Internship Instructor of the Year Award

Award Description 

The Internship Instructor of the Year Award honors exceptional social work internship instructors who make a meaningful impact on BSW and MSW students during their field education experience. This award recognizes instructors who demonstrate strong mentorship, ethical practice, and a commitment to student learning while fostering a supportive and engaging internship environment. 


Required Eligibility 

To be eligible for this award, the nominee must: 

  • Have served as an internship instructor for at least one BSW or MSW student during the current academic year 
  • Be an approved internship instructor for the Social Work Program 
  • Have completed required intern instructor training (training status will be verified internally by the Social Work Department) 

Nomination Criteria  

Nominees should demonstrate excellence in the following areas. Nominators will be asked to provide brief narrative responses addressing the areas below. Note: Specific examples are encouraged, but nominators should not feel pressure to provide extensive detail.    

  1. Commitment to Student Learning
    • The instructor demonstrates dedication to teaching and supporting interns. 
    • Examples: availability for supervision, clear expectations, encouragement, or helping students connect theory to practice. 
  2. Mentorship and Supervision
    • The instructor provides meaningful guidance and professional support. 
    • Examples: constructive feedback, skill development, confidence‑building, or career guidance. 
  3. Ethical and Professional Practice
    • The instructor models professionalism and ethical social work practice. 
    • Examples: discussing ethical dilemmas, modeling boundaries, or demonstrating advocacy and integrity in practice. 
  4. Positive Impact on Students
    • The instructor makes a lasting difference in the student’s internship experience. 
    • Examples: helping students feel supported, increasing confidence, or preparing them for professional practice. 
  5. Collaboration with the University
    • The instructor supports the partnership between the agency and the university. 
    • Examples: responsiveness to faculty or internship staff, openness to feedback, and support of program expectations. 

Who Can Nominate 

Nominations are welcome from: 

  • Current or former BSW/MSW internship students 
  • Faculty or staff 
  • Colleagues or agency partners 
  • Supervisors or administrators  
  • Community partners 

Review & Selection 

  • Nominations are reviewed by the Social Work Program faculty and intern leadership. 
  • Once an award recipient is selected, the Social Work Program may request additional information directly from the awardee, such as: Resume or CV, licensure details, information needed for award recognition or presentation 
  • Nomination Deadline: February 1 each year 
  • Award Announcement: Social Work Conference (Mid-March)  
  • Late or incomplete submissions can’t be reviewed. 
    One awardee annually.

Nomination Form