Preparing for Your Student Volunteer

Formal vs. informal applications and interviews

Many of our partner institutions do not require a formal application or interview for student volunteers. Most do insist that they have a meeting (in-person or online) with the student(s) before agreeing to mentor them.

Some institutions do put together an application and interview process, which is great practice for our students. Be aware of our registration dates for each semester, though, because you may receive more applicants if you send ads and set dates earlier rather than later (usually registration begins in October for Spring and Summer, and in March for Fall).

Meeting with a student, whether for a formal interview or an informal chat, before agreeing to supervise them for a practicum is a great idea. Some of our students are highly independent and self-driven, while others may need more guidance and supervision. An interview is a way for you to get to know the student, their aspirations, and their needs, and it’s a chance for all parties to determine whether they will work well together.

Paperwork

UNCG LIS requires that students fill out a PDF document with essential information about the Practicum/Capstone. It requires that the student, the site supervisor, and the practicum liaison e-sign the form. Students can find more information about forms here or by emailing Sonia Archer-Capuzzo (smarcher@uncg.edu).

You may require your own paperwork. Make sure that the student is aware of this paperwork or other requirements (such as a drug test) and any due dates.

Students completing a Capstone will have specific tasks and forms they must complete during the semester of their field experience. It is their responsibility to do this. However, if you choose to ask/remind them about paperwork, that can be a great way for you to help them prepare.

It’s crucial that the site supervisor and the student meet (in-person or virtually) before the practicum/capstone begins to establish parameters of the practicum. A set of clear goals and a timeline for meeting those goals can help all involved to know what to expect and to stay on track throughout the practicum.

Some tips for setting goals:

• Asking students if they have ideas is a great place to start. Some will know exactly what they want to accomplish, while others will be less sure.
• Ask students about their career interests and topics they would like to learn more about.
• If possible, pair the student with a staff member whose interests overlap with the student’s.
• Encourage students to look at job ads to determine if there are certain skills they should focus on to get the job they want.
• Remind students to refer to the UNCG MLIS Program Learning Outcomes as they work with you to set goals and design an experience.
• Feel free to involve the student’s academic adviser and/or the Practicum Liaison in the discussion for further guidance.
• Make sure the student understands what they will do during the volunteer experience and what they can expect to learn.
• Make sure goals lead toward a “product” of some sort at the end of the practicum/field experience. Having something tangible to work toward is a great way to keep everyone on track. Additionally, designing a project that all parties (student, site, and university) agrees on, that will benefit the student AND the site, will provide a strong foundation on which to build a strong experience.
• Achieving big, long-term goals can feel overwhelming. Sometimes it helps to establish a few short-term goals for each main goal to help you and the student accomplish what you set out to do over the practicum. This can also assist with creating a useful timeline of activities.
• Similarly, completing 120 hours over the course of a semester can feel overwhelming. Talk with the student about how that time should be broken down into weekly hours and what your expectations are for their time working at your institution. Different projects will take different amounts of time, so be clear about why one project is doable over the course of a semester, while another cannot be completed. Our students are still learning and will benefit from this information.
• Consider sharing the overall plan for the practicum with any staff who will or might work with the practicum student. This can provide them with guidance ahead of time and cut down on confusion later.