ELC: Experiential Learning Cloud Program Classifications Overview (for Program Administrators)

Classifications define placement level (e.g., Practicum, Internship); control site placement access/processes (not timesheets); keep to ~5–6 per program.

Aug 27, 2026
Knowledge

Title

Answer

What are Classifications?

Think of classifications as an easy way to define a placement experience based on where a student is at in their academic career. The most common examples of classifications would be Practicum or Internship (Generalist or Advanced for Social Work programs).

Setting up program classifications

How do Classifications work?

Classifications do
 
Classifications don’t
 

Help the student determine which process they should be working in in Site Placement
Help administrators determine how to grant access for students to site placement processes 
Limit student access to placement processes
Allow students to apply to sites they are actively placed at (ex: applying to practicum site for internship)

Affect timesheets- they do not interfere or limit the student adding time in any way
Become automatically applied to a student in Experiential Learning Cloud- students will be responsible for knowing which classification actively applies to them
 

Classifications do	Classifications don’t
Help the student determine which process they should be working in in Site Placement Help administrators determine how to grant access for students to site placement processes Limit student access to placement processes Allow students to apply to sites they are actively placed at (ex: applying to practicum site for internship)	Affect timesheets- they do not interfere or limit the student adding time in any way Become automatically applied to a student in Experiential Learning Cloud- students will be responsible for knowing which classification actively applies to them

Classification Best Practices

Classifications should be implemented to make the site placement process easier for students to understand, not as a grouping tool to organize students (this is what cohorts and programs are for). Classification’s should be based on the different levels of placement a program requires/offers.

Classifications are required for determining access to placement processes, so they should be set up for every program.
For classifications to be effective, you should not exceed more than 5-6 for a program if possible.

Good examples of classifications
 
Bad examples of classifications
 
Practicum
Class of 2022 (too specific to a group of individuals- this would be better as a cohort/class specified in an access period)
Generalist
Internship I- Johnson (too specific to a group of individuals- this would be better as a class specified in an access period)
Advanced
CMHC Online (this should be a program, typically)
Senior Field Experience
Not Employed at Site (this could be a classification, but it would work better as a student process description)

Good examples of classifications	Bad examples of classifications
Practicum	Class of 2022 (too specific to a group of individuals- this would be better as a cohort/class specified in an access period)
Generalist	Internship I- Johnson (too specific to a group of individuals- this would be better as a class specified in an access period)
Advanced	CMHC Online (this should be a program, typically)
Senior Field Experience	Not Employed at Site (this could be a classification, but it would work better as a student process description)

Where do students see classifications?

In the their site placement workspace. This is how their site and supervisor paperwork will be organized.

URL Name

program-classifications