Adapting Criminology Field Placements during a Global Pandemic: Communication, Flexibility, and Contingency Plans in Experiential Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world in ways never imagined. Post-secondary education was no exception. When post-secondary educational institutions switched to online teaching almost overnight, experiential learning programs scrambled to adjust. Research conducted during the pandemic reports on the importance of contingency plans for crises, flexibility, and creativity to ensure students completed their experiential learning terms. Drawing on interviews with 9 students, reflective journals from 20 students, and online surveys completed by 13 community partners, this study explores the impact of the pandemic on field placements that are part of an undergraduate Criminology program at a Canadian university. Findings indicate that the pandemic presented unique challenges to students working in criminal justice system and related agencies and that communication, ongoing support, and flexibility helped mitigate some of the stress these students experienced. Unexpected benefits are also discussed. We offer recommendations for experiential learning in Criminology programs based on these experiences.