projects and participating in committee work as assigned by the Assistant Dean, Field Experiences; and
 Acting as liaison between the University and schools.
4.
Representing the Undergraduate Student Services unit
FEAs represent the Field Experiences unit in a variety of ways such as:
 Representing the unit at Department Council meetings;
 Increasing the visibility of the Faculty of Education to Field Experiences partners;
 Representing the Faculty of Education at Teachers’ Conventions; and
 Attending EAFEC (Edmonton Area Field Experiences Committee) and FEPAC (Field Experiences Policy Advisory Committee)
meetings.