Health & Life Sciences Work-integrated Learning Guide

2024/25 | Conestoga College

Health & Life Sciences

Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

WIL Overview

Pre-WIL Health Requirements

Mandatory work-integrated learning (WIL) health and safety requirements must be completed by students prior to student WIL experiences. Successful WIL completion is required for students to progress to program completion. To qualify for WIL experiences, students must present the specific documentation of meeting these Pre-Health WIL requirements at the start of the applicable semester. Student can find their Pre-WIL Health requirements on their program page under Program Requirements section.

Concerns Regarding Student Safety or the Safety and Care/Service for Clients

WIL experiences provide the opportunity to demonstrate and enhance your learning in the practice environment. These WIL experiences have been organized by your program in partnership with the organization where you are placed.

The following procedures have been developed to make it easier to identify and address any concerns or issues regarding your safety or the safety and care of clients that may come up during the WIL experience.

A. Communication of General Concerns regarding Your Safety or The Safety and Care/Service for Clients

  1. Students will be provided with an Orientation to their WIL site on the first day of their WIL experience. The Orientation may include details of the WIL site's policies and procedures related to communication about the safety of the work environment and/or the safety and care of patients/residents/clients.
  2. If a student has any concerns about the safety of the work environment and/or the safe/appropriate care/service for clients:

a. The student must immediately report these concerns to the College individual associated with the WIL experience (Clinical Instructor, Faculty responsible for your WIL experience, WIL Supervisor).

b. The Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor will discuss this concern with Site Management

c. For concerns of a serious nature (e.g. concerns impacting a total student group; a serious care/service situation), the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor will discuss the situation with the Program Coordinator and, potentially, the Department Chair. The Program Coordinator or Chair will immediately contact WIL site management to determine next steps.

Should facility policies require that WIL experience students report safety or care/service concerns immediately to WIL site management, the student should report to the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Officer immediately afterward.

B. Reporting of Incidents of Student Injury during a WIL Experience

  1. Should students experience a personal injury of any kind, this must be reported immediately to the WIL Employer and Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor. The WIL Employer will provide first-aid that may be necessary, including arranging for transportation to emergency medical services if required. The Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor will notify the Program Coordinator and Chair and complete an Unpaid Work/Education Placement-Accident Report (UWEP-04) and will send this to the College's Occupational Health & Safety Office. Where necessary, the Occupational Health & Safety Office will complete a WSIB 7 form, a Letter of Authorization to Represent Placement Employer and a Work/Education Placement Agreement Form.

C. Reporting of Student Involvement in Situations of Possible Injury to Clients during a WIL Experience or Student Damage to Facility Property

  1. Should students be involved in care/service situations where the care/service results in a potential concern/injury to patients/residents/clients of the WIL site, this concern must be immediately reported to the WIL Site in order that care can be given. This situation must also be reported immediately to the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Supervisor. The faculty will discuss this immediately with the WIL site and ensure that an incident report is completed. The faculty must also inform the Program Coordinator and the Department Chair for a discussion of program expectations and implications. It is the responsibility of the Chair to ensure that all documentation is obtained regarding the incident and to inform College officials accordingly.
  2. Should students be involved in situations where there is alleged damage to resources/physical property at the WIL site, this concern must be reported immediately to the WIL Site and to the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Officer. The faculty will inform the Program Coordinator and Department Chair for a discussion of program expectations and implications. It is the responsibility of the Clinical Instructor/Responsible Faculty/WIL Officer to complete an incident report with the Chair accountable to ensure all documentation is obtained and to inform College officials accordingly.

Continuing Education Programs

Application to Program

All students must be accepted into the program before partaking in Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Experiences. Students are required to:
  • Submit a completed Conestoga College Program Application Form;
  • Attach proof of admission requirements; and
  • Await for the selection to be made following an assessment of the admission requirements.

Fitness and Health Promotion

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Policies and Procedures​

  1. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with all aspects of the WIL placement process, including course outlines, policies, WIL placement requirements, and particularly the evaluation package.
  2. Students are expected to work their full shifts as assigned by their WIL Placement Supervisor and to complete the placement attendance log. The length of shifts can vary from placement to placement. Students who will be absent from placement are required to notify both the facility where they are placed and their WIL Placement Coordinator at the College prior to the start of their shift that day. Students who require special shift considerations due to extenuating circumstances should negotiate this with their WIL Placement Coordinator at the beginning of placement.
  3. Students are required to make up any time missed from placement in full or half-day blocks. Students incurring four or more absences (full or partial days) must meet with their WIL Placement Supervisor to review the situation and develop a plan for completion of the placement. Students may be required to produce written documentation such as a doctor's note to validate the reasons for their absences.
  4. Students may (after the fact) request, in writing, to their WIL Placement Coordinator to have up to two makeup days waived, provided that the circumstances surrounding the absence are extenuating and verifiable (i.e. injury, surgery, family health, bereavement) and the placement is progressing satisfactorily. The decision to waive makeup days is made by the WIL Placement Coordinator (after consultation with the WIL Placement Supervisor). These days are monitored and recorded in the student's placement file.
  5. Students who have not completed all required hours or learning requirements by the end of the semester may be eligible for an incomplete. This would be negotiated with their WIL Placement Supervisor in consultation with a Program Coordinator and the placement site. If the incomplete is approved the student may be granted an extension to return to the placement and complete the outstanding items. Specifics about the terms will be outlined using the College's incomplete form.
  6. Students may request that their placement be carried out in a special setting. Students who are interested in a special placement should discuss their intent with their WIL Placement Coordinator.

Study Abroad Option​ - Subject to Availability 

In level 4, students may have the option to complete their Campus Internship II through a Study Abroad experience. In order to be considered for Study Abroad, students must complete an application and be in good academic and professional standing in the program. Space is limited, and faculty will rank applicants based on predetermined criteria.

Medical Laboratory Programs

Pre-WIL Health Requirements

Students must complete mandatory WIL-SIM and WIL-CP health and safety requirements prior to student WIL experiences. Successful WIL-SIM and WIL-CP completion is required for students to progress to program completion.  To qualify for WIL-SIM and WIL-CP experiences, students must present the following at the start of the program following pre-admission information provided by the College:     

  • A complete immunization record is required by the Dec 1st deadline in year one, including MMR, Tdap, Varicella, Hepatitis B, and Covid-19.
  • Standard First Aid and Heart Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of Canada Basic Life Support (BLS) are also required by the Dec 1st deadline in year 1. Certification of both FA and CPR level BLS must be maintained throughout the program (this will be completed independently. Conestoga College does offer the required training at the student's expense).
  • MLS students' FA and CPR level BLS will be valid for 3 years from the certification date.
  • Seasonal flu vaccination may be required during flu season (October – March) based on WIL site requirements.
  • Prior to the Jan 1st deadline in year 3 (but completed no earlier than Sept 1st), the following requirements must be completed:
    • TB Testing: Evidence of current 2-step or previous 2-step + current 1-step if more than one year has passed since 2-step testing.
    • A Police Check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS).  Police Checks must be clear of any unpardoned criminal offences. An unclear criminal record may result in the inability to participate in WIL experiences, jeopardizing progress in the program. Acceptance for WIL-CP is at the agency's discretion; some agencies may request students to provide a VSS completed within six months of the WIL-CP start date.

In addition:

  • Students are responsible for Respirator (N95) Fit Testing prior to work-integrated learning experiences. WIL Document Services will offer fit testing clinic dates prior to your WIL-CP.
  • Students are responsible for additional requirements a clinical partner puts forward, such as specific immunization requirements, on-site orientations, or safety courses.

Clinical Placement Structure

Clinical placements are a required element of this program; students will be assigned placements at approved training sites only. Alternate sites may be considered in consultation with program faculty; however, there is no guarantee that students will receive their preferred clinical placement.

All expenses associated with completing clinical placement will be the student's responsibility. In addition, while the College will endeavour to consider exceptional circumstances concerning the selection and allocation of clinical placement, financial difficulty, transportation, or accommodation requirements, will NOT be considered as a form of exceptional circumstances.

Clinical Placement Selection Process

Conestoga College will endeavour to ensure a fair and equitable strategy for the assignment of clinical placement. Please note the following:

  • The competitive admissions process will NOT be considered with respect to the allocation of clinical placements
  • Students will be provided with an opportunity to provide several preferred clinical placements but inevitably may not receive any of their preferred options
  • Academic rank or current program grades will NOT be considered with respect to the allocation of clinical placements
  • Upon formal application, circumstances that necessitate a student to be within a certain geographic region will be considered. The program chair must review and agree upon this application but will consider only those deemed exceptional circumstances.

Students must remember that clinical education is a privilege and can occur only through the gracious partnership of our clinical partner sites. Conestoga College holds its clinical partners in high esteem and has no authority over the requirements for a student attending a particular clinical setting. Students are reminded that in addition to Conestoga College standards, the clinical partner holds full discretion over student expectations with respect to professional attire, behaviours, and access to the facilities.

Students must meet all pre-clinical (WIL-CP) placement requirements described by the

site.

Confirmation of Placement Times, Dates and Location

Every effort will be made to confirm placement location and times as early as possible. Given the limited number of placements, students must be prepared for changes up to a few days before the placement starts.

Student Responsibilities

Prior to departing to WIL-CP placement sites, each student must have the following:

  • Completed all pre-WIL-CP requirements
  • Satisfactorily completed all required courses in the Medical Laboratory curriculum and year-end composite exams leading up to that placement.

Withdrawals

Leaving or failure to show up at the WIL-CP placement site without communicating with the WIL-CP placement supervisor or clinical educator is a serious infraction of professional ethics and is considered abandonment of one's professional responsibilities to the patients and facility. The student will receive a failing grade in the WIL-CP placement and will not have the option to apply for readmission to the program.

WIL-CP Placement Evaluations

All evaluations and communication regarding WIL-CP placement will be conducted as per the guidelines in the Clinical Practicum Handbook and the Electronic Evaluation platform. The student and/or the Site Liaison Technologist will report unsatisfactory performance immediately to the Program Coordinator. Problem areas will be identified, suggestions for improved performance will be outlined, and possible remediation will be explored.

WIL-CP Placement Grades

Didactic components of the clinical placement will consist of written work in various formats (papers, assignments, forms and plans, handouts, examinations etc.). A passing grade of 65% is required for these components. All WIL-CP placement components will be assessed as a pass/fail grade. Specific rubrics and criteria for competency assessment are available in the Clinical Practicum Handbook and Electronic Evaluation platform.

Transportation/Accommodation

It is the responsibility of the student to arrange for transportation/accommodation to scheduled WIL-CP placement locations.

Parking fees 

Students are responsible for making their arrangements for parking at the College or Clinical Agencies and paying parking fees.

Allocation Process

The MLS Program, Clinical Placement process, intends to provide flexibility in placement allocations, try and accommodate students' first choices, and maximize the use of available placements across the province at the request of the Regional Health Authorities.

The assigned program faculty will complete the allocation process in cooperation with the Program Coordinator by the specified date. All pre-WIL-CP requirements must be completed prior to ranking clinical (WIL-CP) placement sites.

By the ranking form due date, any student who has not met all the pre-placement requirements will not be permitted to submit clinical rankings and be considered for placement until these requirements have been fulfilled.

An internal record of the process will be filed and available for review by Senior Conestoga College Administration.

The following steps are provided to outline the process of placement assignment:

  1. Each student will be issued a Clinical (WIL-CP) Placement Site Allocation form at the end of Semester 5.
  2. Students will rank list three preferred clinical locations in order of preference. The program will assign students who do not submit their selections by the scheduled deadline. No site may be listed more than once.
  3. Where feasible, students will be allocated a placement at their clinical site of choice. If all students can be accommodated with their first choice, then the process is complete.
  4. Placements will be assigned in order of ranking (i.e., All first choices will be assigned prior to considering second and third choices).
  5. First choices may be posted to allow students to consider an alternative if necessary.
  6. If there is an oversubscription of any given site, two faculty members and two students will witness a random draw. The second and third choices will then be considered.
  7. Some spaces may be allocated based on individual exceptional circumstances. These circumstances will be reviewed, in confidence, by the Program Coordinator and Program Chair.

Please note that financial constraints, vehicle limitations, or work commitments do not constitute exceptional circumstances and WILL NOT be considered under any circumstance.

Please note that while the rationale for an exceptional circumstance will remain confidential, due to the limited placements and limited class sizes, students cannot expect their receiving a preferred placement to remain confidential

  1. After the placement process is complete, the assignments will be emailed to all students through their eConestoga email, and students must sign and return the WIL-CP acceptance form.
  2. Upon mutual agreement, students may swap placements with other students by consultation and approval of the coordinator.
    • This swap may only occur within 1-week of the clinical practicum assignment.
    • Any attempts at coercion or bribery related to students pressuring others related to clinical practicum will be considered a significant ethical and academic violation.
  1. Each student accepts their clinical placement assignment by completing the Clinical Placement Acceptance Form and returning it to the Program Coordinator by the appropriate deadline.

Additional Guidelines for WIL-CP Placements

The clinical practicum is a vital part of the students' education. It allows students to apply theoretical knowledge and skills in a real work environment to become clinically competent. It is, therefore, essential that students prepare for the experience. Students are responsible for completing all the required hours and clinical assignments of WIL-CP placement to complete the program. All financial costs related to WIL placement are the responsibility of the student.

Nursing Program Clinical Placements

Students will assume responsibility for expenses incurred while assigned to affiliated agencies, such as meals, lockers, keys, parking, travel expenses and uniforms.

Attendance

The BScN, Practical Nursing and Internationally Educated Nursing programs prepare students to meet the entry to practice competencies of the College of Nurses of Ontario. The expectation is that students attend 100% of their clinical experience and fully participate in providing patient/client care. Attendance will be carefully monitored throughout the program. Absenteeism will jeopardize the successful completion of Clinical Practice. Absence verification may be required. Permission from the student's health care provider to return to school may be requested. 

Competence

Maintaining patient/client safety is essential. Nurses demonstrate professional conduct, personal and professional growth and are accountable for safe, competent and ethical practice. All nurses and nursing students have an obligation to protect the public by being competent. Competence is the ability of a nurse to integrate the professional attributes required to perform in a given role, situation or practice setting. 
  • Students are responsible for regularly practicing their skills so they are safe to provide care in practice settings and become more proficient as they progress in the program. Students may be referred back to the lab at any time should there be a need to refresh or further develop skills competencies.  
  • It is recognized that nursing skills are more than technical expertise, but also include other professional attributes required to perform the role. Students are responsible for professional behaviour in clinical and lab experiences, including how they interact with others and their efforts to use their time well to work towards competence and mastery of skills. ​
  • The student's priority needs to be safe competent care in their role as a student. Students who are not prepared for their clinical day or who do not demonstrate the competence required for patient safety will be directed to leave the clinical.
  • Students who do not meet the legislative requirements and standards of Practice of the Nursing Profession will be removed from placement at the discretion of faculty, clinical supervisors or the agency. 
  • All lab and theory courses must be completed successfully each semester before a student can take the preceptored consolidation course.
Unsafe practices may require the removal of the student from the course prior to the end of the course. Students who are removed from placement related to lack of competence or inadequate preparation to provide care will receive a failing grade for the course. 

All nursing students should be familiar with the Requisite Skills and Abilities to Attend Nursing Clinical Placements from the CNO as it pertains to fitness to practice. A primary responsibility of the Program is consideration for the health and safety of patients/clients/residents in the clinical setting and of students. Nursing Programs, in keeping with requirements set out by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) and reflected in the entry-to-practice competencies, requires that students meet the requisite skills and abilities as defined by the College of Nurses (2012). The components necessary for nursing practice have been placed in 7 categories: Cognitive, Communication, Interpersonal, Behavioural, Psychomotor, Sensory and Environmental.

Professional Behaviour

Nursing programs requests practice placements for our students from our clinical partners. This relationship is formalized through affiliation agreements which define responsibilities of both parties. Students are guests in these practice environments who must abide by the policies and procedures of the site and ensure principles of infection prevention and control are maintained. Students who are absent for the orientation to the agency shall not proceed in the placement as students must be properly orientated to ensure patient/client and team safety. During clinical placements, students are to remain on the agency premises.  

Your clients and families see you as a member of the health care team. It is important to present in a professional manner. Professional demeanour and appearance are important in establishing effective working relationships with clients and colleagues. It is important always to act and dress appropriately, and students will be required to follow their employer policies as well as college policies, including the uniform requirements. Students are required to contribute to positive team functioning and support colleagues and conduct themselves in a way that promotes respect for the profession.    

Inappropriate behavior may require the removal of the student from the course prior to the end of the course. Students who are removed from the course or who have their placement cancelled by a placement site due to professional behaviours or unsafe practice will receive a failing grade in the course.

Cancellation of Clinical Experiences

In inclement weather, refer to Conestoga College Student Guide. During clinical placement, staff within the facility make the judgement as to whether the shift should be discontinued.  In the event of a faculty/team member absence or a cancellation by the placement site, the cancellation will be posted as per individual teacher instruction.

Students are not to wear the crest or name bar showing Conestoga College logo or the Conestoga College student uniform while working at employment or placements not associated with their program.

Nutrition and Food Service Management

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Placement Guiding Principles and Policies

  1. Students are responsible for completing all of the required hours of WIL placement to successfully complete this program. All financial costs related to the placement are the responsibility of the student.
  2. It is the responsibility of the student to be familiar with all aspects of the WIL placement process, including course outlines, policies, WIL placement requirements, and the evaluation package.
  3. Students will be given the opportunity to request that their placement be carried out in a special setting or at a particular institution. Every effort will be made to meet student preferences when assigning placements, however, requests may not always be met. In order to fairly distribute WIL placement sites among students, a lottery system where student's names are drawn at random will be used to assign placement sites according to preferences.
  4. Students are responsible for independently arranging and financing any housing and transportation costs for placements. The majority of WIL placement locations will be within the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, however, some placements may be further away. There are no guarantees that all locations will be accessible by public transportation. All efforts will be made to assist students by placing them in locations that will not put undue stress on them. However, all students should realize that they are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the facility in order to fulfill the requirements of WIL placement.
  5. Students are not allowed to arrange their own placement, however, if there is a facility that you know is interested in having students, contact the WIL Placement Coordinator to let them know. The WIL Placement Coordinator will consult with the location if appropriate, using proper procedures, to assess whether or not the location can be confirmed as a student placement.
  6. Students are responsible for making their own arrangements for parking at the College or placement agencies and for paying parking fees.
  7. Every effort will be made to confirm placement locations as well as times as early as possible. Given the limited number of placements, students must be prepared for changes even up to a few days before the placement starts.
  8. WIL placement is a pass/fail course. Students will be continuously monitored and evaluated by their preceptor. If the student and/or preceptor feels that their field performance is unsatisfactory, they will consult with the WIL Placement Coordinator immediately. Problem areas will be identified, suggestions for improved performance will be outlined, and alternative solutions will be explored towards the goal of improved performance during the remaining time in placement.

WIL Placement Hours

Leaving or failure to show up at the WIL placement site without communicating with the placement facility or Placement Coordinator is a serious infraction of personal ethics and is considered abandonment of one's professional responsibilities to the patients and facility. The student will receive a failing grade in the WIL placement and will not have the option to re-enter the program.

The following expectations for the completion of placement hours are in place:
  1. Students are expected to work their full shifts as assigned by their WIL placement preceptor and to complete the attendance log. The length of a shift may vary from placement to placement. Students who are absent from placement are required to notify both the facility where they are placed and the Placement Coordinator at the College prior to the start of their shift that day.
  2. In the event of inclement weather or illness, the student should make a judgement in consultation with the Placement Coordinator as to whether the shift should be discontinued. Note that even if Conestoga College is closed, placement sites may remain open. If the placement site remains open, the student is expected to attend if they can travel safely.
  3. Students are required to make up any missed time from placement in full or half-day blocks. Students incurring four or more absences (full or partial days) must meet with the WIL Placement Coordinator at the College to review the situation and develop a plan for completion of placement. Students may be required to produce written documentation, such as a doctor's note, to validate their reasons for absence.
  4. Students who have not completed all required hours or learning requirements by the end of the semester may be eligible for an incomplete. This would be negotiated with the Placement Coordinator in consultation with the placement site. If the incomplete is approved, the student may be granted an extension to return to the placement and complete outstanding items. Specifics about the terms will be outlined using the College's incomplete form.

Personal Support Worker (PSW) Clinical Placements

Students will assume responsibility for expenses incurred while assigned to affiliated agencies, such as meals, lockers, keys, parking, travel expenses and uniforms.

Attendance

The PSW program prepares students to meet the provincial PSW competency requirements. The expectation is that students attend 100% of their clinical experience and fully participate in providing patient/client care. Attendance will be carefully monitored throughout the program. Absenteeism will jeopardize the successful completion of Clinical Practice. Absence verification may be required. Permission from the student's health care provider to return to school may be requested. 

Competence

Maintaining patient/resident safety is essential. PSWs demonstrate professional conduct and safe, ethical care. Students are responsible for regularly practicing their skills so they are safe to provide care in practice settings and become more proficient as they progress in the program. Students may be referred back to the lab at any time should there be a need to refresh or further develop skills competencies. 
  • It is recognized that skills are more than technical expertise, but also include other attributes required to perform the role. Students are responsible for professional behaviour in clinical and lab experiences, including how they interact with others and their efforts to use their time well to work towards competence and mastery of skills. 
  • The student's priority needs to be safe competent care in their role as a student. Students who are not prepared for their clinical day or who do not demonstrate the competence required for safe patient/resident care will be directed to leave the clinical.
  • Students who do not meet the legislative requirements or program standards will be removed from placement at the discretion of faculty, clinical supervisors or the agency. 
Unsafe practices may require the removal of the student from the course prior to the end of the course. Students who are removed from placement related to lack of competence or inadequate preparation to provide care will receive a failing grade for the course. 

Professional Behaviour

The PSW program requests practice placements for our students from our clinical partners. This relationship is formalized through affiliation agreements which define responsibilities of both parties. Students are guests in these practice environments who must abide by the policies and procedures of the site and ensure principles of infection prevention and control are maintained. Students who are absent for the orientation to the agency shall not proceed in the placement as students must be properly orientated to ensure patient/client and team safety. During clinical placements, students are to remain on the agency premises. 

Your residents and families see you as a member of the care team. It is important to present in a professional manner. Professional demeanour and appearance are important in establishing effective working relationships with clients and colleagues. It is important always to act and dress appropriately, and students will be required to follow their employer policies as well as college policies, including the uniform requirements. Students are required to contribute to positive team functioning and support colleagues and conduct themselves in a way that promotes respect for the PSW role and the roles of others. 

Inappropriate behavior may require the removal of the student from the course prior to the end of the course. Students who are removed from the course or who have their placement cancelled by a placement site due to professional behaviours or unsafe care will receive a failing grade in the course.

Cancellation of Clinical Experiences

In inclement weather, refer to Conestoga College Student Guide. During clinical placement, staff within the facility make the judgement as to whether the shift should be discontinued. In the event of a faculty/team member absence or a cancellation by the placement site, the cancellation will be posted as per individual teacher instruction.

Students are not to wear the crest or name bar showing Conestoga College logo or the Conestoga College student uniform while working at employment or placements not associated with their program.

Respiratory Therapy

Guidelines for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Placement Site Allocation

Objectives

  •  To allocate students in a fair and equitable manner to the WIL placement sites in partnership with Conestoga College.
  •  Student's choices will be utilized when possible.

Allocations

Each student will be issued a Clinical (WIL) Placement Site Allocation form at the end of semester 3. The entire class of students will rank their desired clinical locations in order of preference. No site may be listed more than once. The allocation process will be completed by the Clinical Competency Attainment Specialist and Program Faculty.
  • Once this information is received, students will be grouped according to their first choice of clinical site.
  • Please note: Students are not guaranteed their first choice as some sites may be over-selected
  •  The Clinical Competency Attainment Specialist and Program Faculty will endeavour to grant the highest-ranking site as possible for each student.

Final Publication of Allocation

  • Students pre-WIL requirements need to be complete to be eligible to rank clinical (WIL) placement sites.​
  • Any student who has not met all the pre-placement requirements, by the ranking form due date will not be permitted to submit clinical rankings and will not be considered for placement until these requirements have been fulfilled. An internal record of the process will be filed and available for review by Senior Conestoga College Administration.

Guidelines for WIL Placements​

Students are responsible for completing all the required hours and clinical assignments of WIL placement to complete the program successfully. All financial costs related to WIL placement are the responsibility of the student.

1. Confirmation of Placement Times, Dates and Location

Every effort will be made to confirm placement location as well as schedules as early as possible. Given the limited number of placements, students must be prepared for changes even up to a few days before the placement starts.

2. Student Responsibilities

Prior to departing to WIL placement sites, it is necessary that each student shall have:
  • Completed all pre-WIL requirements
  • Satisfactorily completed all required courses in the Respiratory Therapy curriculum and year-end composite exams leading up to that placement. You must keep all original documents as some sites will request the originals. 

3. Withdrawals

Leaving or failure to show up at the WIL placement site without communicating with the WIL placement supervisor, or clinical educator, is a serious infraction of professional ethics and is considered abandonment of one's professional responsibilities to the patients and facility. The student will receive a failing grade in the WIL placement and will not have the option to apply for readmission to the program.

4. WIL Placement Evaluations

All evaluations and communication regarding WIL placement will be conducted as per the guidelines in the Clinical Practicum Handbook and the Electronic Evaluation platform. The student and/or the Site Clinical Associate will report unsatisfactory performance immediately to the Program Clinical Competency Attainment Specialist. Problem areas will be identified, suggestions for improved performance will be outlined, and remediation will be explored.

5. WIL Placement Grades

Didactic components of the clinical placement will consist of written work in a variety of formats (papers, assignments, forms and plans, handouts, examinations etc.). A passing grade of 65% is required for these components. All WIL Field Placement components will be assessed as a pass/fail grade. Specific rubrics and criteria for competency assessment are available in the Clinical Practicum Handbook and Electronic Evaluation platform.

6. Transportation/Accommodation

It is the responsibility of the student to arrange for transportation/accommodation to scheduled WIL placement locations.

7. Parking fees

Students are responsible for making their own arrangements for parking at the College or Clinical Agencies and for paying for parking fees.
Health & Life Sciences Work-integrated Learning Guide