a THE SELF-STUDY DOCUMENT SHOULD INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHOOL’S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING PRACTICE

EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING SELECTION OF SITES, METHODS FOR APPROVING PRECEPTORS, OPPORTUNITES FOR ORIENTATION AND SUPPORT FOR PRECEPTORS, APPROACHES FOR FACULTY SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS, MEANS OF EVALUATING STUDENT PERFORMANCE, MEANS OF EVALUATING PRACTICE PLACEMENT SITES AND PRECEPTOR QUALIFICATIONS, AND CRITERIA FOR WAIVING OR REDUCING THE EXPERIENCE, IF APPLICABLE.

The School of Public Health requires students pursuing the professional two-year MPH degree to complete a three-month planned, supervised and evaluated internship experience or, in the case of the students in Health Policy and Management, the option to complete a six-month internship.

This experience provides students with opportunities to apply and enhance classroom

knowledge, develop practical skills and enhance their professional and leadership development.

Students are placed in internships in a wide range of health settings that align with their area of specialization. Students fulfill this practice requirement by completing a full-time internship during the summer after the first year of the MPH program. The practice requirement typically consists of a twelve-week, full-time work experience program, typically requiring 480 hours (based on a standard 40 hour work week). If a student or preceptor has special project needs, a part-time academic year placement may be arranged.

The School’s Center for Public Health Practice (CPHP) coordinates a centralized, comprehensive internship application and placement process for MPH students from all areas of concentration.

CPHP recruits over 300 summer internship opportunities for the MPH students through its extensive relationships with community partners, employers, and alumni; including a database of over 4000 contacts. CPHP places students in meaningful internships in a wide range of public health settings including health departments, health systems, community based organizations, academic and research institutions, biotechnology firms, and federal and state governmental agencies. Students apply for these internship opportunities through the CPHP website. In addition to having access to these opportunities, CPHP field supervisors work with students individually to develop other internship options that may suit their unique interests or help students assess and finalize internship opportunities they may identify on their own. The Pre-Internship Self-Assessment helps the student identify the areas in which they need help to strengthen the competencies required for their individual program. (See Resource Materials List/Section 2: 2.4a. Pre-Internship Self-Assessment)

Internship Application and Placement Process

Preparation for the summer internship begins in the first semester. An overview of the internship process and requirements are provided during the first day of new student orientation. Students in all concentrations have either an internship preparation course or series of group meetings.

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Students also meet with their CPHP Field Supervisor individually to begin refining career and professional development interests, developing internship objectives, and identifying potential sites and contacts. Most students also meet with the CPHP Career Services Manager during the first semester or early in the second to refine their career interests, discuss corresponding internship options, and enhance their resume. Students are also encouraged or required to conduct informational interviews with organizations that they may be interested in interning or working with. In addition, many students participate in a weekly workshop series entitled “What can you do with a public health degree?” that exposes them to public health professionals from all concentrations and a wide range of health organizations. Students are made aware of the breadth and depth of career and internship options and establish strong connections for follow-up. Each student receives a guideline to help them through this process. The guideline is available in Resource Materials List/ Section 2: 2.4a – 2014 Student Guidelines.

The Center for Public Health Practice (CPHP) begins recruiting internship placement organizations in November in order to post internship opportunities in January. The formal student internship application process begins in late January or early February. Students review opportunities and apply to internships posted on the CPHP jobsite. Students typically apply for five to seven opportunities. Organizations then interview selected students in February and March and submit internship placement matching recommendations to CPHP. Students also provide CPHP with a ranking and explanation of their placement preferences. CPHP Field Supervisors make the final placement decisions in early-to-mid April based on student and organization preferences. Internships begin in May or early June after Spring semester classes have ended.

All students are required to complete an internship agreement as part of planning for a successful internship. The internship agreement requires students to develop objectives to meet selected competencies for their areas of concentration. The intern, preceptor and Field Supervisor work together to develop the Internship Agreement. The goal is to match the student's learning objectives to the needs of the organization. The Agreement includes clear timelines and

deliverables. It is a planning and communication tool to secure clarity and agreement among all parties. It can also be used to evaluate progress and accomplishments. (See Resource Materials List/Section 2: 2.4a Internship Agreement Form)

Field Supervisors conduct a mid-point site visit or phone conference with preceptors and student interns to ensure the internship experience is meeting the student's and preceptor's needs and expectations. The mid-point evaluation is used to assess progress in achieving learning objectives, identify strengths and challenges which have emerged during the internship, and update the Internship Agreement to reflect any changes. Field Supervisors are also in communication with students and preceptors to troubleshoot issues that may arise. Field Supervisors also hold group meetings with interns in the same concentration to share learnings, challenges and accomplishments.

Final Assignments and Evaluations

The purpose of the final assignment is to allow the student to reflect on the practice experience.

This is an opportunity for the student to describe what was done, what was learned, and to place the experiences within the context of the organization, the community, and the MPH program.

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The final assignment includes a Student Evaluation and a final project in the form of a case study, poster, presentation or journal article. Final assignments are reviewed and graded by Field Supervisors, and feedback for students is available. In addition to the Final Assignment, student interns complete evaluations of the Internship Site, Preceptor, Process, Preparation and Field Supervisor while preceptors complete evaluations of Student Performance, Internship Process and Preparation. Preceptors are asked to review the evaluations with students before completion of the internship to encourage professional growth. This is another method through which students can align required competencies with their practicum. (See Resource Materials List/Section 2: 2.4a Preceptor Evaluation MPH Student Performance)

Criteria for Selection of Sites

A host organization should have core public health concepts in its mission, expose students to a variety of disciplines, provide opportunities to develop a professional network, and have the capacity to assume responsibility for a student intern. Agencies may be governmental, community based, educational, voluntary, nonprofit or private; local, state, national or international in scope and practice; or research based. The pool of agencies is developed principally by the CPHP Field Program Supervisors but faculty and students also contribute potential sites. Sites must be approved by the Center for Public Health Practice. A large

number of organizations and preceptors return each year. Field Supervisors are familiar with the quality of their internship experience based on site visits and previous student evaluations.

Organizations in which students have had suboptimal experiences may be given feedback prior to posting a position about improvements that need to be made. Field Supervisors may also inform the student of previous experience with the site relative to student interests and expectations. Student evaluations of internship sites are made available.

Methods for Approving Preceptors

The Center for Public Health Practice approves preceptors. Criteria include professional expertise and demonstrated ability to mentor students. An MPH degree or related advanced degree is preferred. Field Program Supervisors actively seek alumni and leaders in the field who have the teaching and mentoring skills needed in preceptors.

Orientation and Support For Preceptors

The Center for Public Health Practice provides all preceptors with written guidelines detailing preceptor and student responsibilities. (Please see a copy in Resource Materials List/ Section 2:

2.4a 2014 Preceptor Guidelines.) Additionally, a webinar introducing field supervisors and reviewing roles, responsibilities, timeline and deliverables is offered annually. Mid-point site visits or check-ins with preceptors and students provide yet another opportunity for support.

Preceptors and students are encouraged to contact Field Supervisors whenever there are questions or concerns at any point in the process.

Faculty Supervision

As described earlier, the Field Program Supervisor has principal oversight responsibility for the public health practice requirement. Field Supervisors are academic, not senate faculty. The faculty academic advisor is a welcome partner in the development of learning objectives, aligning program competencies with the practicum, and site selection. Field Supervisors share internship experience feedback with Faculty.

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Criteria for Waiving the Practice Requirement

Students presenting evidence of previous qualifying public health work experience may request a waiver of the Practice Requirement. Waivers for master's students are based on a minimum of five years of prior relevant public health work experience in the area of concentration. As noted in the Student Handbook, a request for waiver should be agreed upon individually with the faculty advisor. If a waiver is determined to be appropriate, the student’s graduate advisor will send the request to the Associate Dean for Public Health Practice during the student's first semester. The request should detail the student's work experience, outline the relevance for the area of concentration and career goals, and the rationale for waiving the experience. CPHP has had limited requests and has not approved a waiver in the past 7 years.

Practice Requirements for the One-Year MPH Students

The School’s one-year MPH programs have a practice requirement related to their area of concentration because of the professional health background required for admittance. MPH students in the one-year program will complete a year-long leadership or research project with a public health agency, organization, or research group to satisfy the public health practice

requirements of the School.

Practice Requirements for the DrPH Program

All DrPH students will complete a professional and/or research residency in a public health setting during the summer after their first year. The residency gives students the opportunity to identify data for dissertation research, conduct analyses, and participate in specific projects of interest to them. The Residency is planned by the student with a DrPH Field Residency Supervisor, and will reflect the individual interests and needs of each student. The Field Residency Supervisor (FRS) meets with each student individually in the fall and spring semesters to discuss residency ideas and to support each student in the development of the residency agreement. The FRS conducts site visits during the summer with each student and his/her preceptor.

Practice Requirements for Concurrent and Dual Programs

The normal course of study for students in the MPH concurrent and dual degree programs will include a full-time summer field experience based on the same procedures and processes as outlined above for the two-year MPH student.

Practice Requirements for Joint Degree Programs

The joint MS degree program (SPH/UCSF Joint Medical Program) requires students to complete a minimum of six precept sessions each semester; four with a general clinical preceptor and two with patients in a senior care facility.

Practice Requirements for the On-Campus/Online MPH Students

Students in the On-Campus/Online MPH program are required to complete a minimum 130 hour practicum that may begin only after the first two OOMPH courses have been successfully

completed with a passing grade. All field placements must be completed before the first day of instruction of the student’s last course in the program. Students must complete their practicum

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requirement to ‘advance to candidacy’ (i.e. to be presented to the graduate division as having completed the requirements of the MPH degree).

2.4b THE SELF-STUDY DOCUMENT SHOULD INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION OF