2.4.a. Policies and procedures regarding practice experiences
2.4.b. Agencies and preceptors used for practice experiences over last two years
2.4.c. Number of students waived of practice experience
2.4.d. Number of preventive medicine, occupational medicine, aerospace medicine, and public health and general preventive medicine residents completing the academic program
2.4.e. This criterion is met.
2.4.a. Policies and procedures regarding practice experiences
All M.P.H. and M.H.A. students are required to complete a formal, supervised fieldwork experience consisting of at least 90 hours.
Fieldwork placements must be within the broad practice of public health and relevant to the major. All practice experiences require a contract that states objectives, activities, timeline and outcome. The contract is to be developed by the student, entered into with a community preceptor and approved by the faculty adviser. Preceptors, who are approved on the basis of their expertise in the relevant field of public health, contribute to the supervision and evaluation of students.
Each major has established fieldwork criteria, including:
Type of experience, site selection and preceptor;
How students should initiate and arrange the fieldwork;
Role of faculty supervisor;
Method of evaluation; and
Credit and course enrollment.
Fieldwork requirements can take any form deemed appropriate to the major, including concentrated internships, master's projects completed in a practice setting or significant field or community work done under the guidance of a community preceptor. For program-specific procedures and policies for the practice experience, please see Appendix 2.4.a.
Structure and evaluation of the fieldwork are managed through registration in a course designed specifically for the practicum. A grade is assigned by the faculty adviser after taking into account the preceptor evaluation.
A new Web-based tool implemented by the School is a valuable resource for initiating and managing fieldwork experience. From the initial stages of selecting potential sites, through the contracting process and final evaluation, this tool enables students, faculty, staff and practicum advisers to be well informed. For example, through the program, students are able to review comments from prior students about what to expect at specific fieldwork sites. To view this new Web-based tool, please visit http://www.ahc.umn.edu/sphfieldexp
2.4.b. Agencies and preceptors used for practice experiences over last two years
The School has over 205 field sites from which students have chosen a field experience. Field sites, such as the Minnesota Department of Health or other large employers, offer multiple opportunities. However, the total includes each employer only once. Students may also present other field experience options for consideration.
The School's 2002-2006 field placement sites are listed in Appendix 2.4.b.
2.4.c. Number of students waived of practice experience
No students have been waived of practice experience in the past three years.
2.4.d. Number of preventive medicine, occupational medicine, aerospace medicine, and public health and general preventive medicine residents completing the academic program
Table 16: Residents Completing the Academic Program
2003–2004
2004–2005
2005–2006
Completed Academic Program
3
2
3
Completed Coursework
2
3
3
"Completed Academic Program" refers to residents whose MPH degree has been granted. "Completed Coursework" refers to residents who have completed all the necessary courses, but have not completed their Plan B paper or passed their oral exam.
Practicum rotations are arranged through Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, St. Paul, Minnesota. The residency program involves several specialty clinics in the Twin Cities area to provide the residents with a range of clinical site experiences.
2.4.e. This criterion is met.
Strengths
All M.P.H. and M.H.A. students are required to complete a formal, supervised practice experience in public health and with relevance to the major.
A new Web-based tool is in place to facilitate management of fieldwork experiences.
The School has relationships with more than 200 sites from which students may choose to conduct their field experience.
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