Off-Campus Academic Internship & Service Learning Placements
Fall 2021
As SF State moves to a phased return to campus and will offer more in-person and hybrid class sections, 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, our university prioritizes the health and safety of our students and community members. Fall 2021 guidelines will be updated to match the changing information landscape and public health guidance. Thank you for collaborating to promote safe and positive learning experiences for students and community.
Questions/ Contact Information
- Service Learning Placement & Compliance support for all courses/programs within all Colleges.
- Placement & Compliance support for all courses/programs within all Colleges.
icce@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
- Many organizations are continuing to offer remote/virtual opportunities but please note, many organizations are now moving towards in-person/hybrid opportunities - students should be aware of the specific requirements/expectations of the organization before applying.
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If an on-site (physical/in-person) internship and/or service-learning placement is a course requirement, course instructors and departments should provide clear expectations to students, so that a student can choose whether to enroll in that course.
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For a required course: Should a student not wish to participate in an on-site internship and/or community service-learning placement, they should contact and discuss with their course instructor.
- 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.
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In-person placements for academic internships, service learning and community engagement may resume.
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If an on-site internship and/or service-learning placement is a course requirement, course instructors and departments should provide clear expectations to students, so that a student can choose whether to enroll in that course.
-
Students who choose to participate in on-site programs must view and complete the preventing COVID-19 and commit to prevention strategies training titled, “SFSU: Student Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic” and required student informed consent forms prior to participation.
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For a required course: Should a student not wish to participate in an on-site internship and/or community service-learning placement, they should contact and discuss with their course instructor.
-
Many organizations and early education and K-12 school sites are now moving towards in-person/hybrid opportunities - students should be aware of the specific requirements/expectations of these organizations before applying for these opportunities.
-
- 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.
On-site placements:
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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 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".
-
Confirm with your course instructor that your internship/service learning site meets course requirements and eligibility to earn academic credit.
-
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 SKILLPORT site.
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More information: Internships for Academic Credit
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More information: Community Service Learning (CSL) courses
Faculty: Information & Resources
In-person placements for academic internships, service learning and community engagement may resume.
-
If an on-site internship and/or service-learning placement is a course requirement, course instructors and departments should provide clear expectations to students, so that a student can choose whether to enroll in that course.
-
Students who choose to participate in on-site programs must view and complete the preventing COVID-19 and commit to prevention strategies training titled, “SFSU: Student Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic” and required student informed consent forms prior to participation.
-
For a required course: Should a student not wish to participate in an on-site internship and/or community service-learning placement, they should contact and discuss with their course instructor.
-
Many organizations and early education and K-12 school sites are now moving towards in-person/hybrid opportunities - students should be aware of the specific requirements/expectations of these organizations before applying for these opportunities.
-
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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Archive information -past guidance during AY 2020-21 (July 2020): 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 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.
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SF State ULink
-
“SFSU: Student Safety during the COVID-19 Pandemic” training. Access through the CSU STUDENT SKILLPORTsite.
-
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.
-
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.