Overview
The purpose of the Keystone Project is for students to directly engage in a professional experience linked to healthcare, science, and medicine, including such areas as clinical science and research, public health and medicine, health policy and legislation, medical writing and communications, and business or clinical health administration. The project must assist the student in gaining career insight and direction towards one or more pathways within healthcare-related professions.
One Keystone Project is required to complete the program. The Keystone Project can be completed any semester or summer before graduation.
- Most students are likely to complete the Keystone Project by the spring semester of the junior year, in order to give direction to the senior year and application processes for graduate school.
- Keystone Projects begin with the proposal/pre-approval stage.
- Keystone Projects end with the written reflection/completion stage.
The Five Types of Keystone Projects
1. Research Project Linked to Health or Medicine.
- The research project must be supervised by a faculty member.
- The research project can be housed in any department, provided that the relevance to health and medicine is clearly demonstrated.
- Although these projects are typically credit-based projects (e.g., Richter project, independent research project, practicum project, senior project, or senior thesis), they can also stem from non-credit research experiences (e.g., paid research).
2. Internship Linked to Health or Medicine
- The internship can occur during the academic year (e.g., fall or spring) or during the summer.
- This could be either (a) a for-credit internship, which is completed concurrently with the Career Advancement Center’s (CAC) Academic Internship Course, or (b) a non-credit internship.
- For-credit internships are typically for 1.0 credit, but other levels of credit are available. Credit is received for completion of both the required internship hours and the CAC’s Academic Internship Course.
- Students typically work with the Career Advancement Center (CAC) for internships, and should begin the process to secure one at least one semester in advance of the planned internship.
3. Healthcare Professional Shadowing
- Students must complete (and document) a minimum of 40 contact hours of shadowing.
- Students can complete all 40 hours at one site or across multiple sites.
4. Class-Based Research Project Linked to Health or Medicine
- The project must be an independent research project within a Lake Forest College course that is part of the HPP curriculum.
- The project must be worth at least 30% of the course grade.
5. Self-Designed Keystone Project
- If you have an idea for a health-related project that falls outside the parameters of Options 1-4 above, then you can propose a Self-Designed Keystone project.
- These projects require a minimum of 80 work hours (or 0.5 academic credits).
Key Procedures for the Keystone Project
Step 1. Proposal/Pre-Approval Stage
- The HPP Steering Committee encourages you to explore Keystone Project options as early as possible. Start this process in consultation with the Career Advancement Center (CAC).
- Your main initial CAC contact is Khadija Manzoor, the CAC Internship and Health Care Specialist (kmanzoor@lakeforest.edu).
- Be sure to review the HPP Keystone Project Application Guide and prepare the necessary materials for the application/proposal.
- Keep in mind that the Director of HPP must approve the project plan before it starts.
- At least one month before the proposed start date, submit the HPP Keystone Application Form via my.lakeforest.
Step 2. Keystone Project Stage
- After receiving pre-approval in Step 1, start the work on the Keystone Project.
- Ensure that you have completed the required number of credits or hours for the project.
Step 3. Reflection/Completion Stage
- After finishing the work of the project, review the HPP Keystone Project Completion Guide and prepare the necessary materials for the completion form (including the written reflection).
- Within two weeks of finishing the project, submit the HPP Keystone Completion Form via my.lakeforest.
FAQs for the Keystone Project
A. Does the Keystone Project satisfy the FFC-EL (Experiential Learning) requirement?
- To satisfy the FFC-EL requirement, the experience(s) must total either (a) 1.0 LFC credits or (b) 150 hours. Students must also submit an FFC-EL written reflection.
- If your Keystone Project meets these requirements, then it can also satisfy the FFC-EL requirement.
- For full guidelines and procedures, see the FFC page, the FFC-EL FAQ page, and consult your academic advisor or HPP advisor. Learn more specific information about which Keystone Projects fully satisfy the FFC-EL and related procedures.
- Most keystone projects do not fully satisfy the FFC-EL because they do not meet the credit (1.0) or hours (150) requirement. However, you might be able to combine a lower-credit or lower-hour Keystone Project with another experience to satisfy the FFC-EL. Learn more about how to satisfy both requirements.
B. Who can I contact with questions about (or to start planning for) the Keystone Project?
- The HPP Steering Committee encourages you to explore Keystone Project options as early as possible. Start this process in consultation with the Career Advancement Center (CAC).
- Your main initial CAC contact is Khadija Manzoor, the CAC Internship and Health Care Specialist (kmanzoor@lakeforest.edu).
C. What if I am in the middle of a project but didn’t get it pre-approved?
- If you are in the middle of a project and forgot to gain pre-approval, then you should immediately complete Step 1 now (Proposal/Pre-Approval Stage). After all, you don’t want to waste your efforts on a project that will not satisfy the requirement.
- Begin by reviewing the HPP Keystone Project Application Guide and prepare the necessary materials for the application/proposal.
- Then, as soon as possible, submit the HPP Keystone Application Form via my.lakeforest.
D. What if I already completed a project but didn’t get it pre-approved?
- If you have already completed a project (e.g., before joining HPP or the College) that you think might satisfy the Keystone Project requirement, then review the HPP Keystone Retroactive Project Guide.
- If after reviewing the guide, you still think your already-complete project might fulfill the requirement, then complete the HPP Keystone Retroactive Project Form via my.lakeforest.