New York State Psychological Association

Externship Site Information

Information on Externship Sites may be found on the Fairleigh Dickinson University Wiki at the following link:

http://psychpracticum.fdu.edu/index.php/All_Sites

EXTERNSHIP GUIDELINES for 2013-14

Committee:
Madeline Fernandez – Pace University
Darrin Gerson- Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric
Abraham Givner – Yeshiva University
Cindy Ho – Gouverneur Healthcare Services
Mathew Jacob – Rockland Psychiatric Center
David Marcotte – Fordham University
Nicholas Papouchis – Long Island University - Brooklyn
Robert Stewart – Mt Sinai MC
Susan Tross – St Luke’s MC

1. There will be a seven-week period between submission of applications and the first date on which offers may be made to students. The earliest date that students can submit applications is Tuesday, January 15, 2013. The earliest date on which an offer can be made to a student is Monday, March 4 at 10 am. (In future years, the submission date will be the Tuesday immediately after Martin Luther King’s birthday. The notification date will be the first Monday in March).
   
   
2. DCTs and students are strongly encouraged to develop a rank order list of sites. It has been demonstrated that a rank order facilitates the process and assists in eliminating many ambiguities once the acceptance process begins.
   
   
3. Students are not permitted to hold more than two offers at any time.
   
   
4. If students are holding two offers, their DCTs will encourage the student to drop one of the offers as soon as possible.
   
   
5. Students will have until noon on the third day (including the day of the offer) following any offer to accept the offer. This is approximately a 48-hour window. What this means is:   
   a. If an offer is made on Monday, the student has until Wednesday at noon to accept or reject the offer;    
   b. If an offer is made on Tuesday, the student has until Thursday at noon to accept or reject the offer;
   c. If an offer is made on Wednesday, the student has until Friday at noon to accept or reject the offer;
   d. If an offer is made on Thursday, the student has until Monday at noon to accept or reject the offer;
   e. If an offer is made on Friday, the student has until Tuesday at noon to accept or reject the offer;.
   
   
6. Students must inform their DCT of any offer, rejection, acceptance and withdrawal.
   
   
7. Externship Coordinators must cc DCTs on all interview offers, acceptances and rejections.
   
   
8. A committee composed of DCTs and Externship Coordinators has been formed to monitor any violations of these guidelines during the process.
   
   
9. The Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) WIKI site will be the central means through which Externships, Applicants, and Graduate Programs will stay updated, about the Externship Selection Process, in real time. All Applicants, Externship Coordinators, and Graduate Program DCTs need to know how to access and use the WIKI site (psychpracticum.fdu.edu).

Externship Coordinator Responsibilities

1. Externship Coordinators (ECs) are encouraged to update their WIKI information (at the FDU WIKI site)
2. ECs are encouraged to specify the number of hours they expect the extern to be at the site
3. ECs need to cc DCTs on all interviews, offers and rejections
4. ECs are strongly encouraged to post their time frame for interviewing particularly if they anticipate there being a significant wait (i.e., more then two to three weeks) before they begin scheduling interviews They may do this by sending an email to the candidates who apply and or by posting it on the WIKI site. They should indicate the expected date to begin and end their interview process
5. ECs are encouraged to upload their brochures and other information to the WIKI site. (The site is now capable of accepting PDF files)
6. ECs are encouraged to post information indicating that they have filled all their externship slots. This can be done by emailing all the candidates or by using the WIKI site that will indicate if the site is “full” or “offers pending” or “still accepting applications.”

DCT Responsibilities

1. DCTs are strongly encouraged to work with their students to develop a ranking list of externship sites. The ranking list is critical to the successful implementation of the Externship Guidelines and should help to prevent bottlenecks in the process.
2. DCTs will oversee their students’ compliance with all the guidelines – and specifically, adherence to the policies concerning acceptance and rejection of offers.
3. DCTs will ensure that students do not hold more than two offers
4. DCTs will ensure that students comply with the time limits specified in the Guidelines
5. DCTs will provide Letters of Eligibility that specify the number of hours that students can complete on externship.
6. DCTs will discuss the match between student training needs and the sites’ offerings. The intent is to be sure that students are not using a “shotgun” approach to the application process.

Student Responsibilities

1. Students are strongly encouraged to develop their rank order of externship sites per DCT instructions.
2. Students are required to cc their DCTs on all correspondence with externship sites in regard to offers, acceptances and rejections.
3. If a student receives a phone call with an externship offer, they are to immediately notify their DCT by email.
4. Immediately after accepting an offer, students are required to send emails to ALL sites they applied to indicating that they are withdrawing from consideration. Students must also notify the DCT of their decision as soon as a decision is made.
5. Students should ask for letters of recommendation from their faculty or others as early as possible in the semester.
6. Students are encouraged to inform their DCTs of any violation of the Externship Guidelines. The DCT will contact the committee of DCTs and Externship Coordinators who will respond to your information.
7. Students need to include the name, email address and phone number for their DCTs on the cvs.

Printable version of recommendations