Internship

CGPH Applied Practice Information Guide 2016 - 2017

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CGPH Internship Guide

Registering for the Course .................................................................4 Applied Practice (Internship) Criteria ...........................................4 Finding an Applied Practice Experience ..........................................4 Selecting an Appropriate Applied Practice Experience ..................4 Human Subjects & Institutional Review Board (IRB) ....................5 Global Applied Practice Experiences................................................5 Grievance Policy ...................................................................................6 Expectations of the Internship Experience ..................................7 Expectations of Students ....................................................................7 Expectations of Faculty .......................................................................8 Expectations of CGPH Administration ...........................................9 Expectations of Applied Practice Agency Preceptors ....................9 Internship Academic Year Timeline ........................................... 11 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) .......................................... 12

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APPLIED PRACTICE (INTERNSHIP): OVERVIEW The Master of Public Health program within the NYU College of Global Public Health (CGPH) requires that all students complete a culminating experience consisting of hands-on applied practice experiences and a course. While the requirements vary depending upon which concentration a student is pursuing, the applied practice experience provides students the opportunity to become familiar with the kinds of organizations that put into practice the theory, concepts, and methods taught in the MPH program. Students in Community & International Health (CIH), Public Health Nutrition (PHN), and Public Health Policy and Management (PHPM) are required to complete Internship: Practice & Integrative Learning Experience in conjunction with at least 180 hours of an applied practice experience, relevant to their career goals, as their culminating experience. While 180 hours is the minimum number of hours required by the program, we encourage students to complete as many hours as appropriate or needed in order to enhance their experiential training. Applied practice experiences can take place in the greater New York City area, elsewhere in the United States, or overseas. Students can undertake their hours during the Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters. The applied practice experience allows students to integrate skills and theories learned in the classroom into the real public health work environment, to learn from interactions with mentors in the field, and to provide a safe environment to explore questions and engage in group problemsolving around the work experience. It also allows students to gain valuable skills and explore new career opportunities. To find out more about what makes an acceptable applied practice experience, students should consult the Guidelines for Applied Practice Placement for Community & International Health students, Public Health Nutrition students, and Public Health Policy & Management students.

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REGISTERING FOR THE COURSE Students must complete at least 12 credits of coursework in order to be eligible to enroll in the Internship: Practice & Integrative Learning course. Students should check with their department for any additional prerequisites before enrolling in the Internship course. Students must secure an applicable applied practice experience, and submit a learning contract for the experience, before registering for the course. Once the practice learning contract has been reviewed and approved, students will receive an access code to register for the course. Students completing their internship over the summer will take the course in the Fall.

APPLIED PRACTICE (INTERNSHIP) CRITERIA Finding an Applied Practice Experience Students will be responsible for identifying relevant applied practice experiences, obtaining a mutually agreed upon assignment, and submitting the required forms by deadline dates to the CGPH administration ([email protected]). Students should start their applied practice search early (at least one semester in advance) - the process takes time so be prepared for your search to last longer than you anticipate. Keep your eyes out for deadlines. We recommend that students identify at least two potential applied practice sites/projects in the event that your first choice falls through. A student’s current job in the public health field cannot be used for an applied practice experience; if a student wishes to undertake an applied practice experience at his/her current workplace, he/she must identify a project not outlined in their normal duties and obtain prior approval from the CGPH administration. . If you are having difficulty location an experience, please contact the Office of Applied Practice and Experiential Learning ([email protected]) to get assistance. Resources can also be found on our website.

Selecting an Appropriate Applied Practice Experience Students are expected to identify an agency that provides a challenging and rewarding experience in public health. While applied practice experiences will vary considerably among students, the following basic criteria should be used in selecting sites:  Willingness of the agency to provide an internship relevant to public health.  Relevance of the agency and assigned work to public health.  Activities and environment conducive to a graduate-level applied practice

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experience.  Ability of the agency to provide adequate and suitable supervision and mentoring. The preceptor or mentor should have formal public health training or demonstrate public health experience. The agency must also provide supervision by a professional with expertise in the area(s) covered by the student’s work.  Willingness of the agency to allow the student to use the work for the student’s final report and poster presentation, which are required to fulfill the academic components of the internship. Appropriate organizations are those that:  Have been operating for at least 5 years  Offer a project consistent with the primary mission of the organization and that addresses a public health issue, has a realistic scope, and is technically feasible  Are able to facilitate IRB approval, when necessary  Have dedicated staff who can work with/mentor students  Work with students on a learning contract that delineates activities and learning associated with the experience. Human Subjects & Institutional Review Board (IRB) Projects, both domestic and international, are subject to IRB (this includes projects that are eligible for exemption). If IRB is necessary, international projects must be approved (including letter of approval) by the local equivalent of an IRB before they are presented to the NYU IRB. IRB submission will also need to include any documents supporting data collection, for example copies of surveys, interview guides, and consent forms. For information on NYU’s University Committee on Activities Involving Human Subjects (UCAIHS), visit http://www.nyu.edu/ucaihs/. If your project involves human subjects with research initiated by the PI or organization, before your applied practice experience, you must:  Take, or have taken, and provide documentation of completing the CITI tutorial  Ensure that the organization has their own IRB approval for the project. Global Applied Practice Experiences

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Students planning to intern overseas must contact the Office of Global Coordination [email protected] as soon as their applied practice experience is secured to submit required documentation including:  CGPH Foreign Travel Release Form  CGPH Foreign Travel Supplemental Form (if working with human subjects)  A copy of travel itinerary (including hotel information)  Contact information (email, work phone, mobile phone, and address) at field site  Two emergency contacts (one contact must be in the U.S.)  A copy of passport and visa Applied practice experiences with an organization in a resource-poor setting may be less structured than other experiences and will require students to be adaptable. Students are expected to secure their own travel and lodging; however students are encouraged to contact the organization and the NYU CGPH administration for potential travel or lodging suggestions. NYU Risk Management / Public Safety must approve program-related travel to countries outside of the United States. Prior to making any travel arrangements, students should be in touch with the Office of Global Administration in order to determine the safety of the country to which they are hoping to travel. Grievance Policy Students and preceptors agree to the expectations outlined in the Practice Learning Contract. Should either party have a grievance, we encourage them to be resolved informally and in a timely manner. Students should discuss difficulties in an open and transparent manner and attempt to work directly with their liaisons to resolve them. Should the student decide that an issue with the liaison/organization needs intervention from CGPH faculty or administration, the student should bring the issue to the attention of the course Instructor(s) and the Program Administrator for Applied Practice and Experiential Learning. Should the preceptor encounter difficulties with a student that is not resolvable with the student directly, he/she should contact the faculty or administrators. Further steps, such as site visits and educational/grievance contracts, will be implemented, as needed. More information on the grievance policy can be found on the MPH Program Policies webpage.

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EXPECTATIONS OF THE INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE A successful applied practice experience requires the commitment of several individuals and/or groups of individuals that comprise the applied practice network including students, faculty, CGPH administrators, and agency preceptors. The agency preceptor is the professional on-site responsible for daily supervision of the student. Preferably, this individual will be a public health practitioner. Expectations of Students Community & International Health, Public Health Nutrition, and Public Health Policy & Management students in the MPH Program are required to complete a minimum 180-hour applied practice experience in an approved public or private organization engaged in the prevention of disease, health promotion, health service delivery, health policymaking, or research. As part of their culminating experience, students must fulfill, in addition to the 180 hours of applied practice, the requirements of the Internship: Practice & Integrative Learning (GPH-GU 2360) course, a four (4) credit course. Students are also required to attend at a pre-applied practice experience information seminar one semester before beginning the internship applied practice experience/coursework to help students prepare and plan for the applied practice experience. Student Responsibilities includes:  Attend an Information Session to learn about the applied practice requirements and procedures.  Review all information provided (on website, at information sessions, etc) and familiarize him/herself with the applied practice (internship) procedures.  Contact potential sites, arrange and conduct interviews, as necessary. We recommend that students identify at least two, ideally three, potential applied practice sites.  Complete Practice Learning Contract, Public Health Competencies, and submit along with CV of agency preceptor (and co-preceptor, if applicable) Plan ahead - the Practice Learning Contract must be completed and signed by the student and site preceptor before being submitted for final approval. Once the contract has been approved, the student will receive an access code to register for the course.

 Register for (GPH-GU 2360) Internship: Practice & Integrative learning and complete course assignments. Required components of this course include attendance of 7 seminars and completion of course assignments, presentation Aug-16

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at post-applied practice experience event, and completion of course evaluations.  Prepare a realistic work schedule in collaboration with the agency preceptor and confirm expected outcomes and deliverables. o Upon commencing applied practice experience, revisit expected outcomes and deliverables, as outlined in the Internship Learning Contract, to ensure that deliverables correspond to actual assignment and tasks; make any necessary changes (in line with approved project).  Adhere to regulations regarding research with human subjects. For information, see NYU University Committee on Activities Involving Human Subjects (UCAIHS): www.nyu.edu/ucaihs/. If a student wishes to undertake research, he/she is advised to work on a project that has an established Principal Investigator. If there is any possibility of publishing, students should speak with their preceptors about IRB clearance and agency permission. For questions, contact internship faculty.  Complete at least 180 hours of applied practice experience for the agency, Note: While 180 hours is the minimum number of hours required by the program, we encourage students to complete as many hours as appropriate or needed in order to enhance their experiential training.  Arrange for periodic conferences with agency preceptor to discuss progress and obtain feedback on performance. Expectations of Applied Practice (Internship) Faculty The Applied Practice Faculty work with the Program Administrator for Applied Practice to ensure that applied practice projects and sites are appropriate and review, and approved, student learning contracts. Faculty who serve as internship instructors oversee the course content for the internship course (Internship: Practice & Integrative Learning Experiences GPH-GU 2360) to ensure that course objectives are reflective of program goals for the MPH degree. Key responsibilities of the faculty include:  Providing feedback on appropriateness of applied practice experience and site  Reviewing and approving Practice Learning Contract  Overseeing NYU Classes reports and discussions; providing feedback and grades to students on assignments (course instructors)  Guiding and advising students as needed throughout applied practice Aug-16

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experience  Advising students on any IRB related matters  Addressing student and preceptor concerns Expectations of NYU CGPH Administration The CGPH administration serves as the liaison between students, preceptors, university administration, and the faculty. As part of the CGPH administration, the Program Administrator for Applied Practice establishing and maintains clear guidelines for students and preceptors and provides support and guidance to students as needed during the applied practice experience. Key responsibilities of the administration include:  Organizing all applied practice information sessions  Meeting with students, individual or in groups, to discuss interests and potential applied practice opportunities  Assisting students in their search for an applied practice experience  Working with organizations to identify applicable applied practice experiences for students  Offering guidance on travel and accommodations if international travel is a component of the applied practice experience  Advising and supporting students, as needed, during the applied practice experience Expectations of Applied Practice Agency Preceptors The agency preceptor is the on-site professional responsible for the daily supervisor of the students during the applied practice experience. The preceptor should be a professional with a strong background in public health. Key responsibilities of the agency preceptor include:  Identifying an applicable project in the field of public health to be completed by the student  Working with the student to develop a learning contract and to create a realistic work schedule to complete all applied practice requirements  Assigning responsibilities and tasks, related to the student’s goals, that will provide a challenging professional experience  Ensuring that any research involving human subjects that is intended for Aug-16

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publication has IRB approval and that the student’s role, if any, meets IRB requirements  Provide suitable facilities and equipment for the student to perform their assigned work  Meeting periodically with the student during the applied practice experience to assess progress and provide feedback about performance  For international applied practice experiences: assisting in the locating of adequate living quarters and providing guidance on safety concerns and cultural norms  Notify the CGPH faculty and/or administration of any potential problems or concerns regarding the student’s progress that cannot be resolved after speaking directly with the student  Evaluate the student’s performance periodically using forms provided by the CGPH administration and course instructors

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INTERNSHIP ACADEMIC YEAR TIMELINE June 15

Deadline to submit “Planning” worksheet for Fall Applied Practice Experiences

July 15

Deadline to submit Practice Learning Contract for Fall Applied Practice Experiences

September

Information sessions for students planning to complete an Applied Practice in Spring

October 15

Deadline to submit “Planning” worksheet for Spring Applied Practice Experiences

November 15

Deadline to submit Practice Learning Contract for Spring Applied Practice Experience

February

Information sessions for student completing Applied Practice in Summer or Fall

March 15

Deadline to submit “Planning” worksheet for Summer Applied Practice Experiences

April 15

Deadline to submit Practice Learning Contract for Summer Applied Practice Experiences

May

Presentations for Applied Practice Experiences

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) When do students in the CIH, PHN, and PHPM concentrations complete the applied practice requirement? The timing of applied practice experience will vary among students and will depend on such factors as enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time), project timelines and travel logistics. In general, students can begin their applied practice hours once they have completed 12 credit hours of program coursework and the required coursework. Applied practice experiences within New York City (or within commuting distance) may be undertaken during the academic year. Global experiences can be completed during the summer (between mid-May and end-August). How many hours are required for applied practice? Students are required to complete a minimum of 180 hours of direct applied practice experience for the degree requirement. However, overall many projects may require a greater time commitment and we encourage students to complete as many hours as appropriate or needed in order to enhance their experiential training. We encourage organizations to be clear about the number of hours expected of the student before approval forms/learning contracts are signed. Does the program place students in their applied practice experience site? No, the program does not formally place students with their applied practice experience site. Rather, we provide a variety of resources to students so that they can identify an internship/practicum that meets their individual learning objectives. Students who need help finding an applied practice experience should contact [email protected]. What resources are available to students to identify internships/practicums? The program provides a variety of applied practice resources and opportunities to students. All resources are outlined online. Can applied practice hours be completed abroad? Absolutely. We encourage students to travel abroad for their applied practice. Students may undertake applied practice experience hours abroad so long as they do not conflict with other class schedules. Normally, this will be during the first three Aug-16

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weeks of January and between mid-May and end-August. How does the program prepare students undertaking the internship course to have a successful culminating experience? Students work closely with the faculty and the Program Administrator for Applied Practice to devise and establish applied practice experience goals. Students also have exposure to a variety of practice-based learning activities and workshops on such topics as professional development, resume writing and interviewing skills, and team dynamics. What protocol do I need to be aware of if my applied practice experience will involve research with human subjects with my agency? Per the NYU University Committee on Activities Involving Human Subjects (UCHAIS), students must take/have taken the CITI tutorial or UCHAIS exam. If a student wishes to undertake research, he/she is advised to work on a project that has an established Principal Investigator. Students will be asked to ensure that the agency has its own IRB approval for the research. Agency preceptor should ensure that the students’ participation in the research adheres to the IRB approval. How do I obtain more information about the applied practice experience and courses? Please visit our website to learn about the applied practice experience. Students can also contact the NYU CGPH Office of Applied Practice and Experiential Learning at [email protected] for more information.

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