Employer & Student Guide

 The primary purpose of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to apply--in a practical setting--the environmental expertise they have gained through previous course work. This is accomplished through work placements, or "internships." The internships provide students with a valuable opportunity to make personal contacts in the environmental sector. The course is also intended to help students bridge the gap between graduation and full-time employment. Therefore, attention is paid to helping students acquire practical skills that will serve them well in their job search and, eventually, in the workplace. To this end, the course includes a series of guest speakers, each focusing on a different practical issue relevant to employment in the environmental sector. The final written submission and oral presentation contribute to the development of communications skills.

What is an Internship?

Students are placed as interns in workplaces where environmental expertise is applied on a daily basis. Examples of placements include conservation authorities, municipal planning and environmental departments, environmental consulting companies, corporations, provincial agencies (e.g., Ministry of Environment and Energy), federal agencies (e.g., Environment Canada), and other relevant organizations (e.g., Ontario Power Technologies). The internships are unpaid.

The internships take a variety of forms. In some cases, the "employer" may ask the student to complete an individual research project. In other cases, the student may be asked to join an existing project team. Field work or computer-based analysis may be involved, depending on the background and skills of the student. In cases where the work is of a highly technical nature, such as in some aspects of environmental site assessment, the student may have to spend some time observing the work, rather than actually doing it.

To successfully complete the internship, the student is required to fulfil a work commitment of 200 hours (which is approximately equivalent to one day per week of the academic year). The scheduling of the work commitment is completely flexible, and is to be worked out by mutual agreement between the student and the employer. For example, one day per week throughout the school year, two half-days per week, four days per month, or one month full-time are possible arrangements. Some employers may have projects that require field work; if the student is available to begin field work in the summertime, some of the work commitment can be fulfilled before the school year begins.

What Does U of T Expect of the Employer?

Our expectation of the employer is that he or she will provide the student with a project (or a variety of projects) to work on. This represents a significant commitment of thought, time, and effort, because the employer will need to create a "niche" for the student. The project might be specifically designed for the individual student, or the student might be given a role in an ongoing project. We hope and expect that the student will be given "real" work to do, rather than "busy" work. In some cases the employer will need to provide a physical place for the student to work (an office or a desk). In all cases the employer will need to spend some time orienting the student to the nature and requirements of the project, and monitoring the student’s efforts.

Once an employer has agreed to provide a placement, he or she will be asked to submit a brief job description (half-page). This will include a brief description of the job or project; a list of the skills required for the job (both academic skills and practical skills, such as writing or communication); and comments concerning any other project requirements, such as travel or availability for field work. The employer will also be asked to sign a workplace-education agreement form, so that students receive the appropriate insurance coverage while on the job. (The cost and administration of insurance is covered by the University and by the Ministry of Education and Training.) At the end of the school year, the employer will be asked to complete a brief form assessing the student’s performance on the job; this will provide part of the student’s mark for the course. The employer will be invited and encouraged to attend the end-of-year presentations by student interns.

What Are the Benefits to the Employer?

In exchange for the commitment to provide a project and a work environment for the student, the employer will receive 200 hours of work from a University of Toronto undergraduate student specializing in an environmental program. We hope that students will use these hours to make a real contribution to the ongoing work of the organization. Employers will also have an opportunity to assess the qualifications of University of Toronto near-graduates. The University of Toronto at Mississauga is very interested in fostering working relationships with members of our community outside academia; there are many potential mutual benefits to such relationships. Some of the employers involved in this course are long-time friends of Erindale; others are joining us for the first time. We are very appreciative of the efforts of all of these participants. Without their contributions, a course like this simply would not be possible.

What Does U of T Expect of the Student?

The student is expected to fulfill a 200-hour work commitment, according to a schedule mutually accepted by the student and the employer. If the 200-hour commitment is not fulfilled, the "employer assessment" portion of the course mark will be withheld. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the workplace. Every effort will be made to accommodate students’ needs with regard to the work location, but there are no guarantees.

Students’ work will be monitored by the faculty coordinator through phone calls, e-mail, periodic meetings, and, if necessary, site visits. As part of the monitoring process, the student is asked to submit a work activity log, in which a record is kept of dates, times, and places of work, and activities undertaken. Students are expected to attend all course meetings. The main content of the course consists of the work carried out in the internship; however, three short assignments related to the practical sessions will also be required. At the end of the school year, submission of the final written report and oral presentation will complete the course requirements.

Students are sent to ENV400Y internships as "ambassadors" from the University of Toronto at Mississauga. Their work in these internships is representative of the work of all other U of T students. We hope and expect that our students will act as professionals at all times. We know that they will be reliable, cooperative, and punctual. We believe that they will impress their employers not only with their existing skills and background preparation, but also with their intelligence and willingness to learn new skills.

What Are the Benefits to the Student?

Environmental specialists will fulfill a program requirement with the successful completion of this course. In general, students gain valuable work experience from the course. The internship can be listed on a student’s resume as an example of relevant work experience. The practical sessions are designed to inform students about current issues of importance in the environment industry. They may also be alerted to new developments that may have implications for their own future employment, such as the trend toward certification for environmental practitioners. Through the internships, the practical sessions, and the final written and oral submissions, students will gain a number of practical workplace skills, including communications (written and oral); job search and resume-writing skills; interpersonal and teamwork skills; issues identification and analysis; and project management. Finally, some students will be lucky enough to gain valuable personal contacts and perhaps even employment in the environment industry.

What is Expected of U of T and the Course Coordinator?

The University of Toronto is responsible for the cost and administration of insurance coverage for students involved in practical work as a component of their course work. Students who are working for an organization which has Workers Compensation Board coverage for their own employees are eligible for WCB coverage, handled by the University through the workplace-education agreement with the Ministry of Education and Training. Students who are completing their internship at an organization which does not provide WCB coverage for their own employees are still covered under the University’s comprehensive liability policy, through ITT Hartford. U of T will provide workplace-education agreement forms to be signed by the employer, the student, and the faculty course coordinator.

Additionally, the role of the faculty member will be to coordinate course activities. This includes arranging internship placements for each student. Efforts will be made to place students in workplaces that are appropriate to their backgrounds, interests, and experience, but there are no guarantees as to the type of placement that will be provided. The faculty member is also expected to monitor the student’s progress and to act as a mediator between the student and the employer, in case any problems arise. At the end of the school year, it will be the faculty member’s responsibility to gather all of the components of the course assessment and provide a course mark for the student.

ENV400Y Course Format

Class Meetings. There will be six class meetings throughout the school year. Two of these will be organizational meetings (one early in September and one early in January); three will be practical sessions (one in November, one in February, and one in March); and one will be a practice session for the oral presentations. The practical sessions will feature guest speakers who will focus on practical skills and information relevant to employment in the environment industry. Attendance at all of these meetings is absolutely crucial. Part of the mark for the course will be based on students’ attendance. More importantly, because the class meets so rarely, students must attend these meetings in order to keep up with what is happening in the course.

Assignments. There will be three short assignments, each linked to one of the practical sessions. (Refer to the Course Assessment Scheme included in this package.) These assignments are designed to help students delve deeper into some of the information provided at the practical sessions. They will vary in format and content but will normally include a short writing assignment.

Work Activity Log. Students are asked to keep a log of the days, times, and places they worked, activities undertaken, and any other relevant information. This is the type of record required by Revenue Canada for persons who are self-employed. The Work Activity Log will provide a small component of the course assessment. At the end of the year, the Work Activity Log must demonstrate that the student has successfully completed the required 200-hour work commitment.

Individual Meetings and Midterm Progress Report. During the Spring term the course coordinator will make an appointment with each student to meet individually. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the student’s progress and to plan the format for the student’s final written submission and oral presentation. Part of the outcome of this meeting will be for the student to produce a Midterm Progress Report, outlining his or her plans for the final report.

Final Written Report. The Final Written Report will be submitted on the last day of the Spring term. The format of the report will differ from student to student, depending on the nature of the work undertaken. The written submission should be professional, and representative of the work completed over the course of the year. Students will be given considerable freedom in designing their submissions.

Oral Presentations. One week after the end of the Spring term, on the Friday of reading week, the ENV400Y interns will present a full-day workshop. Each student will be scheduled to give a professional oral presentation of their work. All forms of audiovisual equipment will be available for students to use in their presentations (slide projector, overhead transparency projector, computer projector, VCR, etc.). Appropriate use of audiovisual aids will be encouraged. Employers, deans, UTM staff and faculty, and other interested students will be invited to attend these workshops. A practice session will be held beforehand; students’ attendance at this session is required; students who do not attend the practice session will not be allowed to give their presentations.

 ENV400Y COURSE ASSESSMENT SCHEME

Item Value

• Assignment 15%
• Assignment 25%
• Assignment 35%
• Midterm Progress Report 5%
• Participation 5%
• Work Activity Log 5%
• Final Written Report 20%
• Oral Presentation 20%
• Employer Assessment 30%
• Total 100%

NOTES TO STUDENTS CONCERNING COURSE ASSESSMENT:

• Each of the components of the course assessment will be explained in greater detail at course organizational meetings and in handouts.
• Assignments. The three short assignments will be based on the three practical sessions. These will be short written assignments (a few pages each). They are not intended to be time-consuming; rather, they will be designed to help you explore some of the information offered to you during the practical sessions.
• Midterm Supervision. If necessary, the course coordinator may visit you at your workplace and meet briefly with you and your employer to assess your work and the appropriateness of your placement.
• Progress Reports. The midterm progress report will consist of a plan for completion of your 200 hours, and an outline and brief description of what you are planning for your final written report and oral presentation. The more information you provide in your midterm progress report, the more effective will be the feedback in terms of improving your final report and oral presentation.
• Final Written Report. The final written reports will vary in format, depending on the type of work different students have been doing throughout the year. At the individual progress meetings we will decide upon an appropriate format for each student’s written report. The individual progress meetings will take place during the Spring Term. These meetings will not be graded.
• Oral Presentation. The oral presentations will be 7 minutes in duration, with an additional 3 minutes for questions. They will take place at a full-day workshop during reading week. We will invite your employers to the workshops, as well as other students, faculty members, deans, and any other interested people. Your attendance at the full-day workshop (not just your scheduled time) is required, and will contribute part of your participation mark for the course. If you do not attend the practice session, you will not be permitted to give your presentation and will receive a mark of zero for the presentation.
• Work Activity Log. You are asked to keep a work activity log. The log should include the date, hours spent working, location where the work was carried out, and brief details of the work completed on that date. Your work activity log will be initialed by the course coordinator at each class meeting (except the first meeting), and will then be handed in at the end of the school year along with your final written report. The log should be neat and well organized. At the end of the year, your log must demonstrate that you have successfully completed the 200-hour work commitment. If the 200-hour commitment has not been fulfilled, the employer assessment portion of the course mark will be withheld from your final course mark.
• Participation. The assessment of participation will be based on attendance at the five scheduled class meetings (two organizational meetings and three practical sessions), the practice session for the oral presentations, and the full-day workshop at the end of the school year.
• Employer Assessment. Your employer will be asked to provide an assessment of your work, which will account for 30% of your course mark. The employer will assess the content of your work and your understanding of important issues, as well as your professional demeanor; reliability; cooperation, teamwork, and interpersonal skills; and ability to communicate effectively.

 Employer Assessment Form

STUDENT:

EMPLOYER:

COURSE COORDINATOR:

TO THE EMPLOYER:

Please provide an assessment of this student’s performance as a biology intern at your organization over the past school year. Your assessment may take into account (but needn’t be limited to) the following performance indicators:

• Quality and content of work completed
• Management of assigned tasks
• Communications skills (written, oral)
• Cooperation/teamwork/interpersonal skills
• Professional demeanor
• Reliability/punctuality
• Willingness to learn

It would be helpful if you would return the assessment to me before the Presentation Day. Your assessment will make up 30% of the student’s mark for the course. The final written report and oral presentation will be assessed separately, each making up 20% of the course mark.

Assessment: (expressed as a percentage; see attached sheet)

Employer’s Signature:

Please attach any comments concerning the student’s performance or any other aspect of the course. Thank you again for your extremely valuable contributions to this course, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Grading Scheme for the University of Toronto: Percentage & Grade Definition

• 90-100 A+
• 85-89 A Excellent
• 80-84 A-
• 77-79 B+
• 73-76 B Good
• 70-72 B-
• 67-69 C+
• 63-66 C Adequate
• 60-62 C-
• 57-59 D+
• 53-56 D Marginal
• 50-52 D-
• 0-49 F Inadequate

Please use the space below for any additional comments concerning this students internship