Academic Placements

Academic placements engage individual or groups of students in unpaid community-based/ volunteer experiences that directly relate to a specific academic course. These placements are negotiated between the host organization and the Faculty of Social Sciences, Experiential Education office to find opportunities and projects that are mutually beneficial in fulfilling the needs of the organization and the course objectives.

Academic Placements provide students an opportunity to:

• enrich the classroom experience by allowing them to be an active participant in learning;
• apply classroom learning to practical, hands-on experiences;
• learn more about and contribute to the community around them;
• develop new skills under the supervision of someone more experienced; and,
• expand their network of contacts and build their resume.

Types of Placements

Placements range from 10-80 hours over the term, can be built into three or six unit courses, and can be optional or mandatory in your course. Academic placements are normally hosted in not-for-profit organizations, but some public sector organizations are also included.

Examples of previous placements include:

• assisting at a breakfast program or after-school programs for youth;
• completing outreach and public education activities for health-focused organizations;
• assisting with developing and facilitating information or support sessions for various client groups;
• planning events and activities related to environmental awareness; and,
• assisting with developing a resource library and creating new pamphlets and educational material for a drop-in centre.

• Clearly articulate the learning goals of the placement to the Programming and Outreach Manager so that appropriate placements can be recruited for students in the class.
• Develop the course outline and all assessment strategies associated with the course and placement.
• Develop course content, teach and evaluate students, as in all other courses.
• Provide learning mentorship to ensure that students can make relevant links between their coursework and their placement.
• Adhere to Faculty and University guidelines regarding risk management by, in cooperation with the Programming and Outreach Manager, ensuring that all students on placement complete the required forms (i.e. Work Education Placement Agreement Form and other forms that may be introduced as mandatory).
• Sign relevant forms and paperwork for students (i.e. Work Education Placement Agreement Forms and Criminal Record Check Letters)

Role of Experiential Education

• Provide support for both students and organizations to ensure that all parties are achieving successful outcomes.
• Work with the course instructor to ensure that placements allow an optimal opportunity for students to make relevant links to their coursework.
• Assist instructor by providing sample forms (e.g. time log sheets, criminal record check letter, etc.) that the instructor may choose to use for the course.
• Coordinate and manage the Work/Education Placement Agreement (WEPA) forms for students.
• Liaise between the organization and the university to answer questions and resolve any issues that may arise for the student or organization.

Further Information

If you are interested in exploring an opportunity to implement an Academic Placement in a course you are teaching, please contact:

Ruthanne Talbot, Programming and Outreach Manager
talbotr@mcmaster.ca
905-525-9140, ext. 23382
KTH 102