RPLS 495 Practicum Handbook

Instructor

Your RPLS Faculty Advisor

Course Description

This is the capstone experience for you undergraduate degree in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services. It is an opportunity for you to gain professional work experience under an agency supervisor. The Practicum requires 480 hours of service at a Department-approved agency where you work full time for 12 weeks during your senior year.

Course Pre-Requisite

You are required to complete RPLS 484 Field Experience in order to be eligible to enroll in RPLS 495 Practicum. You will contract with your advisor to complete 100 hours of volunteer or paid experience in a leisure services organization. Written permission is required from the advisor.

NRPA/AALR Accreditation Standard

8.29
Internship, full-time continuing experience in one appropriate professional recreation organization/agency of at least 400 clock hours over an extended period of time, not less than ten weeks. If an option is accredited, the internship must be directly related to such option.

Course Objectives

Through the practicum experience, you will:

1. have the opportunity to integrate your professional-preparation classroom activities with on-the-job experiences.
2. demonstrate your readiness for a professional position within your career track.
3. have the opportunity to attain your practicum goals

Requirements

1. 480 hours of service over an extended period of time, not less than 12 consecutive weeks.
2. Weekly reports to your faculty advisor
3. Compliance with the policies and procedures of the cooperating agency.
4. Final report summarizing your overall experiences with the agency and addressing your practicum goals.

Evaluation

Your agency supervisor will complete a mid-term and a final evaluation form and discuss each of them with you. The forms will then be jointly signed by you and your agency supervisor. Your faculty advisor will base final Pass(P) or Fail(F) largely, but not exclusively, on these evaluations, your weekly reports and your own final report.

What is a Practicum?

The practicum is an educational course offered at Minnesota State University, Mankato that provides you with "hands-on" experience in the Recreation and Leisure Services profession. It is an opportunity for you to apply what you have learned in the classroom to real situations under professional supervision. It is required of all students majoring in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services after all your course work has been completed.

During the practicum, the work place becomes your classroom as you receive "on the job" training at an approved agency. You will serve the agency in the agreed capacity for a minimum of 480 hours (12 weeks – 40 hours per week) and the agency will give you an opportunity to gain experience and confidence while completing these requirements. You will be supervised both by the agency and by your faculty advisor.

When Do I sign Up?

You will register for the practicum after all you major course work has been completed with a minimum 2.5 GPA in your major courses. The practicum is usually completed during the semester prior to graduation. The course is available during each semester and during the summer. All arrangements are to completed by the mid-term of the semester before the practicum.

Practicum during:	complete all paperwork by:
Spring Semester	October 15
Summer	March 5
Fall Semester	April 1

What Should I Get Out Of My Practicum?

During your practicum, you should:

• Gain Practical experience allowing you to apply theories and philosophies developed in the classroom.
• Develop specific skills and obtain knowledge related to the delivery of recreation and leisure services.
• Evaluate specific personal competencies and limitations in management and leadership through practical experience.
• Have an opportunity to help the agency develop, plan, implement, and evaluate programs to meet the agency's goals.
• Organize and implement one program/project from beginning to end.
• Begin the transition from student to recreation professional.

What Do I Need To Do? Practicum Checklist

To be Completed the Semester Before the Practicum

• Complete major course work with a minimum GPA of 2.5
• Complete you Field Work Experience (RPLS 484)
• Develop personal objectives for your practicum with the assistance of your faculty advisor
• Check out the agency information data base and folders located in 215 HNC.
• Meet with your advisor to discuss possible sites that you have identified during the previous step.
• Visit potential sites for practicum and have an Agency Interest Form signed at approving sites.
• Make an appointment with your advisor to discuss the Agency Interest Forms and to make your final decision; bring Agency Interest Forms to advisor
• Make arrangements for your beginning and ending dates with the agency supervisor – set practicum goals.
• Complete the Application for Practicum Form and attach a copy of your DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) Report – turn into advisor. This must be done by mid-term the semester before the practicum.
• Have your faculty advisor enter you permission for you to register

To be Completed at Practicum Time

• Register for RPLS 495 – 8 credits.
• Arrange dates and schedules for practicum with agency supervisor.
• Within the first week, return the Practicum Agreement Form to your faculty advisor. Be sure to pick up this form from the secretary before you leave for your practicum.
• Submit weekly, typewritten or e-mailed reports to your faculty advisor regarding achievement of goals and general progress.
• Be available for visits and phone calls from your faculty advisor.
• Submit a typed final report to your faculty advisor. No grades will be processed until both your final report and your agency's final evaluation have been received by your faculty advisor.

What Are My Responsibilities?

• Complete the practicum checklist.
• Comply with all rules and regulations of the practicum agency.
• Work with your agency supervisor to solve problems arising during the practicum.
• Maintain regular contact with your advisor during the practicum
• Contact your faculty advisor when problems unsolvable through agency channels.
• Conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times.
• Notify your agency supervisor well in advance of any absence from work.
• Formally thank the agency for the practicum opportunity before you begin and after you have completed the practicum.

What Should I Expect From My Agency Supervisor?

• Maintain high quality staff with both the education and experience to provide a quality practicum for students.
• Interview students before agreeing to the practicum.
• When appropriate, be certified, registered, or licensed by the recognized regulatory body.
• Make available at least one supervisor to meet with the student no less than weekly to review goals, objectives, and general progress.
• Provide student with as much supervision and/or freedom as that student's competence demands.
• Design the practicum experience so that the student will experience the many different facets of the overall organization.
• Provide supportive, learning atmosphere.
• Prepare and submit mid-term evaluation.
• Prepare and submit final evaluation

What Should I Expect From My Faculty Advisor

• Assure student has completed the tasks identified in the practicum checklist.
• Assist student with the writing of practicum goals and objectives.
• Assist student in identifying practicum sites.
• Approve final practicum site.
• Evaluate all reports from student and agency.
• Maintain open communication with student and agency throughout the practicum.
• Visit student at the practicum site when possible.
• Determine and process final grade for the practicum.

Forms That Must Be Completed

1. [PDF] Agency Interest In Student (20 KiB)
   After you have discussed practicum sites with your faculty advisor, take a copy of this form with your when visiting each potential site. Submit completed forms to your faculty advisor.
2. Application for Practicum
   This form is contained on a database program on the department's computer. Complete the [PDF] Application for Practicum Worksheet (24 KiB) and take it to your advisor who will help you enter the information into the database. You will also need to provide a copy of your DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) report.
3. Practicum Agreement Form
   Pick up this form from the RPLS secretary or your faculty advisor before you leave for your practicum. Have your agency supervisor complete this form with you during your first week. Send one copy of this form back to your faculty advisor at the end of the first week of your practicum.
4. Agency Evaluation Forms
   A Mid-Term and Final Evaluation Form will be sent to your agency supervisor. your agency supervisor will visit with you after completing each form and you will keep one copy of this form. Your agency supervisor will mail one copy to your faculty advisor.
5. Students Final Evaluation
   There is no form for this. You are expected to type a final report summarizing your overall experience with the agency and addressing your practicum goals. Submit a copy to your faculty advisor.

What Do I Need To Know About Grading?

The 12 weeks of you practicum may not fit within the calendar dates of the semester. For example, your agency may ask you to begin your practicum in mid-June and complete it in mid-September. If this should happen, your faculty advisor will submit a grade of "In-Progress"(IP) when grade rosters are due. After you have completed you 12 weeks and your final report has been received, your faculty advisor will then change the IP to a "Pass"(P) or "Fail"(F) whichever is deemed appropriate.

Faculty Advisor Contact Information

Dr. James Petersen

Phone: 507-389-2127
E-mail: james.petersen@mnsu.edu

Dr. Joy Joyner

Phone: 507-389-5930
E-mail: joy@mnsu.edu

Dr. Ron Nickerson

Phone: 507-389-3201
E-mail: ronald.nickerson@mnsu.edu

Dr. James Wise

Phone: 507-389-2128
E-mail: james.wise@mnsu.edu

RPLS Office

Phone: 507-389-2127
Fax: 507-389-2985

Printable Material

[PDF] RPLS 495 Practicum Handbook (424 KiB)

Printable Forms

• [PDF] Agency Interest In Student (20 KiB)
  This form is to be completed by both the student and the agency.
• [PDF] Application for Practicum Worksheet (24 KiB)
  This is a worksheet for you to complete by hand and submit to your faculty advisor for approval. Once you have received approval, the faculty advisor will help you enter the information into the database and print copies of it. Your faculty advisor will then send one copy of the form with a letter to your agency supervisor. Be sure to take the time to write out thoughtful goals and objectives that will be measurable. Attach a copy of your DARS report to this application.