LIS 675
Professional Field Experience
Course Instructor: Dr. Jeff Naidoo, jeff.naidoo@uky.edu

Lacking similar experience: Note that “lacking similar experience” in the course description refers to library work experience in general. The presumption is that a student who is working in a library, or who has worked in a library, will not be permitted to do LIS 675. In order to allow for special circumstances – e.g., a student who worked in a library a number of years ago – the School’s Curriculum Committee will review any proposal for LIS675, if I believe a review is called for.

The Curriculum Committee will decide if the proposal should be approved.

It should be emphasized that LIS 675 requires completing 140 hours of field work during the semester or term in which the student is registered for the course. When considering LIS 675, a person should be certain that, absent a major and unanticipated development, she or he can satisfy the time obligation during the semester or summer term the student has in mind.

The Placement Supervisor is not able to grant an extension of time. Only the course instructor can do that. It is highly unlikely for a grade of “I” to be awarded in this course. Thus, the consequences of not completing the 140 hours and the term paper by the end of the semester or term are serious, very likely an "E" grade. The packet of materials for LIS 675 contains the 2-page learning contract and the 3-page evaluation. The student is not permitted to register for LIS 675 until the 675 instructor has approved the learning contract. The Placement Supervisor, who supervises the student's work during the placement, completes the evaluation at the end of the semester or term and submits it to the course instructor.

You may download a copy of the LIS 675 Learning Contract here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is required of the student in LIS 675? 140 hours of work + a course deliverable, the topic and format to be agreed to by student and course instructor.

What is asked of the Placement Supervisor? Essentially, four things: (i) work with the student to complete parts I-III of the learning contract; (ii) supervise and coach the student throughout the placement; (iii) complete the evaluation and discuss it with the student at the end of the placement; (iv) submit the evaluation to me by the date for doing so.

Who completes the learning contract? Parts I-III should be completed jointly by the student and the Placement Supervisor. It is important that the student define carefully her or his learning objectives (part II). The student and I complete part IV, having to do with the term paper, which I grade. I must approve the proposed term paper topic.

Is LIS 675 taken pass/fail? No, the student receives a letter grade.

How is the grade arrived at? The course instructor assigns the grade, based on (i) the Placement Supervisor's evaluation of the student's performance (worth 70% of course grade) and (ii) evaluation of the term paper (worth 30% of course grade).

What kind of work is appropriate for the placement? Bear in mind the objective of the course is educational, to enable the student to enhance her or his educational experience while enrolled in the School's master's degree program. The work should represent work expected of an entry-level professional; it should be performed under the close supervision of a qualified information professional (the Placement Supervisor).

May the student be paid by the library or agency for the work done in the placement? Yes, although the School does not require that the student be paid for work done in LIS 675.

When may course LIS 675 be taken? We offer the course during the fall, spring, and summer 8-week terms. However, a student is not permitted to do LIS 675 prior to the semester or term at the end of which she or he will have completed 18 hours in our program. Moreover, prior to the placement the student must complete any course(s) relevant to the placement, e.g., LIS 601 for a reference placement or for a public-services placement that will involve some reference work.

May a student who registers for the course during the summer 8-week term begin the work during the 4-week intersession? Yes, this is common, in order for the student to have 12 weeks, rather than 8, to complete the required 140 hours of work in the placement.

How should a student who is interested in LIS 675 proceed? The student should decide on the kind of experience she or he would like, e.g., reference work in a public library. If the student has someone in mind to serve as Placement Supervisor, the student should discuss LIS 675 with that person and ask her or him to review these 675 materials. At some point the student will want to discuss this with her or his faculty advisor and should get in touch with the course instructor via e-mail <jeff.naidoo@uky.edu>. If the student does not have someone in mind to serve as Placement Supervisor, the course instructor may be able to make suggestions and help arrange the professional field experience placement.

There will be two dates at the bottom of the second page of the learning contract once it has been approved: the date the Placement Supervisor evaluation is due, and the date the student term paper is due. The evaluation is always due the last day of the semester or term. In fall and spring semesters, the paper is due the last day of classes (not the last day of exam week); in summer 8-week term it is due the last day of the term.