Clinical Experiences and Internships

The Department Head is responsible for assuring that appropriate contracts are in place with agencies in which students are present for any clinical experience associated with academic programs.

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

• A Legal Counsel approved contract is executed with each clinical site prior to placement.

Department of Education

• Clinical experience includes any placement in an educational setting in which students are expected to participate beyond observation.
• An Agreement for Student Classroom Participation (Word file) or an Affiliation Agreement (Word file) must be executed with the site before a student is placed or assigned.
• Requirements for each clinical experience is defined by MN Board of Teaching and NCATE standards.

Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation

• ESAT 4996, Hlth 3996, and Rec 4996 follow internship policy below.
• Coaching practicum students enrolled in CC 3997, Practicum, may be placed in any school setting in which an Agreement for Student Classroom Participation (Word file has been executed.
• In other settings, an Affiliation Agreement (Word file) must be executed before a student is placed or assigned.
• Rec 3997, Practicum, follows internship guidelines below.

Department of Psychology

• Psy 3996, Internship, follows internship policy below.

Department of Social Work

• A legal counsel approved contract is executed prior to any field placement.  Detailed evaluations of field supervisors and agencies are conducted three times per year.  A field coordinator is in place, and there is a field manual for students and supervisors.

Internship Policies

These policies outline minimum expectations for student time and site visitation.

1. An Internship Manual outlining objectives, outcomes, student responsibilities, supervisor responsibilities, agency responsibilities, etc. must be developed by each program sponsoring an internship.
2. Orientation and training should be provided for agency supervisors.
3. Instructor should visit the Agency approximately three times during the semester:
   1. on the first day to get a contract signed;
   2. at midterm to observe and discuss pertinent issues with the student; and
   3. at the end of term to get input for final evaluation.  In those cases where distance prohibits this contact, documentation of other appropriate feedback should be maintained.
4. Time/activity at the internship site should be 40 hours per semester credit.
5. Weekly time logs, journals or other assignments should be made to document activity, and a final project (paper, portfolio, presentation, etc.) should be collected to show integration of mastery of objectives.
6. The program must assure supervision by an expert in the field.
7. An Affiliation Agreement (Word file) must be signed with the agency BEFORE an internship begins. [See CEHSP Forms Library]   The contract is signed by the Dean of the College as per Delegation of Authority guidelines and filed in the Dean´s Office.  Any addendum to a contract proposed by an affiliate has to be approved by general counsel.
   1. Signed contracts may be for up to five years. 
   2. When an individual placement is made, a letter confirming the placement with begin and ends dates should be on file in the department or with the internship supervisor.
8. No retroactive credit will be awarded for what a student may perceive to be internship activity in an outside agency.