Update from Provost Jim Llorens and Vice President Mitch Cordova
Dear Instructors of Internship & Service-Learning Courses:
We would like to continue to have a consistent message sent regarding students’ required, course-based internship experiences and service-learning projects.
Below is the updated message we are sharing with all Faculty, Staff, and Adjunct Instructors.
As our remote instruction period has been extended through the end of the Spring semester
and social distancing is being encouraged by the CDC, we would like to share the following
updates with you as a faculty or staff member associated with a course that requires
either an internship or service-learning experience.
We are requesting that you share the updated “FOR STUDENTS” section of this message on your Canvas homepage and/or send in a Canvas Announcement
to your students.
FOR STUDENTS:
- If you are currently interning or serving in a face-to-face manner (in a setting with
fewer than 10 people), you may continue at this time, but pursue virtual options.
- For internships, if you have the ability to work remotely, please do so. Inquire with your Supervisor to learn if this is an option AND communicate your plans to your Instructor.
- If your organization is no longer able to provide an internship or service-learning
experience for you (no remote opportunities are available), please make your Instructor
aware immediately. Your instructor will then discuss alternative placements or alternative assignments
with you.
- If you are a graduating senior, please know that we (your Instructor, the Office of Service-Learning, the Office
of Internships, and Academic Advising) will work with you to help you acquire the
internship/service experiences that you need to graduate successfully.
For courses who committed to participate in Community Engagement Day or Research Day on April 17th, we are looking into virtual options for this event and will be in touch with faculty
who registered once final decisions are made.
FOR FACULTY/STAFF:
- If remote work/virtual projects are not an option for some of your students, we ask that you work with your Program Leader/Chair and the Service-Learning Office
or Internship Office within the department of Experiential Learning & Career Development,
under the direction of Jessica Rhea (jrhea@fgcu.edu) to develop adjusted or alternative assignments.
- Alternative assignments should be only considered for students who have had the opportunity
to complete 50% or more of their internship or required, course-based service-learning
project/experience. If less than 50% of a student’s internship or required, course-based service-learning
project/experience has been completed, and they will not have the opportunity to engage
further through virtual means, students should receive an Incomplete for the course.
- For Internships, when applicable, it is essential that these adjusted or alternative
assignments adhere to discipline-specific standards set by your respective professional accrediting
bodies for your program and meet the pre-established course-objectives included in your syllabus, as well as requirements set by state and/or national licensing entities.
- Please reach out to your Department/Program Chair to discuss proposed adjusted/alternative
assignments to confirm that they adhere to requirements of specialized (professional)
accrediting bodies, state or national licensing entities and course objectives.
- A Canvas Resource page is being set up to provide alternative assignment options and
resources for Internship Instructors, including links from specific professional accreditors
and their latest position on the impact of COVID-19. Invitations to join this page
will be sent out soon to Instructors of Internship courses and other internship affiliates
on campus. If you do not receive a Canvas notice to join, please email Jessica Rhea.
- Please direct questions to Jessica Rhea, Sr. Director, Experiential Learning & Career
Development: jrhea@fgcu.edu.