Off-Campus Academic Internship & Service Learning Placements
Spring 2021
With SF State’s transition to remote academic instruction for spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we realize that there are many questions from faculty and students seeking guidance around non-clinical academic internships and service learning placement sites, or other community engagement projects. Below we hope to address your immediate questions and concerns.
While experiential learning programs are integral to student success, we want to prioritize student and community health. As this is a constantly evolving situation, updated experiential learning guidelines will be provided as needed to match the changing information landscape. Thank you for collaborating to promote safe and positive learning experiences for students and community.
Questions/ Contact Information
Glendie Domingo | glendie@sfsu.edu
- Service Learning Placement & Compliance support for all courses/programs within all Colleges.
Glendie Domingo | glendie@sfsu.edu
- Placement & Compliance support for all courses/programs within all Colleges.
Jill Russell | jrussell@sfsu.edu
- Placement & Compliance support for Early Fieldwork (non-credential program) Internship courses within all Colleges.
Note: Teacher preparation (credential) placements and clinical placements including social work, nursing, counseling, physical therapy or occupational therapy have created processes specific to their programs as aligned with CSU Chancellor's Office guidelines. If you are seeking more information about these site placements, please directly contact your program department and/or field placement director.
Student: Guidelines & Action Steps
- Students enrolled in an academic internship (AI) and/or community service learning (CSL) course must be given a virtual learning option if the student wishes.
- Faculty/departments are working with students to provide as much flexibility and accommodation as allowed to support you without penalty, in regards to alternative experiences and assignments.
- Note: The below processes do not apply to teacher preparation (credential) placements or clinical placements including social work, nursing, counseling, physical therapy or occupational therapy as these programs have created processes specific to their programs as aligned with CSU CO guidelines. If you are seeking more information about these site placements, please directly contact your program department and/or field placement director.
Remote/Virtual:
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Refer to the ULink & Site Placement Student User Guide (guide can be found under the "Quick Links" tab below). This guide provides a roadmap and detailed step-by-step process in finding virtual opportunities and required forms to complete before you begin your internship/service learning experience. Note: If you secure an internship/service learning experience with an organization not listed on ULink, refer to the ULink & Site Placement Student User Guide to "Request Placement with Non-Contracted Site".
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Confirm with your course instructor that your internship/service learning site meets course requirements and eligibility to earn academic credit.
- On-site (physical)/in-person on-campus or at third-party site: Students should not be compelled to participate in an on-site (physical) internship and should work with their course instructor and site supervisor to consider alternative remote options. Faculty/departments are working with students to provide as much flexibility and accommodation as allowed to support you without penalty, in regards to alternative experiences and assignments.
- Note: The below processes do not apply to teacher preparation (credential) placements or clinical placements including nursing, counseling, physical therapy or occupational therapy as these programs have created processes specific to their programs as aligned with CSU CO guidelines. If you are seeking more information about these site placements, e.g., social work, health education, counseling, etc., please directly contact your program department and/or field placement director.
If the student chooses to voluntarily complete their activity on-site (physical/in-person):
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Refer to the ULink & Site Placement Student User Guide (guide can be found under the "Quick Links" tab below). This guide provides a roadmap and detailed step-by-step process in finding virtual opportunities and required forms to complete before you begin your internship/service learning experience. Note: If you secure an internship/service learning experience with an organization not listed on ULink, refer to the ULink & Site Placement Student User Guide to "Request Placement with Non-Contracted Site".
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Confirm with your course instructor that your internship/service learning site meets course requirements and eligibility to earn academic credit.
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If you are doing any in-person internship/service learning activity, (includes hybrid): Before you begin you must view and complete the preventing COVID-19 and commit to prevention strategies training titled, “SFSU: Student Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic”. A copy of your COVID-19 training certificate of completion can be submitted to your course instructor. Link to the online training can be found under the "Quick Links tab below).
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SF State ULink
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“SFSU: Student Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic” training. Access through the CSU STUDENT SKILLPORTsite.
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More information: Internships for Academic Credit
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More information: Community Service Learning (CSL) courses
Faculty: Information & Resources
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Yes, both virtual/ remote and on-site (physical) placements will be allowed. With the SF State Budget & Logistics Fall planning committee recommendations, President Mahoney has approved Academic Affairs (in consultation with SF State Enterprise Risk Management) proposed plan that academic internships and service learning placement activities be allowed for spring 2021 in accordance to CSU Chancellor’s Office issued memo, Experiential Learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, Policy # 8388232 to provide updated advisory for-credit experiential learning programs to reduce and address risk. Please note, that University guidelines state that on-site (physical) internships (clinical or otherwise) cannot be required of students this upcoming semester (spring 2021).
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Students enrolled in an academic internship (AI) and/or community service learning (CSL) course must be given a virtual learning option whenever possible. Faculty and/or departments must offer flexibility through alternative assignments and/or practices to support students complete the required hours to obtain academic credit without penalty.
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Academic Internships Faculty: can refer to the Faculty AI Information & Resources page for an overview/guidance to provide to students re: finding internships and required student forms.
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CSL Faculty: Can refer to Service Learning Course Development & Student Community Placement for an overview/guidance to provide to students re: finding service learning opportunities and required student forms.
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SF State ULink
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“SFSU: Student Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic” training. Access through the CSU STUDENT SKILLPORTsite.
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Academic Internships Faculty: can refer to the Faculty AI Information & Resources page for an overview/guidance to provide to students re: finding internships and required student forms.
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CSL Faculty: Can refer to Service Learning Course Development & Student Community Placement for an overview/guidance to provide to students re: finding service learning opportunities and required student forms.