Updated April 13, 2020
The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve rapidly and we cannot yet predict what the situation will be during the summer. Students’ health and well-being are at the forefront as we adapt our guidance to ensure it is consistent with University policy. (See April 6, 2020 memo for specific summer international travel guidance.)
We want to acknowledge that this is a stressful time for students, and that finding a practicum is challenging, even in the best conditions. At the same time, host organizations are also experiencing unprecedented difficulties, which can make it hard to plan, for everyone involved. Patience, compassion, professional courtesy, and flexibility are key during these interactions and planning steps.
For now, we want to encourage and support you in developing a feasible plan that will support your professional goals, and to emphasize that you should be in regular communication with your practice course faculty as you navigate the next few months. Remote work and contingency planning should be part of your discussions with prospective host organizations.
Please review all of the information below. Be sure to talk through your plans with your practice course faculty, so they can assist you in navigating your plans.
Timeframe for Practicum
Students should continue to search for summer practicum placements, focusing on projects that can be completed remotely. This will require a collaborative and flexible approach with your prospective host organization, as they are facing many uncertainties as well. Please share this link with your prospective host organization or adapt language as needed.
The original due date for your Learning Agreement with a host organization was April 30. Due to the circumstances, this deadline will be flexible if you need additional time. The most important thing about the Learning Agreement is that you have an approved plan in place BEFORE you begin your practicum. This is because the Learning Agreement has both an academic purpose and a professional purpose, and ensures, respectively, that your proposed practicum scope of work is 1) approved by your course faculty; and 2) mutually agreed upon by you and your host organization.
Ideally, your practicum work should be completed by the end of the summer, before Fall1 begins, but as the situation evolves, if this may not be possible for you, please consult with your practice course faculty.
Working on a Practicum Project Remotely
The current University policy prohibits Harvard-organized or Harvard-funded international travel through August 31. While independently arranged practicum work is not organized or funded through Harvard, this policy has the potential to be updated and impact practicum arrangements. It is also possible that the domestic travel policy may be change for the summer.
Therefore, we advise working on a project remotely for a host organization. This is acceptable and recommended for your practicum during the COVID-19 pandemic. You will still write a Learning Agreement to describe your work.
Communicating with Your Host Organization
Because host organizations may be facing a great deal of uncertainty, we ask that you be proactive in proposing to develop a remote plan, or a contingency plan. The project that you take on should contribute to the mission of the organization, and not create undue burden during this difficult time. Keep this in mind as you work together on a plan, and if needed, check in with your practice course faculty during the planning phase to help you navigate this.
See this page for additional language. Feel free to share it directly with the host organization.
Travel
The University has prohibited all University-related international travel and all non-essential University-related domestic air travel at least through May 31. The University’s COVID-19 travel guidance and policies are available here.
International Travel: Some of you have identified, or are seeking, summer practicum projects that require international travel. Any travel carried out primarily in connection with a required practicum is considered “University-related.” Note that Harvard-organized and Harvard-funded international is prohibited through August 31. Although practicum arrangements are generally not Harvard-organized or Harvard-funded, students should be aware that if the University extends this restriction to all university-related travel, then this would impact practicum travel.
If the University’s international travel ban is extended beyond May 31, most students will not able to travel internationally to work on practicum projects. However, in some cases this restriction will likely not apply (e.g., students who are returning to their home country and plan to do their practicum project there, either on-site or remotely).
In addition to Harvard’s policies on international travel, there may be governmental restrictions to entry to the U.S., for students and other travelers, which may prevent students from re-entering the U.S. for Fall classes.
To best support you in completing your studies in the fall and graduating on time, we strongly recommend that you try to complete your practicum work within the U.S. if that is feasible for you.
However, we recognize that this will be a nuanced issue in some cases, and so if you are planning to be in your home country during the summer, or have another reason to propose international plans, please discuss this with your practice course instructor. We will also be working with the Harvard International Office to give you the best advice and guidance we can.
Domestic Travel: All University-related non-essential domestic air travel is prohibited until at least May 31. While there is not currently the additional restriction for Harvard-organized and Harvard-funded travel for domestic arrangements, students should also be aware that this could change.
Important Information for International Students
International students receiving Harvard visa sponsorship should direct any questions about the following questions to Elizabeth Capuano at elizabeth_capuano@harvard.edu
- CPT authorization/work authorization for practicums
- visa status maintenance
- travel
- implications of online classes for their visas
As of March 11, Elizabeth plans to continue hosting office hours at HSPH, which are posted here: https://hio.harvard.edu/office-hours
Any changes to these office hours will be communicated to students using the Student News. Students can also schedule appointments with Elizabeth to speak over the phone; using Skype; or using Zoom.
Elizabeth Capuano’s full contact information is below:
Elizabeth Capuano
Advisor to International Students and Scholars
Harvard International Office
1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 864
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: 617-496-2817
Fax: 617-495-4088
elizabeth_capuano@harvard.edu
Click here for HSPH Office Hours