These guidelines are designed to give students and supervisors an understanding of the nature, scope, and requirements of the Professional Experience course. The course objectives

Prerequisites

LIBR 596: LIBR 500, 501, 502, 503, plus 9 additional credits of studies in the MLIS program. Courses directly relevant to the nature of a project will also be prerequisite or corequisite, at the discretion of the Student Services Coordinator and other faculty members who have the relevant expertise.

ARST 596: ARST/LIBR 500, ARST 510, ARST 515, ARST 516, ARST 520, ARST 573, and successful completion of 24 credits of studies in the MAS program. Courses directly relevenat to the nature of a project will also be prerequisite or co-requisite, at the discretion of the Chair of the Archival Studies program.

Objectives

After completion of a Professional Experience project, the student will have developed the following:

• Experience and skill in applying theory to a particular area of professional practice in a particular library, organization, or information service
• Experience in project planning and management, under supervision, but with considerable independence and initiative
• Skills in time management and priority planning
• Interpersonal skills needed to work professionally and effectively within an institution or organization

Structure of the course

Professional Experience course provides students an opportunity to work on a project in the field, under supervision of an experienced librarian, archivist, or records manager, for course credit. Students spend at least 120 hours on the project, equivalent to the time they are expected to spend on a regular course. The project is typically carried out over a 12-week term, but it can be condensed into a shorter time frame if that is agreeable to both the student and the supervisor.

What kinds of projects are acceptable?

• Projects should have considerable intellectual, analytical and critical challenge of a professional nature, and with some definable outcome.
• Students should be able to carry out the project work with considerable degree of independence.
• Ideally projects should be designed to be completed in the estimated 120 hours. Projects may be components of a larger project, however.
• A professional librarian or archivist must agree to supervise the student.

Setting up a project

There are two ways to set-up a project:

1. Organizations who wish to set up a Professional Experience project with a student may submit a Project Proposal Form to us. Approved projects are posted to students for two weeks or until the project is claimed. Apply by sending a resume and cover letter to the SLAIS Student Services Coordinator.
2. Students may initiate a project by approaching organizations about possible projects suitable for the course and their experience. A resume is included in this process. Once a project idea is agreed upon between student and organization, a Project Proposal Form should be completed by the Supervisor and submitted to the School for approval, via the Student Services Coordinator.

Expectations of SUPERVISORS:

• Regular communication channels should be established between student and supervisor, including an initial meeting to come to an agreement about the nature and expectations of the project.
• Supervisors are asked to fill out the Supervisor's Interim Report Form about mid-way through the project and the Supervisor's Final Report Form form upon completion of the project. Forms should be emailed to the Coordinator of the course as an attachment. Interim and final reports are shared with the student, unless requested otherwise.

Expectations of STUDENTS:

• A Project Plan is required before project work begins. The plan outlines the timeline and target dates of project deliverables (including due dates for BOTH interim reports) and should be approved by the Supervisor. Once the plan is received students will be registered in the course by the Student Services Coordinator. Examples of Project Plans available here.
• Two interim reports. These reports should discuss how the project is progressing, any new skills/knowledge gained, and any problems/issues that have come up. There is no form or template for the interim reports; a report in Word format and written in paragraph format is fine. Up to 500 words is adequate.
• Final Report Form to be submitted upon completion of the project.

Evaluation

This is a pass/fail course. A pass grade awarded when the agreed upon terms of the project are met and upon submission of all of the required written reports from the student.

Expenses/Remuneration

Any costs incurred in carrying out the project is to be borne by the host institution. Students are not allowed to receive both credit and financial rewards for the project. Since the project is being done for academic credit, paying of a salary for time spent on the project is not appropriate. However, acknowledgement of the student's contribution to any publication resulting from the project is expected.

FORMS

Supervisor forms

• Project Proposal Form


• Supervisor's Interim Report Form


• Supervisor's Final Report Form

Student forms

• Student's Final Report Form