The university encourages students to make full use of the learning environment outside the classroom. Work, internship, service-learning, and volunteer experiences broaden a student’s understanding and provide opportunities to apply concepts learned in the classroom to practical situations. Learning is enhanced by applying classroom learning and by reflecting on these experiences.
Expectations for Behavior
The university expects students to be responsible, ethical and professional in all work environments consistent with guidelines as expressed in the campus Code of Conduct, including adherence to federal, state and local laws and the policies of the field placement site. Students who engage in experiential placements, both on and off-campus, such as internships, co-ops, practica, community service, service-learning are participating in university sponsored programs and thus, are subject to the Code of Conduct. Misconduct, poor judgment, and inappropriate actions in any work or volunteer placement may subject the student to dismissal from a specific placement and/or disciplinary action. Experiential Learning will follow the Site Conflict Resolution Process and provide an explanation of the circumstances surrounding dismissal or reassignment.
Student Disclosure During Application Process
Students, faculty sponsors, and sites are bound to SUNY Oswego's Internship/Co-op Standards and Procedures. Students should realize that for certain specific experiences, the university may require that students provide references, fingerprint checks, disclosure of information concerning criminal convictions, or other information as part of an application for experiential placements. Release of information may be a requirement of an individual placement. Criminal convictions or university disciplinary action may have an adverse effect on the opportunity for students to obtain an experiential placement and licensure in a profession.
Experiential Sites
Experiential Learning does not place students in experience, but coaches students build self-efficacy skills around seeking opportunities that align with their academic and career goals. It is a student's responsibility to search, apply for, and register for an experience. Final decisions for eligibility, appropriateness, and preparedness for an experience rest in the professional judgment of those who review students for possible credit-bearing experiences. Factors beyond the control of the university may influence a student’s ability to find an experience. A student’s inability to obtain an experience may affect the student’s ability to complete an educational program. In such cases a student may be encouraged to withdraw or transfer to another degree program.
Students may not create their own experiential placements for credit, whether voluntary or required for an academic program, without informing the sponsoring department and obtaining prior approval directly from that department. Students are not employees or agents of the university while engaging in their experiences. Students may not represent themselves as an agent of the university seeking an experience unless they have department sponsorship and supervision from a member of the university faculty and/or staff.
Confidential Information and Referrals
If a student is working with a department at the university for their experience, the student may, as a result, have access to confidential information and materials related to other members of the university community. The student is prohibited from disclosing to any party any academic or personal information or materials related to another member of the university community. It will be the responsibility of the experiential site supervisor to inform the student of the expectations regarding confidentiality. Students should also be aware that a similar expectation for confidentiality is required in many off-campus experiential sites.