Similarly to what others have said, we do allow students to log any hours they complete over the minimum requirement, while being clear that this does not mean they are able to end early. We give students a window for finishing their placement which is typically up to 2 week prior to the end of the semester, but not sooner. We do also have a rule for our employer based students that they cannot log more than 20 hours per week even if they work fulltime, because we want them to progress at a reasonably similar pace to other students. That being said, some students do ultimately log significantly over the requirement by the end of the placement.
Original Message:
Sent: Dec 21, 2024 10:36
From: Alexander Rubin
Subject: Policies Related to Students Over Practicum Hours
We have our students log all of their hours in our software, including any that are over the required amount. Logistically it would be difficult to track everything if "standard" hours were entered in our software, and supplemental hours were logged somewhere else. Whether the student voluntarily attends extra hours for more learning time, or the agency requires them to attend an orientation/special event, we tell students to log everything with the caveat that they are not permitted to end field early just because they are ahead on hours. We are very clear that field is a course, and like any course it stretches for the duration of the entire semester(s). We also advise students that extra hours should be treated as a safety net should anything come up during the year that disrupts their attendance (illness, injury, family emergencies, weather closures, etc.), thus minimizing the amount of make-up hours they need to complete if they have extra hours on hand. That being said, in the event that a student is so significantly ahead on hours, we may permit them to decrease their hours in the final week or two of the semester (this is contingent on agency approval, making sure client services wouldn't be disrupted, etc.), but students cannot just alter their field schedule without professional communication and approval.
Basically, it's a little case-by-case, but generally we just keep track of hours in one place and make sure students understand they cannot fast-track their way through their practicum.
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Alexander Rubin
Original Message:
Sent: Dec 18, 2024 11:31
From: Sara Chears-Martinez
Subject: Policies Related to Students Over Practicum Hours
Greetings,
This term, our program encountered a couple of students that were significantly over hours at the end of their first term of practicum. Our students complete their practicum hours over three academic terms. We have a policy that any hours completed over the required 400 hours will be considered volunteer hours and typically if students are approaching 400 hours early in their final term we discuss the option to decrease their hours as they wrap up their time with the agency. We also have a policy that students are required to be with the agency through the end of their final term of practicum even if they have reached their 400 hours prior.
Does your program have any policies regarding students entering hours above their required hours in the tracking system your program utilizes? For example, does your program allow students to do this or does your program require students to track additional hours, above the required, through a different method outside of the tracking system your program utilizes for practicum education? Are there any other considerations or similar situations that your program has encountered related to this scenario?
Thank you in advance for your thoughts related to this scenario!
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Sara Chears-Martinez, MSW
Field Education Coordinator
National Louis University
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