PreCheck & FAQs

Thoroughly review the PreCheck produres below and make sure to complete all of them before the semester starts.

PreCheck Procedures

1. Meet with CTAHR advisor
2. Advisor provides link to Course Introduction Slide Deck
3. Review info and fill out form
4. Save form results
5. Either auto receive course override
6. If don’t auto get override, need to meet with instructor to review field placement to then get course override
7. Register for 492

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I complete my field experience hours?

Depends on your career goals. Here are a list of places students have completed their hours in the past:

• Human Nutrition and Food Science Related:
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Programs (EFNEP) 
  • WIC Clinics
  • Lanakila Kitchen Meals on Wheels
  • UH Cancer Center
  • HNFAS Faculty Research Projects
  • Ka’ala Farm
  • Kokua Kalihi Valley
  • Ho’oulu Aina
  • Hawaii State Department of Health
  • The Villas
  • Hawaii Child Nutrition Program
  • Hawaii Public Health Institute (HIPHI)
  • Aina in Schools
  • Blood Bank Hawaii
  • American Heart Association
  • Hawaiian Host- Quality Control, Quality Assurance, and Food Safety focus
  • Hawaii Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (eatrighthawaii.org)
• Animal Science:
  • Kualoa Ranch
  • VCA Animal Hospitals
  • Department of Agriculture

Will the instructor identify a site for me?

Yes and no. Ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to identify a site and contact them. Students may get advice from the instructors on potential field experience sites based on their interests and if possible the instructor may provide contact information for the site. Students should consider their own network and connections before giving up, for example, if you have previously volunteered at an organization and wish to do more with them or know of another student who may have volunteered somewhere reach out to them first.

Can I use work experience for my hours?

Hours can begin to count once you have created a learning plan. If you have a paid job or volunteer position at an organization related to your career goals (example: Diet Aide, Veterinarian Assistant, Research Assistant), you must first develop a learning plan, with learning objectives, before any of your hours can count. It is OK if the hours are paid.

Can I start my hours before the semester starts?

Yes, you may be able to start your hours before the start of the semester in which you are enrolled in 492. Be sure to communicate with your instructor if this is the case. They will ask you to submit your field placement contract and assignments from module 1 and 2 prior to starting your hours.

I have already submitted my volunteer request at __ but they haven’t gotten back to me, what should I do?

Some larger organizations (Kaiser Permanente, Queens Medical Center) have lengthy processes to become volunteers. If you are interested in completing your hours a one of these types of organizations, you may need to allow for up to 6 months for the process to become a volunteer. Other things to keep in mind, sites may request a TB clearance (within the past 12 months), a two-step TB test, immunizations (MMR, flu shot, hepatitis, etc), background checks, etc., in order to begin your hours. Be sure that you have copies of these results handy, if your TB test is more than 12 months old consider visiting the health center on campus for a new one.

Can I complete my hours at more than one site?

Yes, you can, just keep in mind you may need two learning plans or you may need to specify at which location your learning objective(s) will be met. It is possible that the same learning objectives could be met at both locations. Another thing to consider, is that field experience site supervisors invest some of their time in getting you on board and trained at their organization. It may be more worthwhile to them if you spend the full 100 hours at the site.

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