CSL Checklist: Timeline and Procedures

First - Choosing a Placement

  • On the first or second day of class, a staff person from Student Academic Services will come in to introduce CSL and outline the possible community placements.
  • Make sure to read all details of the available placements as some will have specific dates and times. See placements listed by course.
  • Let your course professor know which placement you are interested in.
  • Check your Ualberta email regularly. Student Academic Services will send you the contact information for your community partner supervisor.

Second - Security Checks

Police and Child Intervention checks will be completed for FREE by Student Academic Services for the first two weeks after the start of classes. See Student Academic Services in the Lower Level, Forum for more information.

Some placements involve working with organizations that serve high-risk or vulnerable populations. These organizations require security checks for all volunteers.

  • If your placement requires a Police Information Check or a Child Intervention Record Check, come to the Student Academic Services office to fill out the appropriate forms. These security checks can take up to two weeks to process, so please come in as soon as you know that you need one. These security checks are free until the deadline specified by Student Academic Services for each term (two weeks after the start of classes).
    • Students will be charged for an administration fee if their security checks are not initiated before this date.
    • More information (PDF) about how to commence the Police Information Check process.

Third - First Contact

  • CONTACT your supervisor and set a time to meet, discuss and begin your placement. This should be initiated as soon as you receive your placement and supervisor's contact information.
  • Be persistent if you do not get a hold of your supervisor the first time, but please remember that our community partners are busy people and have other commitments as part of their work.
    • Some supervisors may also be volunteers themselves and have jobs on top of the project they are working on with you.

Fourth - The First Meeting

  • Discuss scheduling, goals, expectations, communication, and projects.
  • At this meeting you will be able to gather information for your first assignment.

Fifth - The First Assignment

  • Your professor may be creating a first CSL assignment that summarizes the contents of your first meeting with your supervisor. This could take the form of a journal reflection, a work plan, a short paper, etc and will vary from class to class. Check your course syllabus for details.

Sixth - The placement

  • Have fun!
  • Keep in contact with your supervisor.
  • If any problems or issues arise please contact the Student Academic Services staff and we can help you sort them out.
    • The Student Academic Services staff will come into your class for a mid-point check-in. This is a time to address any questions or concerns you might have regarding placements and CSL.
    • The Student Academic Services staff will be visiting placements throughout the semester.
  • Work with safe, ethical and responsible conduct.

Seventh - CSL Student Agreement form

  • You will receive a CSL Student Agreement form near the end of the semester. Please take this form to your community supervisor and have him/her sign it, and then take the form back to your course professor. The Student Agreement form will include the guidelines of your placement.
  • Both the community supervisor and the professor will only sign this form if they feel you have completed your placement.
  • Make sure to hand in your completed CSL Student Agreement form by the listed due date. Without completion of this form you will not receive credit for your CSL placement.

If you have questions at any time - contact Student Academic Services!