The Practicum

FAQs for Practicum Supervisors

  1. Since our agency provides services directly to individuals, how would a practicum student help us with our services?
  2. If I need extra services and I am willing to contract the practicum student for paid work in addition to their practicum work could I do this?
  3. Can students be hired into my organization?
  4. What are the meeting commitments for a practicum supervisor?
  5. When are student evaluations due to the instructor?
  1. There are many ways a practicum student can contribute meaningfully to your organization. Because Community Psychologists study how service providers function within specific communities, neighborhoods and society in general, a practicum student could help a great deal by identifying obstacles and supports to your work within this larger context. Also, community psychologists are skillful in examining how people in an organization can evaluate their programs and use the information gained to apply for grant funding, improve services and/or further develop the program. We can help with networking, sustainability and expanding your vision to include prevention with treatment approaches. These are but a few of the many ways a practicum student can be a boon to your agency.
  2. While the student is with you as a practicum student the work is unpaid and the student proceeds according to her/his practicum contract and no other. The relationship of a paid employee differs from the students to her/his supervisor as in the latter case the supervisor is supporting and guiding the student toward mastery of various competencies and is the beneficiary of reflective practices generally not feasible for paid employees.
  3. Once the student has finished practicum class and, in most cases, graduated, they are often very interested as well as available for paid employment with your organization. These arrangements nearly always work well for everyone, as people at the organization and the student know each other and the work.
  4. There are three meetings per year for practicum supervisors, more if an individual placement warrants the additional interaction. The first meeting is held in September, for all practicum supervisors and students. At this meeting, the practicum guidelines and philosophy are discussed, and many questions are answered. The second meeting takes place during the academic year at the practicum site. The instructor, the supervisor and the student discuss the projects and how the experience is progressing. The final meeting is held in May, again for all supervisors and students. The practicum year is reflected upon and experiences shared.
  5. There are two formal reviews of the student's practicum experience during the academic year.The first is due by mid-December and the second, which includes the work during the second term and an overall evaluation, is due in May.