Unsatisfactory Grades in Field
If the student and Field Instructor are effectively engaged, a student will be aware of deficiencies in their performance well before the final evaluation is due. As soon as the Field Instructor identifies unacceptable or marginal performance, the Field Consultant should be contacted. Often, a conference with the Field Instructor and the student will be arranged to discuss the reason for the unsatisfactory performance and potential corrective actions. Several outcomes are possible:
- The student may continue in the placement if this is acceptable to the student, the Field Instructor, and the Field Consultant. Identified deficits in the student's performance will be documented in a corrective action plan that outlines behavioral expectation and is added as an addendum to the student's Learning Agreement;
- The student's placement may be terminated and the student may or may not be eligible to be placed in a new setting. If eligible for a new placement, the new placement may not begin until the following semester depending upon the timing of the termination and the circumstances;
- The student may be allowed to request an incomplete, withdraw from the course, or withdraw from the MSW program if illness or conditions outside of the student's control are a significant factor in the student's performance;
- If the student's evaluation reflects unsuitability for the degree and or profession and/or an inability to deliver social work services in a safe, competent and ethical manner, the Director of Field Education may request that the student be placed on academic probation and if unable to resolve the concerns by the following term, may be subject to dismissal;
- If the student's evaluation indicates there is a level of unprofessional conduct where others may be inadvertently or intentionally harmed, the Director of Field Education may request immediate dismissal of the student;
- When an unsatisfactory grade is assigned by the Field Consultant for the second semester, even if performance in the first semester was satisfactory, the student will receive no credit for the field practicum undertaken, and another full placement must be successfully completed in full for the student to be eligible for MSW degree conferral. This often delays the student's anticipated degree conferral date. When this is the case, the student is solely responsible for additional tuition expenses.
Following an Unsatisfactory grade, student eligibility for field education will be reassessed. In general, we also require a period of time lasting from two to four weeks for the student to reflect on what they learned from the experience before we will consider initiating additional placement interviews. If the student's ineligibility for field education persists for more than one semester on probation, they may be subject to dismissal from the MSW program.
Unsatisfactory Academic Standing or Progress in Field
A student who fails to formally enroll in, withdraws from, or receives an Unsatisfactory grade for any field practicum course (SOC WEL 410A, 410B, 412A, or 412B) or any field integration seminar (SOC WEL 290A, 290B, 292A, or 292B), may to subject to a recommendation for placement on academic probation by the Graduate Dean for failure to make satisfactory academic progress. Successful completion of all sequenced, concurrent components of field education is required for degree conferral.
Failure to remain in good academic standing may compromise the right to continue in a field practicum even if the student is progressing normally in field education. Should a student's grade point average fall below a 3.0, should a student fail a required generalist or specialized curriculum course, or should a student receive two or more Incomplete (I) grades in any one semester, field placement may either be not initiated or suspended until all academic concerns are resolved. If a student is suspended from placement, we cannot guarantee that they will be able to return to that same placement.
Students must be in good academic standing to advance to the second-year specialized field practicum. Similarly, students must be in good field standing to advance to second-year academic courses. Failure to progress normatively in either the field education or academic portion of the MSW program may lead to disciplinary action or a recommendation to the Graduate Dean for placement on academic probation, or dismissal from the graduate program.