— College of Public Health — Academics — Student Experience — Student Practice Opportunities — Applied Practice Experience — Overview

Overview

Outline Document

Applied practice experience opportunities with our students occur three times annually, in the spring, summer and fall. Typically, a student begins seeking opportunities about two to three months before the intended partnership begins. A student may contact you to request information about your organization and the potential opportunities for supporting your priority needs. If the opportunity is a good fit for both you and the student, the student will begin developing a learning contract to outline the scope of the engagement. At the beginning of the applied practice experience each semester, the Office of Public Health Practice hosts a preceptor orientation and a student orientation.

Overview for Partners

Suggested Template

If your organization would like to promote needs you may have, please use the suggested template below to outline the opportunities. The purpose of this description is to be a conversation starter between you and the student and will be posted on our website. Email Laura Vinson to share a draft of the proposed opportunity, ask questions, or to request a recording of a previous informational session.

Suggested Template

Information for Preceptors

Thank you for agreeing to serve as a preceptor. Each semester, we host a preceptor kick-off session to welcome preceptors and offer information about what to expect during the semester. Preceptor Kick-off is held the first week of the semester each January, May and August. Official dates and calendar invitations will be shared at least three weeks prior to the kickoff date.

Overview Outline

Students are encouraged to share the Overview For Partners document with a potential partner organization to help explain the requirements. Once the student registers and the course begins, there will be an orientation for the preceptor from the partner organization.

Seeking Partner Organizations

There are multiple ways a student may seek a partner organization. The following are suggestions for students to consider:

Personal network: With what organizations have you previously volunteered?
Long-term goals: With what organizations might you seek employment?
Online search: Consider your local community nonprofits and other associations.
- Examples: Local food banks, United Way, American Diabetes Association, American Red Cross, Area Health Education Centers.
Local & state health departments and state public health associations
Current student opportunities: Listed below.
Email Laura Vinson, applied practice experience manager.

Another strategy to help brainstorm is to refer to the affiliation agreement list to see names of organizations. However, students are not limited to working with organizations that have an affiliation agreement.

Contacting Partner Organizations

When contacting potential partner organizations, students should remember to state their intentions of exploring multiple opportunities with different organizations to determine the best fit for the applied practice experience. Once a partner organization has been identified, students should inform all organizations for which they have been communicating about the decision and offer appreciation for the time spent discussing opportunities.

Current Student Opportunities

The following partner organizations have identified opportunities available for Spring 2025. More opportunities will be shared as they become available.

With questions, email APEx Manager Julia Quigley or Director of the MPH Laura Vinson.