Student Rights & Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
OF UNDERGRADUATE SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS

The University and the School of Social Work expect conduct of all students which is consistent with the law, all relevant University policies and rules, including the University Student Code of Conduct and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.

A. Non-Academic Behaviors Resulting in University Disciplinary Action

Any conduct by a social work student that is a violation of the University Student Code of Conduct will be referred to the Student Judicial Services office for campus disciplinary action, in addition to any actions taken by the Social Work Department. The Conduct Code outlines the kinds of student behaviors that will result in disciplinary action, including possible dismissal from the University. Conduct violations by a student off-campus in university related activities (e.g. field placement) will be handled the same as if the violation had occurred on-campus.

B. 1. Academic Behaviors Resulting in Departmental Action

The EMU School of Social Work will consider performance or behavior of students that provide relevant information as to their likely performance as social workers as an academic student progress matter. Certain behaviors or performance will be considered as grounds for academic discipline, in accordance with the procedures outlined in this document, when the student’s behavior or performance raises concerns about the student’s ability to perform satisfactorily in the practice of social work.

Academic disciplinary action may be initiated when a student exhibits the following behavior in one discrete episode that is a violation of law or of the NASW Code of Ethics or standards for the practice of social work OR when a student exhibits a pattern of recurring behavior which may include, but is not limited to the following:

• Performance or behaviors that demonstrate poor interpersonal skills and an inability to effectively communicate with others, often evidenced by repeated complaints from the field supervisor, other students or departmental faculty
  
  
• Unethical, threatening or unprofessional conduct
  
  
• Behaviors that place clients at risk during field placement, including current substance abuse, problems; exploitation of clients; emotional, physical or verbal abuse; vindictive action toward clients; or stealing from clients
  
  
• Behavioral displays of mental or emotional difficulties that represent a risk to others
  
  
• Consistent inability or unwillingness to carry out academic or field placement responsibilities
  
  
• Frequent excuse making when tasks, assignments, tests, appointments are not completed in a timely manner or require rescheduling
  
  
• Consistent non-attendance in classes, at field placement and other required departmental functions
  
  
• Lack of insight into negative consequences of own behavior and frequent blame of others or external factors for failures and difficulties in the academic or field placement environment
  
  
• Inability to tolerate different points of view, constructive feedback or supervision
  
  
• Dishonest academic practices, including but not limited to, plagiarism, cheating,
  fabrication, aiding and abetting deception or dishonesty, and the falsification of
  records or official documents
  
  
• Verbal or physical aggressiveness toward others
  
  

B. 2. Procedures for Handling Academic Behavior Issues

A. Any concern about a particular student’s academic behavior or performance should be brought to the attention of the student’s advisor. The advisor will then set up a meeting with the student, and the person raising the concern about the student’s behavior or performance. The purpose of this meeting is not to be interpreted as disciplinary but rather as an effort to assist the student in finding ways to improve the performance. Based on the advisor’s evaluation of the issues, the advisor may attempt to counsel the student out of the program or may decide that a formal review is necessary.

B. COMPOSITION OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE - If the advisor determines that a formal review of the student’s behavior or performance is necessary, the advisor will convene the Review Committee, consisting of the Coordinator of the BSW program, two additional social work faculty members, and two representatives from the Social Work student organizations. The two faculty members, plus one other faculty to serve as an alternate, will be elected by the faculty on an annual basis. The two social work student representatives, plus one other student representative to serve as an alternate, will be selected by the social work student organizations on an annual basis. The review committee, by majority vote, will elect one member to serve as chair of the committee. This Review Committee may be the same one that is responsible for hearing departmental grade grievances.

A review committee member must have no prior involvement in the case, must be impartial and able to render a just and fair decision. A member not able to do so should disqualify him/herself from the review. In addition, the student undergoing review may challenge any member of the Review Committee on grounds of prejudice or impartiality and request the removable of that particular member from the review meeting. If this occurs, the review committee shall deliberate in private and determine, by majority vote (excluding the member being challenged), whether the member should be removed from that particular case. If the vote is to remove the member, the review will continue with a committee of the remaining four members.

C. NOTICE TO STUDENT - The advisor will notify the student, in writing, at least one week before the review date, that there will be a formal review by the Review Committee. The notice will be sent to the student’s last known address registered with the University and will set forth the following:

1. the date, time and place of the review meeting
   
2. the allegations against the student, stated with specificity and detailed particulars
   
3. the student’s rights during the review meeting
   
4. the possible evidence to be presented and witnesses likely to be called during the review

D. REVIEW MEETING - During the review, the individual who raised concerns about the student’s behavior or performance will summarize the concerns to the committee. The student and/or his advisor will have the right, within reason, to question anyone presenting information to the committee during the review. In addition, the student will have the opportunity to speak on his/her behalf, bring witnesses to testify at the review, and present any written or other type of evidence to be considered by the Review Committee.

After the review meeting, the committee will determine whether or not the allegations have been substantiated by “clear and convincing” evidence. If the committee determines that the evidence is lacking, the case will be dismissed. If the evidence is sufficient, the committee will make a recommendation about the student, which can include, but is not limited to: (1) requiring that a course be satisfactorily repeated; (2) suspending a student for a specified or unspecified length of time with or without stipulated conditions for re-admission to the Social Work program; or (3) permanently dismissing the student from the program. The Coordinator of the BSW program will notify the student, in writing, of the decision within five calendar days of the review.

E. RIGHT TO APPEAL - Within ten days of the date that the committee’s notification is sent to the student, the student may appeal, in writing, to the Dean of Health and Human Services. The Dean may accept, reject or modify the decision of the committee. The Dean’s decision is final.

C. 1. Undergraduate Scholastic Performance Resulting in Departmental Action

A. Grade Point Requirements:

Once admitted into the Social Work program, a student must maintain a 2.3 GPA. If the GPA falls below a 2.3, the student must meet with his/her advisor to develop a plan to raise the GPA to the required 2.3. minimum.

A student who fails to achieve the 2.3 minimum by the time he or she is to start the field placement will be placed on “departmental academic probation” and will not be allowed to start the field placement.
The student will then have up to two additional semesters (Spring/Summer count as one semester) to raise the GPA to the 2.3 minimum. Failure to raise the GPA by the end of two semesters will result in dismissal from the social work program.

B. Individual Course Grade Requirements:

A social work major must achieve a minimum letter grade of “C” in all required social work courses in order to remain in and graduate from the program. A student who receives a grade in a social work course below a “C” will be allowed to repeat any given course one time only. A student may repeat no more than two different courses in which he/she has failed to achieve a “C” grade.

A student who receives a grade below a “C” in a second social work course will be placed on “departmental academic probation” and will be dismissed from the social work program if the student receives a grade in a third social work course below a “C”. A student who receives a grade below a “C” in a social work course he/she is repeating will also be dismissed from the program..

NOTE: In cases where a student’s deficient grade in a course reflects extenuating circumstances that should have resulted in a withdrawal from the course, the Department will assist him/her in retroactively withdrawing.

C. Field Placement Requirements

A student who fails to achieve a “C” in either semester of field placement will be required to repeat the field placement. A student may repeat each field placement only one time. A student who does not achieve a “C” in either repeated field placement will be dismissed from the program.

C. 2. Procedures for Handling Scholastic Performance Issues

A student will be notified in writing by the Coordinator of the Undergraduate Program of his/her academic status as it pertains to “departmental academic probation” or “dismissal”. A student who is placed on departmental academic probation must set up a meeting with his/her advisor to develop a remediation plan.

A student who is dismissed from the program because of a scholastic performance deficiency may request that the Director, Social Work review the dismissal. The student must submit the request, in writing, to the Director, Social Work within 10 calendar days of being notified of the dismissal. The Director, Social Work will schedule a meeting with the student, the student’s advisor and the Coordinator of the Undergraduate Program as soon as possible. The Director, Social Work will notify the student, in writing, within two weeks of the review meeting whether the dismissal is being upheld. The Director, Social Work’s decision is final.

D. Grading Policies

Grades and expectations of students in social work courses will be determined by the individual instructor of each course and outlined in the course syllabus .

As per University Policy, a student may pursue a grade grievance for any final grade that he/she believes was assigned capriciously or unfairly.

Students should review the University’s student conduct and grade grievance procedures.

Links to Student Conduct Code http://dsa.emich.edu/sjs/discproces.html and University Grade Grievance Procedure in the University Catalogue.