Unpaid experiences come in several forms and provide individuals with learning, exposure, and practical skill-building in a healthcare setting. At UConn Health, these may include:

• Volunteer assignments
• Unpaid internships
• Job shadowing/observation
• Student affiliations and sanctioned programs
• Other assignments deemed appropriate by Human Resources

Participants are responsible for securing the host.

As the host, you play a central role in ensuring the experience is safe, meaningful and compliant. This includes:

• Secure appropriate department manager approvals before agreeing to host.
• Guide participants through the process after they secure you as a host.
• Confirm participants meet eligibility criteria and complete required documentation before starting.
• Maintain a participant file (securely stored) with required forms for at least 5 years, in compliance with state record retention policy. Files are subject to audit.

When minors are involved, additional steps must be taken to safeguard their welfare. These activities such as an unpaid experience, and programs:

• Must be sponsored by a University unit.
• Must be registered with the University’s Minor Protection Coordinator.
• Must comply with standards in the Protection of Minors Policy.
• These are in addition to the UConn Health approval process.

Visit the UConn Minor Protection page.

Hosting an unpaid experience involves a structured, five-step process designed to protect both the participant and the department:

1. Inquiry. You may be contacted by an individual or school. For academic credit, a clinical affiliation agreement must be established.
2. Request. Host submits an Unpaid Experience Request Form through Human Resources.
3. Review. Human Resources reviews the request according to policy and state and federal guidelines. If authorized, you'll receive onboarding instructions. Allow 3 weeks for processing.
4. Process. Work with participant to ensure all appropriate requirements are completed prior to the educational experience start date.
5. Record Keeping: Maintain, in a secure location, a participant file with the required forms and documents for a minimum of 5 years. Files are subject to audit upon request.

The forms and clearances required vary by type of experience. Human Resources will provide hosts with the necessary forms once an Unpaid Experience Request Form has been submitted and reviewed.

If you plan to host a minor, you must also collect and complete the following:

• Waiver for University Sponsored Minor Programs
• Safety Clearance for Minors

Volunteering at John Dempsey Hospital: visit the Volunteering page.

For questions about hosting unpaid experiences, please contact Unpaid Experiences.

For guidance on hosting minors, visit UConn Minor Protection.