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Academic Placements

Academic placements are typically-unpaid community-based experiences that are part of an academic course, linking the theories learned in class to the diverse aspects of the community.

Academic Placements give students an opportunity to:

  • Engage as an active participant in your learning through hands-on experiences.
  • Discover insight into and have an impact on the community around you.
  • Participate in an interactive and collaborative course experience with community.
  • Develop skills under the supervision of someone more experienced.
  • Build relationships with a new network of contacts and build your resume.

Health and Safety Requirements

The health and safety of students on placements is of the highest concern. McMaster University, and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) has particular policies in place that guide student safety and your host organization will also have their own policies.

It is important to strictly follow the guidelines and policies of McMaster University, MCU and your host organization as they have been put in place for your protection and the protection of the people you are interacting with at your placement.

Students completing unpaid placements as part of an academic course are required to complete the following documents, and return them to the course instructor, unless otherwise indicated:

  1. Students must sign the student declaration letter, required to let the unpaid placement know, via sign-off, they have coverage via WSIB or Chubb Insurance (formerly ACE) and to report incidents accordingly.
  2. Placement ‘employers’ sign off on a letter to placement employers, noting that they have been informed that WSIB coverage (or Chubb Insurance) is provided via the MCU, and therefore their respective WSIB standings (i.e., premiums) will not be affected.
  3. Students and placement ‘employers’ sign off on the pre-placement safety orientation checklist.

Instructor, Student, and Partner Supervisor Support

Are you a community member interested in hosting students for a placement? Or are you an instructor building placements into a course? For support with Academic Placements, please contact:

Ruthanne Talbot Email Ruthanne

Experiential Program and Outreach Manager, Social Sciences Careers & Experiential Education