Student Policies

Eligibility

• Pitt Partners Program students must be full-time or part-time MLIS students attending classes on-campus or online. Partners placements are only available to U.S. citizens.  

Academic Requirements

To renew the Partners Program placement each term, the student must:

• maintain a 3.0 GPA;
• earn a grade of at least a “B” in each core course, and a grade of at least “C” in each elective course;
• have no "G" grades (incomplete)

All Partners Program students must attend one group meeting per term for the purpose of information sharing and an enhanced experiential work experience. Dates and times for these meetings will be announced at the start of the academic year.

Students are required to submit a reflective report at the end of their Partners Program placement in which they will evaluate their experiences related to the MLIS Goals for Graduates, as well as provide general feedback on the experience and host site.

Work Commitment

• Placements are for three consecutive terms of study: fall, spring, and summer.

• Partners Program placements are 10-15 hours/week with very few exceptions. It is the student’s responsibility to arrive on their scheduled work days on time, and contact their supervisor if this expectation cannot be met.

• Any changes to the parameters of the Partners placement agreement, such as additional hours or holiday hours, must be approved by the host institution and the student.

• Student work schedules follow the University calendar. When the University is not in session, the student is not expected to work at the host site. 

• The student must meet weekly work requirements and maintain satisfactory performance as determined by the Partner site supervisor. Site supervisor evaluations are due at the end of each term and must be discussed with the student.

• Communication is essential. Both supervisor and student should feel comfortable discussing any issue that either feel is hindering a successful experience. If the issue cannot be resolved after discussion, the Partners Program administrator should be contacted to assist in resolution.

• The host institution has the authority to terminate a placement for unsatisfactory performance. It is expected that every attempt will be made to address any performance issues. If attempts are unsuccessful, the Partners supervisor should contact the Partners Program administrator and then follow up with a written request. 

• If a student is removed from their Partners placement due to failure to meet the required GPA at the end of the fall term, the host site will be notified by the Partners Program administrator. Participation in the Partners Program may resume in the summer term if the student meets the minimum 3.0 GPA at the end of the spring term and the Partner site supervisor is agreeable to reinstatement of the placement.

• Partners Program students that are paid a salary will receive an hourly wage paid according to the host site’s payroll schedule. Students that are paid a stipend will receive it at the end of the month or at the end of each term depending on the host site’s payment schedule.