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Table of Contents Page INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................................2 PRACTICUM INFORMATION & COURSE OPTIONS .............................................................................3 COURSE INFORMATION .......................................................................................................................... 4-5

• PH970, PH972, PH974 Course Requirements....................................................................................4 • PH984 Course Requirements...............................................................................................................4 • PH971 MSW/MPH Students................................................................................................................5 • PH970 MD/MPH Students ...................................................................................................................5

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES............................................................................................................ 6-8

• Academic Advisor .................................................................................................................................6 • Student ...................................................................................................................................................6 • Field Supervisor & Organization .................................................................................................... 6-7 • Departmental Faculty Practice Representative .................................................................................7 • SPH Faculty Preceptor (PH984)..........................................................................................................7 • Practicum Coordinator & Director.....................................................................................................7 • Practice Office Faculty .........................................................................................................................8

THE PRACTICUM PROCESS.................................................................................................................... 9-10

• Planning .................................................................................................................................................9 • First Semester of Matriculation...........................................................................................................9 • Semester Prior to the Practicum .........................................................................................................9 • Implementation ...................................................................................................................................10 • Evaluation and Grading .....................................................................................................................10

LEARNING CONTRACT/WRITING LEARNING OBJECTIVES...................................................... 11-12

• Contract Format .................................................................................................................................11 • Developing Learning Objectives (example)......................................................................................12

POSTER PRESENTATION ....................................................................................................................... 13-15 FORMS AND DOCUMENTS .................................................................................................................... 16-26

• Checklist ..............................................................................................................................................16 • Practicum Approval Form.................................................................................................................17 • Learning Contract .......................................................................................................................... 19-20 • Midpoint Review Form................................................................................................................... 21-22 • Student Evaluation of Practicum .................................................................................................. 23-24 • Field Supervisor Evaluation of Practicum Student ..................................................................... 25-26

DEPARTMENTAL FACULTY PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVES.................................................... 27-28 PRACTICE OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION...................................................................................29

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TO: MPH Students FROM: Harold Cox, MSSW

Associate Dean for Practice Welcome to Boston University School of Public Health. The MPH curriculum has a required practicum which will give you first hand experience in a field setting. This practicum will allow you to work along side of public health professionals who solve real world problems every day. The placement also will allow you to practice the skills you learn in the classroom. I hope you will take full advantage of this important learning component to become a knowledgeable and competent public health professional. My best to you in your MPH program. This Practicum Handbook has been prepared to assist graduate MPH students, agency supervisors, and faculty to successfully initiate and implement meaningful practicum experiences that meet the academic standards of the School of Public Health. Guidelines and academic requirements are described in detail. The Practice Office Website, http://sph.bu.edu/practiceoffice, contains additional information about the required practicum, forms which appear in this handbook, and a database of potential placement sites. All practicum documents are also be available on CourseInfo at http://courseinfo.bu.edu/courses/06sprgsphph970_a1/ Mailing Address: Public Health Practice Office 715 Albany Street Boston, MA 02118 fax: 617-638-5299

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Practicum Information and Course Options

General Information

A public health practicum is a required element of the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). As in all accredited schools of public health, MPH students are required to complete an approved, planned and supervised practicum. The Public Health Practice Office provides the academic and administrative structure for the required practicum. A practicum provides the opportunity to integrate and apply classroom learning in a public health work environment, enabling students to observe and learn from professionals in the field. The student contributes to a community’s resources and to the solution of public health problems, while developing practical skills and personal confidence as a public health professional. The practicum is to be scheduled when best suited to meet student and participating organization’s needs. Financial compensation for a practicum, if available, is a matter to be negotiated between the student and the sponsoring organization. The possibility of payment is not a consideration in the approval of the practicum. In most cases, because of the brief duration and nature of a practicum, it is unpaid. Prerequisites

• Students may begin a practicum after completing a minimum of 12 academic credits. *Students who are in academic difficulty will need special approval from the Assistant Dean for Practice before beginning a practicum. Contact the Practice Office for details.

• A practicum site and project must be approved by the student’s department. • Departments may recommend specific courses to be completed before the practicum is initiated.

Refer to your academic department’s Concentrator’s Guide for more details. Dual degree candidates Students enrolled in a dual degree program are responsible for completing all the requirements for both degrees. Questions about how to fulfill the practicum requirement should be directed to the Practice Office or the Dual Degree Coordinator for the program.

Course Options Students may fulfill the MPH practicum requirement by completing the assignments associated with one of the following course options. Dual concentrators need only complete one practicum:

Course Credits Hours on site Grade PH 970 0 56 (4 hrs/wk) Pass/fail PH 972 2 56 (4 hrs/wk) Pass/fail PH 974 4 112 (8 hrs/wk) Pass/fail PH 984 4 112 (8 hrs/wk) Letter grade PH 971 1 2nd year MSW field placement Pass/fail

Peace Corps MI Program 0-5 complete Peace Corps training Letter grade HC840, HC841, & HC842 16 PIHP in the Philippines Letter grade

Each option engages the student in a process of goal setting, self-evaluation, and critical reflection on the links between theory and practice. Information about the last two options is available in the Department of International Health's Guide for Concentrators.

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Course Information

PH970, PH972, PH974 Course Requirements The PH Practicum courses present the opportunity for students to apply their classroom learning in a public health practice setting and learn additional skills from professionals in the field. Course requirements are:

• Placement in a local, state, federal, or international agency or organization that addresses significant public health problems with a designated Field Supervisor.

• Departmental Faculty Practice Representative approval • Approved Learning Contract signed by Field Supervisor and Departmental Faculty Practice

Representative (due 2 weeks after the practicum start date) • Participation in required public health practice seminars:

1. Introductory Practicum Seminar or Online Practicum Orientation prior to registration. The Online Practicum Orientation will be available late fall 2006.

2. Departmental Integration Seminar • Completion of the Midpoint Review • Submission of the Practicum Description for the Practice Office database at

http://sph.bu.edu/practicum/StudentPracticumDescription.aspx • Completion of a minimum of 56 on-site work hours for PH970 and PH972 (The only

difference between these two courses is the number of credits received) • Completion of a minimum of 112 on-site work hours for PH974 • Poster Presentation - presentation and submission of practicum poster • Two-part evaluation:

1. Field Supervisor Evaluation of Practicum Student. 2. Student Evaluation of Practicum (completed during the departmental integration

seminar) PH984 Course Requirements PH984 is a 4-credit directed practicum option. This option is available for the student who will produce an enhanced academic product suitable for publication or presentation upon completion of the practicum. In order to choose this option, the student must identify a BUSPH faculty member with whom to work (SPH Faculty Preceptor). Expectations and guidelines for the product must be discussed with the Faculty Preceptor at the onset of the practicum. The student must demonstrate the capacity to complete such a project. The faculty member should commit to such a project only if he/she is willing to co-author with the student on the practicum product. Prior to registration, a written justification for PH984 must be submitted to the Practice Office with a description of the project and name of BUSPH Faculty Preceptor. Once approval has been given from both the Practice Office and SPH Faculty Preceptor, then the Practice Office will sign off on the student’s registration. The faculty member is expected to meet with the student several times during the course of the practicum semester. PH984 is a letter graded course. Course requirements are the same as PH974 with the addition of the enhanced academic product.

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MSW/MPH Students (PH971) MSW/MPH students are able to meet the SPH practicum requirement by completing their second year MSW field experience and the PH971 Practice Seminar. Students may choose to forego this option, and do a traditional SPH practicum. For those students wishing to utilize the MSW/MPH PH971 option, the following guidelines apply: The MSW/MPH Practicum Seminar PH971 (one credit) has been designed to promote the integration of social work and public health fields. MSW/MPH students must complete 12 credits at the School of Public Health before enrolling in PH971. Students must contact the Practice Office in order to register for PH971; online registration is not available. Attending or completing the Introductory Practicum Seminar/Online Practicum Orientation is not required. Students in the MSW/MPH practicum course will meet in two, 2-hour seminars throughout the semester. The seminars aim to build understanding of the population-based perspective of public health and its relevance to the social work profession. In the first seminar PH971 students will meet together to discuss their placement with other dual degree students. The written assignment, due at the seminar, is an Abstract and Critical Reflection* on the second year MSW field experience within a public health framework. The second seminar will be the Departmental Integration Seminar with current public health practicum students in the same SPH concentration. *Contact in the Practice Office and/or School of Social Work for the details of the PH971 course and the written Abstract and Critical Reflection assignments. Course details can also be found on CourseInfo (http://courseinfo.bu.edu/courses/06sprgsphph970_a1/) on the Practice Office website (http://sph.bu.edu/practiceoffice) MD/MPH Students (PH970) MD/MPH students may elect to fulfill their MPH practicum requirement either by engaging in a public health-oriented medical clerkship (typically Family Medicine or Geriatrics) or rotation approved by the MD/MPH Program Director, Wayne LaMorte (wlamorte@bu.edu). However, students may choose to forego this option, and do a traditional SPH practicum. Using a Public Health-Oriented Medical Clerkship (PH970): This practicum option provides the opportunity to integrate and apply classroom learning from both public health and medical studies in a public health-oriented medical school clerkship. The MD/MPH student must first schedule a preliminary meeting with the MD/MPH Program Director upon learning the rotation assignment to these clerkships. The required Introductory Practicum Seminar/Online Practicum Orientation (available late fall 2006) must be completed prior to course registration. Students must meet with the Practice Office to register for PH970, which is a pass/fail course. In addition to the requirements for the regular PH970 course, the MD/MPH candidates must complete the Learning Contract with the MD/MPH Program Director of the dual degree program as the Field Supervisor. This is due to the Practice Office within two weeks of the practicum start date.

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Practicum Roles and Responsibilities

Academic Advisor Students will meet with their assigned academic advisor in their first semester of matriculation. The faculty advisor and student will discuss the practicum graduation requirement. Practicum course options and the most appropriate semester to enroll will be considered, keeping in mind that a minimum of 12 credits must first be completed. The academic advisor can provide information as to whether the practicum will fulfill the requirements of the department’s culminating experience. Based on the student’s interests, the academic advisor may suggest that the student meet with other BUSPH faculty with expertise in the student’s area of interest. Student On-Site Responsibilities The student is expected to function as a professional at all times and is responsible for activities and work described in the Learning Contract. The student is expected to:

• Participate in the design and implementation of the project • Provide professional quality work • Comply with the policies and procedures of the organization • Integrate within the structure of the organization • Complete academic and professional assignments related to the practicum • Maintain communication with the Field Supervisor, Departmental Faculty Practice

Representative, and Practice Office Student Academic Responsibilities The Public Health Practicum is a required element of the MPH degree. As an academic course, the practicum has academic requirements. The practicum should be treated as any other course at BUSPH. If practicum documentation is either missing or not submitted in a timely manner, if seminars are missed, or if on-site responsibilities are not met, students may be in jeopardy of failing the course and therefore NOT meeting the graduation requirement. Field Supervisor and Organization

The agency agrees to assign a Field Supervisor to oversee the student’s practicum. This person should have expertise in assigned project areas, experience, status within the organization, and the ability and desire to supervise and mentor. The Field Supervisor shares organizational values, experiences, and contacts with the student to enhance the student’s experience. Students should be encouraged to attend meetings and in-service trainings, and conduct informational interviews with key individuals throughout the practicum. The Field Supervisor and other agency personnel assist the student by providing access to resources such as workspace and supplies. The Field Supervisor meets with the student on a regular basis to discuss progress as well as any issues related to the student’s activities. Feedback is crucial to the student’s professional development and should be provided on a regular basis.

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The Practice Office will contact the Field Supervisor and send an information packet when a practicum has been confirmed. The Field Supervisor approves the Learning Contract at the beginning of the practicum and provides an orientation to the organization and specific projects. The agency orientation may include:

• Description of the organizational mission and vision • Introduction to key people within the organization • Informational meetings with management • Information about the target population • Organizational policies and procedures • Provision of appropriate workspace for the student

After the Learning Contract has been developed, the Field Supervisor is required to participate in two formal meetings with the student, mid-way and at the end of the practicum:

1. The Midpoint Review, initiated by the student, assesses practicum progress in relation to the goals set forth in the Learning Contract. If follow-up from the Practice Office is needed, the Field Supervisor will be contacted via phone or email to discuss student progress.

2. Towards the end of the practicum, the Field Supervisor will complete the Field Supervisor Evaluation of Practicum Student and then review with the student.

Departmental Faculty Practice Representative Each academic department has designated faculty who are responsible for approving a student’s practicum site and project prior to registration. While most departments have one Departmental Faculty Practice Representative (DFPR), some departments have multiple faculty members who may serve this role. The DFPR must approve the proposed practicum and sign the Practicum Approval Form prior to registration. The representative will also meet with students to provide feedback and approve the Learning Contract. A copy of the Midpoint Review will be provided to the DFPR once submitted. The DFPR may monitor student progress throughout practicum and communicate any need for intervention to Practice Office faculty/staff, help in the development of the Departmental Integration Seminar at the end of the semester, and/or serve as a resource for the development of content for the student Practicum Poster Session. A list of the DFPRs for each department can be found on pages 27-28. SPH Faculty Preceptor (PH984) The SPH Faculty Preceptor is selected by a student completing PH984. The SPH Faculty Preceptor is responsible for all requirements of a Departmental Faculty Practice Representative. In addition, the Preceptor will work collaboratively with the student in production of the Enhanced Academic Product. Finally, the SPH Faculty Preceptor will provide a letter grade for the student’s practicum upon completion and submit it to the Practice Office. Practicum Coordinator & Director The Practicum Coordinator and Director are Practice Office staff who will provide guidance to students and assist in identifying appropriate practicum sites. Students must obtain a signature from the Practice Office in order to register for a practicum course. When a student submits the Practicum Approval Form to the Practice Office, information will be sent to the field supervisor. The Practice Office will follow-up with the organization as warranted by comments in the Midpoint Review Form. The Practicum Coordinator and Director are available by phone or e-mail throughout the practicum to answer questions or to assist in the resolution of any problems.

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Practice Office Faculty The Practice Office Faculty is the academic resource for the Practice Office staff, students, and DFPRs. The faculty member will assist in the development of Introductory Practicum Seminar/Online Practicum Orientation along with Practice Office staff. The Practice Office Faculty assures quality and consistency of practicum content, Learning Contracts, integration seminars, and the student poster presentations. The Faculty troubleshoots problems as communicated via Departmental Faculty Practice Representatives, Practice Office staff, and/or students. The Faculty will also provide students with ongoing support for developing the poster presentation.

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The Practicum Process

Planning Arranging for a practicum represents a mix of student, faculty, and staff-initiated activities. Through meetings with the academic advisor, students should determine when the practicum best fits into their academic plan. Students can initiate their practicum search in various ways: through personal and/or professional contacts, through faculty recommendations, or through opportunities posted with the Practice Office. The most extensive list of opportunities can be found on the Practice Office website at http://sph.bu.edu/practicum. Information about new opportunities is sent to students regularly through the Practice Office listserv. Samples of these opportunities are also posted in the BUSPH student computer area, Talbot Building, 2nd Floor, East Wing. Several practicum opportunities arise through relationships that exist with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Boston Public Health Commission, The Institute for Community Health, Boston Medical Center, community-based organizations, and other local, national, and international sites. In addition, faculty members in each department have professional and collegial relationships with many public health practitioners. If a student needs further assistance in locating a practicum site, he/she may contact the Practice Office. First Semester of Matriculation

1. Student meets with academic advisor to plan his/her academic program. 2. Student considers practicum options and whether the practicum will be used to fulfill the

culminating experience for his/her concentration. 3. Student decides which semester to register for practicum (must first complete 12 BUSPH credits).

Semester Prior to the Practicum

1. All students must first attend an Introductory Practicum Seminar or Online Practicum Orientation prior to securing a practicum site and registering for a practicum course. As of fall 2006, the Introductory Seminar will no longer be facilitated by the Practice Office. Instead, an online orientation must be completed prior to starting the practicum (available on the Practice Office webpage, http://sph.bu.edu/practiceoffice in late fall 2006). In addition to providing preparatory practicum information, the seminar and online orientation inform about public health practice theory and how it relates to the student practicum.

2. Student secures a placement at an organization. 3. Student meets with the Departmental Faculty Practice Representative, a chosen faculty member

in their academic concentration, for practicum approval. The student must complete the Practicum Approval Form (requires faculty’s signature) and submit it to the Practice Office. See pages 27-28 for a list of representatives from each academic department.

4. Student may then register for a practicum course; signature from the Practice Office is required. Online registration for the practicum is not permitted. Student discusses potential learning objectives with Field Supervisor.

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Implementation

1. Student finalizes the Learning Contract (learning objectives, activities, & timeline) with the Field Supervisor within a week of practicum start date.

2. Once the Learning Contract has been developed, student meets with their Departmental Faculty Practice Representative for Learning Contract approval. The student, Field Supervisor, and Departmental Faculty Practice Representative must sign the final approved Learning Contract. This is due to the Practice Office within two weeks of the practicum start date. *Timeline for the Learning Contract may be accelerated for students doing international practicums or those lasting less than one month.

3. Student initiates the Midpoint Review at time designated in the Learning Contract. Student meets with Field Supervisor and completes the Midpoint Review Form. Student submits the form to the Practice Office within 48 hours of the Midpoint Review. At this time students should submit the Student Practicum Description for the Practice Office database. This can be complete this online at http://sph.bu.edu/practicum/StudentPracticumDescription.aspx .

4. Student must develop the Poster Presentation and attend the scheduled Practicum Poster Session. *Students placed outside the Boston area must complete the following requirements in lieu of attending the Practicum Poster Session:

Submit the poster or poster slides to the Practice Office or attend the following semester’s poster session.

5. Student attends Departmental Integration Seminar. This will occur on the same day as the poster presentation (Practicum Finale). Students from each concentration will meet with departmental faculty to discuss the practicum experience. The overall purpose of the Integration Seminar is to provide a forum in which students, by critiquing their own practicum and learning from the experiences of others, can gain insight into how to integrate and apply classroom learning in a public health work environment.

*Students placed outside the Boston area must complete the following requirement in lieu of attending the integration seminar:

Submit a 2-3 page summary to the Practice Office describing practicum challenges, impact of practicum on professional development, relevancy of practicum to SPH coursework, and lessons learned.

6. Student submits the evaluation paperwork to the Practice Office upon completion of practicum work. In order to receive a grade for the registered semester, all documents must be submitted one week prior to semester end date.

Evaluation & Grading Two evaluations (Student Evaluation of Practicum, p.23 and Field Supervisor Evaluation of Practicum Student, p.25) must also be submitted. These evaluations enable a student to reflect upon their work and also assist the Public Health Practice Office in providing quality placement sites for future students. The Field Supervisor must complete the Field Supervisor Evaluation of Practicum Student and review it with the student. Both signatures are required prior to submission. The Student Evaluation of Practicum will be completed during the Departmental Integration Seminar. The student’s final grade is based on satisfactory completion of all practicum requirements. Students in PH984 will receive a letter grade from their SPH Faculty Preceptor. All others (in PH970, PH971, PH972, & PH974) will be assigned a pass/fail grade by the Practice Office Faculty.

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The Learning Contract/Writing Learning Objectives

The Learning Contract provides the foundation for the practicum. Its purpose is to establish, at the beginning of the practicum, a set of learning objectives, student activities, and timeline for deliverables which are agreed upon by the student, field supervisor, and the Departmental Faculty Practice Representative. Learning objectives form the basis of the Learning Contract and are written as measurable statements of the results the student wishes to achieve. A learning objective is a concise statement of a development in competency, skill, knowledge, or understanding the student plans to achieve. They should be specific, reasonable/obtainable, and able to be completed within a particular timeframe. Two to three learning objectives for the practicum is a reasonable goal. Learning objectives are written generally in the present tense and use action verbs that describe how learning will be demonstrated. They give insight to why the student is doing the practicum. Clearly defined learning objectives are the foundation of a strong and successful practicum. The methods, activities, and timeline should then describe the detail of the student’s work and how the learning objectives will be obtained. In preparation for developing the Learning Contract, the student should meet with the Field Supervisor to understand the goals and proposed activities of the practicum. The Learning Contract must be approved by the Field Supervisor by the end of the first week of the practicum. At that time the student must then meet with the Departmental Faculty Practice Representative for final approval. The approved Learning Contract is due to the Practice Office no later than 2 weeks after the practicum start date. Timeline for the Learning Contract may be accelerated for students doing international practicums or those lasting less than one month. Contract Format The narrative part of the Learning Contract includes the following:

• Student Practicum Title/Position • Description of the practicum site and project: 1-2 paragraphs • Learning objectives and goals: What is going to be learned by the student as a result of the work? • Activities/methods for accomplishing the learning objectives and goals: What is the student going

to do? • Proposed product or deliverables • Timeline for proposed goals and activities

Developing Learning Objectives - example Through initial meetings with the practicum site and Field Supervisor, students should have a good idea of what they will be doing. The development of learning objectives is sometimes a bit more abstract. The information below is an example of how to develop learning objectives based on known activities for the practicum: Step 1: Write down all the activities and duties that you will engage in throughout the practicum.

Example- data analysis

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Step 2: Write down the resources needed from yourself and the organization to accomplish each of the listed activities. Example- need data, knowledge of how data were collected, time, software, knowledge of software, computer, work space, and what is the purpose of the analysis?

Step3: Write the outcome for each of the listed activities.

Example- The data analysis is being used to help with the quality control survey of how a program is utilized.

Step 4: Develop learning objectives considering the activities, resources needed, and outcomes

written in steps 1-3 above. What is going to be learned? Example-1) Gain proficiency in statistical software to analyze the given data

2) Assess how data must be “cleaned” to prepare for proper analysis 3) Apply data analysis product toward overall evaluation of program

The following is a list of verbs which may helpful in the development of your objectives. KNOWLEDGE COMPREHENSION APPLICATION Define Describe Employ List Discuss Illustrate Name Explain Interpret Record Identify Practice Repeat Report Translate Review Utilize ANALYSIS SYNTHESIS EVALUATION Analyze Arrange Appraise Compare Create Assess Differentiate Compose Evaluate Examine Design Measure Inspect Manage Revise Relate Prepare Select Verbs adapted from Reilly, D.E. Behavioral Objectives in Nursing, 2nd edition. New York, Appleton Century-Crofts, 1980 and Bloom's Taxonomy. Sample Learning Contracts are available from the Practice Office and on CourseInfo.

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Poster Presentation

The purpose of the Poster Presentation is to enable students to summarize their practicum experience, and report on it to a wide audience in a meaningful way. The poster presentation was chosen as the end product for all practicums for several reasons:

1. A poster requires students to assess their experience critically and to place it in a relevant context for a scientific or other professional/business audience. It is a format that can be adapted to all types of practicums;

2. An overview of the practicums can be made accessible to a large audience (of students, faculty, agency personnel);

3. The analytical/scientific content of the poster will help the student design and conduct a practicum that will be less observational and more analytical and hands-on;

4. Students, whose practicum is not research-oriented or amenable to a scientific format, may present their project in the format of a “business/professional” poster. Such posters may be useful for a variety of purposes, e.g., to describe innovative programs, educate or entice constituents, or raise funds.

5. At some time in their professional careers, virtually all BUSPH graduates will be required to prepare a poster and participate in a poster session at a professional meeting. This is a good opportunity to learn this skill and participate in a poster session attended by one’s peers and colleagues.

Guidelines for Posters Practicum students should begin to think about the nature, focus, and content of the poster right from the beginning. Thinking about the end product in advance can help focus the practicum learning objectives and activities. Students should discuss the development of the poster with the Departmental Faculty Practice Representative throughout the practicum. The following guidelines are offered to help create an excellent poster that will enhance the learning experience. Poster materials:

• Please use a tri-fold poster board, 36” X 48” (about $8.00 at Office Depot, Staples). However, if the student is creating a poster for the practicum agency that requires a different format (e.g., professionally done large poster print), that may be used; a separate poster will not have to be completed for the BUSPH poster presentation.

A limited number of recycled poster boards are available in the Practice Office. • PowerPoint can be used to create the images for the poster. However, do not simply tack up a

series of PowerPoint slides, with bulleted text. Photographs and/or other graphics should be included to make the poster visually appealing and interesting.

• Optional: Students may wish to have a hard copy of any products generated and/or “props” that will help to convey the message of the poster.

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Poster Content: The poster should contain the following information:

• Title • Student name and academic department • Introduction/Background, including:

1) Name, location, brief description of organization 2) Objectives and goals (These may be the learning objectives outlined in the Learning

Contract. However, especially for research projects, it is more likely that they will be the objectives of the research itself, not the student’s own personal objectives).

3) Description of population served or program participants • Practicum activities and rationale, including strategies employed to complete work (Again,

depending on the nature of the practicum, the activities should focus on work done by the student, but may include a description of how the student’s activities fit into a larger project.)

• Results, outcomes (for practicums that are not research-oriented, the results may focus on key findings, lessons learned). If the student’s project is not complete at the time of the poster presentation, provide preliminary or anticipated results.

• Discussion of meaning or context of findings • Recommendations and insights about how the work could be advanced or what should be done

with the findings to improve the health of the public There will be many posters on display during the poster session; students should think about how others will take notice and be drawn to it. The poster should tell a story, making points clear and simple with a logical flow. The idea is to attract the audience so that they will be able to learn something about the practicum quickly (less than 2 minutes) and want to engage in conversation about it. Students should be prepared to present a brief (less than 1-2 minutes) summary of the poster for the viewing audience. Many people, rather than asking specific questions, may simply say, “So, tell me about your poster.” Students should be prepared to say something brief and brilliant! Poster Style: No matter how wonderful the practicum experience and how brilliant the poster content, people will only learn from it if the material is presented effectively. A poster is a visual medium. The design should get the main points across easily, and to attract colleagues and engage them in conversation. There are several excellent sets of detailed guidelines available on the web: http://www.ce.umn.edu/~smith/supplements/poster/guide.htm http://www.ncsu.edu/project/posters/documents/QuickReferenceV2.pdf The overarching themes of all of these (and other sets of guidelines) are:

• Organization: Use headings to help readers find what they are looking for (practicum setting, objective, results, conclusions, etc). Most suggest a columnar format: top to bottom, left to right. You may want to include arrows to direct the reader. Use pleasing and balanced arrangement of graphics, text, colors.

• Less is more: Keep the verbiage to a minimum. Do not simply tack up pages of text. Some suggest a maximum of 50-75 words of text on a page. All text should be in fonts large enough to be read from 3-6 feet away (minimum font size: 18 pt). Title should be in larger font sizes to be read from far away. Use simple fonts (e.g., Arial, Helvetica); do not use more than 2 types of fonts.

• Colors: Dark colors on a light background are easiest to read. Use a theme of 2-3 colors; avoid overly bright (neon) colors.

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• Graphics: Use graphics (simple charts, tables, graphs) and photos as appropriate. Remember: a picture can be worth a thousand words. Not only do they help tell the story, they also help attract the audience.

Help with Poster Preparation

• Students should discuss the nature, focus, and content of the poster with the Departmental Faculty Practice Representative, as early in the practicum as possible.

• If help is needed or students would like to discuss ideas for the poster at any time throughout the practicum, contact Dr. Anne Fidler, Assistant Dean for Public Health Practice (617-638-4647 or afidler@bu.edu).

• Posters of high quality from previous semesters are available in the Practice Office will be on display in the Talbot building as the poster presentation day nears.

Grading Posters will be graded by the Departmental Practice Faculty member. (Dr. Fidler, from the Practice Office, will review the posters and grades to assure consistency across departments). Because the practicum course is generally pass/fail, the posters will be graded in the same manner. If a poster does not meet the minimum requirements listed above, students may be asked to do revisions. Students must receive a passing grade for both the practicum overall and the poster to receive a “pass” for the practicum course.

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Practicum Checklist*

Attend an Introductory Practicum Seminar or complete the Online Practicum Orientation (available late fall 2006 at http://sph.bu.edu/practiceoffice). Identify a practicum site and a Field Supervisor. Meet with Departmental Faculty Practice Representative to discuss practicum choice. Have the Practicum Approval Form signed. Meet with Scott Harris or Katie Horrigan in the Practice Office to register for the practicum course and submit Practicum Approval Form. Start practicum and meet with Field Supervisor to discuss and develop learning objectives. Meet with Departmental Faculty Practice Representative to discuss Learning Contract. The approved, signed Learning Contract is due to the Practice Office within two weeks of the practicum start date. Timeline for the Learning Contract may be accelerated for students doing international practicums or those lasting less than one month. Midpoint Review (halfway through practicum): Meet with Field Supervisor to discuss practicum progress. Complete the Midpoint Review Form and make any necessary updates to the Learning Contract. Submit to the Practice Office within 2 days. At the time of the midpoint review, submit a Student Practicum Description for the Practice Office database. Complete this online at http://sph.bu.edu/practicum/StudentPracticumDescription.aspx. Attend Practicum Poster Session to display your final product. Attend Departmental Integration Seminar. Complete the Student Evaluation of Practicum. Submit completed Field Supervisor Evaluation of Practicum Student to the Practice Office.

* With few exceptions, the items in the checklist should be completed in the order listed

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Boston University School of Public Health

Practicum Approval Form

Instructions for Student & Departmental Practice Faculty Representative: • Student – Prior to registration, please complete and set up a time to meet with Departmental Practice

Faculty Representative for practicum approval • Departmental Practice Faculty Representative – discuss student’s proposed practicum and sign this form if

approved • Return to Practicum Office: Talbot Building, 715 Albany Street, Rm. C207 or C208

****************************************************************************** Student Information Name: _______________________________________ BU ID #: __________________ Concentration: _________________________________ Email: ____________________ Practicum Information Practicum Site (agency name, department, division, etc.): _____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________________ Street Address and Building / Room

______________________________________________________________________________ Street Address 2

______________________________________________________________________________ City State Zip / Postal Code Country

Field Supervisor: _________________________

Phone: __________________________________ Email:______________________________

Estimated practicum start date: _______________ End date: _____________________

Course Registration Information Fall ____ Spring ___ Summer ____ Year ________ PH970____ PH972____ PH974____ PH984____ Faculty Approval Departmental Practice Faculty Representative: Name (please print): ___________________________ Department _____________________ Signature: ___________________________________ Date: ______________ Comments: _______________________________________________________________________

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Boston University School of Public Health

Practicum Learning Contract

Instructions: • Complete ALL INFORMATION on both sides of this form and attach the approved learning objectives.

Student, Field Supervisor, and appropriate BUSPH faculty signatures are required. • Submit the completed contract to the Practice Office within two weeks of the practicum start date. Keep

one copy for yourself. ******************************************************************************

Student Information Name: _______________________________________ BU ID #: __________________ Email: ________________________ Concentration: ___________________________ Course Information Semester and year for which you are REGISTERING for the practicum: Fall ___ Spring ___ Summer ___ Year ______ Course #: _____________ Hours per week on-site: ________ Start date of the practicum: __________________________ End date of the practicum: ___________________________ Midpoint Review date with Field Supervisor: ___________________ Faculty Information (please print) Departmental Faculty Practice Representative: _________________________________ (PH970/972/974): SPH Faculty Preceptor (PH984): _____________________________________________

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Practicum Site Information Practicum Site (agency name, department, division, etc.): _______________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Practicum Site Mailing Address: _____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Field Supervisor Information Name: _______________________________________________ Title: ________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________ Email: ___________________________ Practicum Content Please complete the following information on separate paper and attach to this form:

• Student Practicum Title/Position • Description of the practicum site and project: 1-2 paragraphs • Learning objectives and goals: These should be specific, measurable, and realistic/reasonable. • Activities and methods for accomplishing the learning objectives and goals • Proposed product or deliverables • Monthly timeline for proposed goals and activities

Requirements for Completion of Practicum Course

• Submission of a signed and approved Learning Contract • Participation in required seminars • Completion of Midpoint Review • Completion of Practicum Description for Practice Office database • Completion of minimum number of on-site hours • Completion of Poster Presentation • Submission of evaluation forms from student and field supervisor

Signatures Student: _____________________________________________________________ Date: ___________ Field Supervisor: ______________________________________________________ Date: ___________ SPH Faculty Preceptor/ Departmental Faculty Practice Representative _______________________________ Date: ___________

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Midpoint Review Form The Midpoint Review should occur about halfway through the practicum and is a time for reflection and feedback. The goal of the Midpoint Review is to help ensure that the practicum is on track in providing a valuable learning experience for the student, and that the student is making a contribution to the organization. In addition, the Midpoint Review can help troubleshoot any unforeseen challenges or barriers while ensuring that the student is progressing with the Learning Contract. Updates to the Learning Contract should be made to reflect any changes since the beginning of the practicum. Instructions:

• The student must complete this form with the Field Supervisor using the Learning Contract as a point of reference.

• This form along with updated learning objectives, activities, and timeline (if necessary) are due to the Practice Office within 2 days of the Midpoint Review. *IH students should submit the form to their Departmental Faculty Practice Representative.

Student Name (Print): ____________________________ Concentration: ____________________ ****************************************************************************** 1. Describe what you have accomplished to date. Include a list of activities. 2. Discuss the progress on accomplishing the learning objectives as described in the Learning Contract.

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3. Describe any challenges or obstacles encountered that have impacted the progress of the practicum. What is being done to address these obstacles?

4. Based on the amount of time left in the practicum describe any changes that need to be made to the

Learning Contract? 5. Please describe any other issues that need to be addressed. 6. Is follow-up from the Practice Office needed with the Field Supervisor? _____ Yes _____ No Signatures Field Supervisor: __________________________________________________ Date:_________

Student: _________________________________________________________ Date:_________

(Return to BUSPH Practice Office, 715 Albany Street, T-207/208 Boston, MA 02118 - fax: 617.638.5299)

23

Boston University School of Public Health

Student Evaluation of Practicum Instructions: This evaluation must be completed by the student at the end of the practicum, during the Departmental Integration Seminar and submitted to the Practice Office prior to receiving a final grade. This information will be used as part of an annual review of the practicum program. Student Name: _________________________________________________ Dept: ___________________ Practicum Site Name: ___________________________________________ SPH Faculty Preceptor/ Departmental Faculty Practice Representative: ________________________________________ ****************************************************************************** How did you select your practicum site? To what extent did the BUSPH Practice Office provide adequate information and guidance in preparing for your practicum?

Did you have any help from any other BUSPH faculty to help in the preparation or throughout your practicum? If so, who, and how did they help?

Practice Office Guidance Agree Neutral Disagree N/A

The Practice Office was available throughout the practicum to answer questions and help troubleshoot.

Departmental Faculty Practice Rep. (DFPR) Guidance

Agree Neutral Disagree N/A

The DFPR was responsive throughout the practicum to answer questions and help troubleshoot.

Meeting with the DFPR at the beginning of the practicum was useful in the development of learning objectives and practicum details.

Other BUSPH Faculty Guidance

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Field Supervisor Guidance Agree Neutral Disagree N/A Your Field Supervisor was available throughout the practicum to provide guidance and help troubleshoot.

Your Field Supervisor adequately provided you with an orientation to the organization and appropriate workspace.

How often did you meet with your Field Supervisor? Practicum Experience Agree Neutral Disagree N/A

The practicum increased my ability to work in and understand public health.

The Introductory Practicum Seminar/Online Practicum Orientation increased my understanding of the practicum and its components.

The Learning Contract was essential in clarifying my goals, activities, and timeline.

The Midpoint Review was a useful tool in evaluating my progress with my field supervisor.

The Integration Seminar was useful in reflecting on my experience and relating it to the core competencies of my concentration.

The Poster Session was a valuable use of time in sharing my practicum experience with the BUSPH community.

Would you recommend your practicum site to other BUSPH students? Why or why not?

Any other comments?

Student Signature:_______________________________________________________ Date:___________

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Boston University School of Public Health

Field Supervisor Evaluation of Practicum Student Instructions: The Field Supervisor should complete this at the end of the practicum. This evaluates the student’s performance throughout the practicum experience. Please review this with the student before submitting the completed evaluation to the Practice Office. Field Supervisor: ___________________________________________ Field Supervisor email: ______________________________________ Student: __________________________________________________ Practicum Title/Description: ______________________________________________________ Start and End Date of Practicum: __________________________________________________

********************************************************************** Please evaluate the student's performance throughout the practicum: 4 - Outstanding 3 – Very Good 2 - Fair 1- Poor N/A - Not Applicable ___ Reliability (attendance, punctuality, etc.) ___ Motivation and Initiative ___ Organizational skills ___ Contributed innovative ideas to improve project(s) ___ Completed projects in timely manner ___ Worked independently ___ Worked as a part of a team ___ Exercised own judgment appropriately ___ Made efforts to develop and improve skills ___ Accepted feedback and suggestions objectively ___ Ability to research problems ___ Met goals and objectives

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1. How many hours on-site did the student complete? 2. To what extent did the student meet the objectives stipulated in the Learning Contract? 3. To what extent did the student's work contribute to the mission of your agency/organization? 4. What recommendations for professional development do you have for the student? 5. Additional Comments (you may provide more information about the student, and/or feedback about any aspect of the Required Practicum Program, including the role of the Practicum Office):

6. Will your agency provide supervised practicums in the future? Signatures Field Supervisor: _________________________________________________ Date: _________ Student: _________________________________________________________Date: _________ Practicum Director: _______________________________________________ Date: _________

(Return to BUSPH Practice Office, 715 Albany Street, T-207/208, Boston, MA 02118 - fax: 617.638.5299)

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Departmental Faculty Practice Representatives Biostatistics Joseph Massaro MA, PhD Office: Talbot E502 Phone: (617) 638-7728 E-mail: jmm@bu.edu Environmental Health Wendy Heiger-Bernays PhD Office: Talbot E228 Phone: (617) 638-7724 E-mail: whb@bu.edu Epidemiology Students in Epidemiology should seek their Academic Advisor for practicum site approval and sign-off on the Learning Contract. Ann Aschengrau ScD Daniel Brooks DSc Theodore Colton ScD Office: Talbot 328E Office: Talbot 317E Office: Talbot 331E Phone: (617) 638-5228 Phone: (617) 638-6725 Phone: (617) 638-5174 E-mail: aaschen@bu.edu E-mail: danbrook@bu.edu E-mail: tcolton@bu.edu Yvette Cozier DSc, MPH Lisa Fredman PhD Elizabeth Hatch PhD Office: Talbot 318E/Slone Office: Talbot 329E Office: Talbot 318E Phone: (617) 638-7791 Phone: (617) 638-7719 Phone: (617) 638-7791 E-mail: ycozier@slone.bu.edu E-mail: lfredman@bu.edu E-mail: eehatch@bu.edu Robert Horsburgh Jr. MD Wayne Lamorte MD, PhD, MPH Timothy Lash MPH, DSc Office: Talbot 326E Office: Talbot 510E Office: Talbot 323E Phone: (617) 638-7773 Phone: (617) 638-5073 Phone: (617) 638-8384 E-mail: rhorsbu@bu.edu E-mail: wlamorte@bu.edu E-mail: tlash@bu.edu Barbara Mahon, MD, MPH Marianne Prout, MD Sherri Stuver, PhD Office: Talbot 322E Office: Talbot 320E Office: Talbot 324E Phone: (617) 638-6735 Phone: (617) 638-5035 Phone: (617) 638-6724 E-mail: mahonbe@bu.edu E-mail: mnprout@bu.edu E-mail: sstuver@bu.edu Seth Welles ScD, PhD Office: Talbot 330E Phone: (617) 638-5471 E-mail: slwelles@bu.edu Health Law, Bioethics, and Human Rights Winnie Roche MEd, JD Office: Talbot W356 Phone: (617) 414-1461 E-mail: pwroche@bu.edu

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Health Services Jenny Rudolph PhD Office: Talbot W343 Phone: (617) 638-5064 E-mail: jrudolph@bu.edu International Health Joseph Anzalone and Jim Wolff Office: Talbot W455 Office: Talbot W451 Phone: (617) 638-5396 Phone: (617) 638-5399 E-mail: josanz@bu.edu E-mail: jwolff@bu.edu Maternal and Child Health Students in Maternal and Child Health should seek their Academic Advisor or other MCH faculty of significance for practicum site approval and sign-off on the Learning Contract. Debby Allen ScD Mary Barger MPH, CNM Judith Bernstein PhD, MSN Office: Talbot W526 Office: Talbot W537 Office: Talbot W530 Phone: (617) 414-1416 Phone: (617) 638-5012 Phone: (617) 414-1415 E-mail: dallen@bu.edu E-mail: mbarger@bu.edu E-mail: jbernste@bu.edu Gene Declercq PhD, MBA Emily Feinberg ScD, MSN Milt Kotelchuck PhD, MPH Office: Talbot W540 Office: Talbot W521 Office: Talbot W532 Phone: (617) 638-7795 Phone: (617) 414-1425 Phone: (617) 414-1467 E-mail: declercq@bu.edu E-mail: emfeinbe@bu.edu E-mail: mkotelch@bu.edu Lois McCloskey MPH, DrPH Joanna Rorie MPH, MSN Office: Talbot W528 Office: Talbot W524 Phone: (617) 638-5882 Phone: (617) 638-5058 E-mail: loism@bu.edu E-mail: jrorie@bu.edu Social and Behavioral Sciences Students in Social and Behavioral Sciences should seek their assigned SB Departmental Faculty Practice Representatives. Contact the SB administrative coordinator at 617.638.5160 for more information. Elaine Alpert MD, MPH and Dan Merrigan MEd, EdD Office: Talbot W258 Office: Talbot W262 Phone: (617) 638-4118 Phone: (617) 638-5159 E-mail: ealpert@bu.edu E-mail: merrigan@bu.edu Dual Concentrators should choose the Departmental Faculty Practice Representative from the department more pertinent to the practicum work. *MCH dual concentrators completing their practicum outside of MCH must also have an MCH Departmental Faculty Practice Representative co-sign on the Learning Contract.

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Practice Office Contact Information Harold Cox MSSW Associate Dean for Practice 715 Albany Street Boston, MA 02118 Ph: 617-638-4964 Fax: 617-638-5299 hcox@bu.edu Anne Fidler ScD Assistant Dean for Practice Practice Office Faculty 715 Albany Street, T118A West Boston, MA 02118 Ph: 617-638-4647 Fax: 617-638-5299 afidler@bu.edu Scott Harris MPH Practicum Director 715 Albany Street, T207 Boston, MA 02118 ph: 617-638-4656 fax: 617-638-5299 scotth@bu.edu Katie Horrigan MPH, CHES Practicum Coordinator 715 Albany Street, T208 Boston, MA 02118 ph: 617-638-4994 fax: 617-638-5299 horrigan@bu.edu