The mission of social work education is to prepare students for professional generalist social work practice. Advancement of this broad purpose is brought about through the acquisition and integration of social work knowledge, values and skills. The Social Work Program is invested in and responsible for this educational process by its admission, advancement, and termination policies and procedures.

I. Admission Policies and Procedures

The University Bulletin-Undergraduate Issue (2012-13) describes the general criteria for admission. Qualified students are admitted without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, gender or religion. Its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other programs and activities, are administered without discrimination. It is also the policy of the University to make all programs and services available to all individuals with disabilities.

Criteria for admission as a Social Work major include:

• 1. Sophomore standing
• 2. Cumulative grade point average of 2.25
• 3. Completion of Application for Major form.
• 4. Completion of the formal application process to the Social Work Program. This includes the application form, three letters of reference, and the handbook form.
  5. Completion of an interview with the Social Work faculty.
  6. Satisfactory completion of the following Social Work requirements:
• • Psychology 111 Introductory Psychology
  • Sociology 101 Introduction to Sociology: Self and Society 
  • Social Work 261 Introduction to Social Welfare

The Social Work Program requires a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or better for admission. While this GPA requirement is stricter than the requirement for majoring (GPA of 2.0) in most departments at Creighton University, it is felt that the professional role assumed by the graduate requires greater academic proficiency. This academic proficiency is necessary to integrate classroom materials, field placement experiences and social work professional values and ethics necessary for beginning generalist social work practice.

A student who does not meet the academic requirements may petition the Program Director requesting an exception to the requirement after discussion with his/her advisor. Student performance in Introduction to Social Welfare (SWK 261), Human Behavior and Social Environment (SWK 275) in their course study to this point, along with the recommendation of the advisor, will be taken into consideration in these instances. The Program Director convenes the entire faculty to discuss and decide on the student's petition.

Students are notified of the admissions decision by an official letter from the  Director of the Social Work Program. Students who are not accepted, or are accepted conditionally, are requested to schedule an appointment with the Director to discuss their situation. Students who are not accepted may appeal the decision by initiating the appeal process as outlined in the Creighton University Student Handbook.

II. Advancement Policies and Procedures--Academic Reasons

Having been admitted into the Social Work program, the Social Work student must achieve a certain level of performance in order to advance through and complete the program. Advancement is implemented to assure that students proceed through the program with the knowledge, values and skills necessary for an undergraduate generalist practice. Students must maintain a satisfactory level of performance meeting or exceeding the following criteria:

Academic Performance-Advancement

The Creighton grading system is a 4.0 system with final grades assigned at seven levels: A=4.0, B+=3.5, B=3.0, C=+2.5, C=2.0, D=1.0, and F=0.0. Criteria for evaluating a student's academic performance and assigning a grade must be spelled out in the course syllabus.

It is University policy that a student must maintain at least a 2.0 G.P.A. to remain in good standing. Within the program, students must maintain a 2.25 G.P.A. in the major courses (including pre and co-requisite coursework). Failure to maintain a 2.25 G.P.A. in the major and/or receiving less than a "C" in a required Social Work course places the student on probation. If the cause for probationary status is not resolved in one academic year, the student will be dropped from the major. Students may reapply at a future date if the cause(s) for being dropped are resolved.

Evaluation of field performance is also graded on a 5.0 scale. Procedures and criteria for evaluating fieldwork placement are spelled out in the Field Practicum Manual. Evaluation procedures include: a selection interview with the fieldwork instructor and supervisor a written contract between the student and the fieldwork supervisor; written evaluations by the supervisor; conferences with the student, supervisor and instructor; regular reports from the practicum instructor to the student; and a seminar with the practicum coordinator and fellow students where feedback reports are evaluated. A grade of "D" or "F" is unsatisfactory in any practicum and is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Students are also expected to demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.

Academic Performance—Misconduct--Termination for academic reasons

Academic misconduct as defined by the Creighton University Student Handbook (2012-13) includes the following acts:

• < "Unauthorized collaboration or use of external information during examinations.
• < Plagiarizing or representing another's ideas as one's own.
• < Furnishing false academic information to the University.
• < Falsely obtaining, distributing, using or receiving test materials.
• < Falsifying academic records.
• < Falsifying clinical records or otherwise endangering the well-being of patients involved in the teaching process.
• < Misusing academic resources.
• < Defacing or tampering with library materials.
• < Obtaining or gaining unauthorized access to examinations or academic research materials.
• < Soliciting or offering unauthorized academic information or materials.
• < Improperly altering or inducing another to improperly alter any academic record.
• < Engaging in any conduct which is intended or reasonably likely to confer one's self or another an unfair advantage or benefit respecting an academic matter."

Advancement procedures

Students are considered advanced unless otherwise contacted in writing by the Social Work Program.

• a. If a faculty member (full and part-time) has a concern about a student's academic performance, the faculty member must write to the Program Director describing the concern.
• b. The Director contacts the student and the student's advisor in writing listing the concerns of the faculty member.
• c. The student and advisor shall meet to discuss the concerns. If remediation is advised, a plan of remediation will be developed. The plan of remediation shall be in writing and signed by the advisor and student and placed in the student's file. If and when the concern is alleviated, the student's file will be expunged of all documentation relating to the concern.
• d. If the student and advisor cannot resolve the concern to the satisfaction of both parties, the chair will convene the faculty of the program along with two community practitioners and one student to decide and take action on the faculty concern. The decision reached may be appealed through the process in the University Student Handbook.
• e. A faculty member may, at any time, during the student's educational experience, file a written concern. However, while a faculty can file a concern during any time of the student's educational experience, the faculty members teaching the following courses must review every student for concerns about academic performance: SWK 345 Practice I - Social Work with Individuals and Families, SWK 359 Practice II - Social Work With Groups, SWK 435 Practice III - Advocacy, Injustice, Oppression and Ethical Decision-making, SWK 460 Practicum Seminar, SWK 461 Practicum, SWK 480 Practicum Seminar, and SWK 481 Practicum. The faculty member is free to create any written mechanism(s) for this evaluation commensurate with the level, nature and scope of the course. If a concern arises while the student is enrolled in any of the above courses, the faculty member will file a written concern to the Program Director. The Director will then follow the procedures described in a, b, and c above.

Appeal Procedures for Academic Misconduct

The appeal process involves an appeal to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Formal appeals are made to the Dean who then requests the Educational Policy Subcommittee of the Executive Committee, made up of elected faculty and students, to act upon the appeal and forward their recommendation of resolution to the Dean.

III. Termination Policies and Procedures--Non-academic reasons

A significant part of the social work profession is conducting oneself as a professional. Therefore the Social Work Program adheres to and expects that students entering and advancing through the program will abide by the following policies of professional behavior and conduct. Students who violate these policies are subject to review for termination for non-academic reasons.

Professional behavior, as defined by the  Social Work Program, are the following expectations and behaviors.

Students unable to:

• 1 Identify and assess interactions of people within the social environment including making sound judgments and decisions.
• 2 Analyze social policy affecting the client, practitioner, agency and community systems.
• 3 Employ a planned change approach reflecting assessment, goals and alternative strategies leading to effective intervention on individual, environmental and systemic levels. This includes making sound judgments and decisions.
• 4 Assist and empower people to develop and use problem-solving, coping and networking capacities.
• 5 Link people with and assist in the development of resources, services and opportunities.
• 6 Employ sensitive generalist practice with diverse and oppressed populations, including women, gay/lesbian populations and ethnic/racial groups.
• 7 Promote and create effective, just and responsive service and resource systems.
• 8 Participate in social change efforts with others in response to community needs.
• 9 Evaluate the extent to which the objectives of the planned change efforts were achieved.
• 10 Evaluate and pursue one's own personal and professional growth and development including the appropriate use of supervision as a generalist practitioner.

The program, also, uses the NASW Code of Ethics as a policy to determine whether students should be terminated from the program for non-academic reasons. Each code is clearly described as to the nature and scope of behavior that is acceptable and encouraged for social workers in these instances including the student capacity.

The NASW Code of Ethics

I. Social Worker's Conduct and Compartment as a Social Worker

Propriety--The social worker should maintain high standards of personal conduct in the capacity or identity as a social worker.

Competence and Professional Development--The social worker should strive to become and remain proficient in professional practice and the performance of professional functions.

Service--The social worker should regard as primary the service obligation of the social work profession.

Integrity--The social worker should act in accordance with the highest standards of professional integrity and impartiality.

Scholarship and Research--The social worker engaged in study and research should be guided by the conventions of scholarly inquiry.

II. The Social Worker's Ethical Responsibility to Clients

Primacy of Clients' Interests--The social worker's primary responsibility is to client.

Rights and Prerogatives of Clients--The social worker should make every effort to foster maximum self-determination on the part of clients.

Confidentiality and Privacy--The social worker should respect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence all information obtained in the course of professional service.

Fees--When setting fees, the social worker should ensure that they are fair, reasonable, considerate, and commensurate with the service performed and with due regard for the clients' ability to pay.

III. The Social Worker's Ethical Responsibility to Colleagues

Respect, Fairness, and Courtesy--The social worker should treat colleagues with respect, courtesy, fairness, and good faith.

Dealing with Colleagues' Clients--The social worker has the responsibility to relate to the clients of colleagues with full professional consideration.

IV. The Social Worker's Ethical Responsibility to Employers and Employing Organizations

Commitments to Employing Organization--The social worker should adhere to commitments made to the employing organization.

V. The Social Worker's Ethical Responsibility to the Social Work Profession

Maintaining the Integrity of the Profession--The social worker should uphold and advance the values, ethics, knowledge and mission of the profession.

Community Service--The social worker should assist the profession in making social services available to the general public.

Development of Knowledge--The social worker should take responsibility for identifying, developing, and fully utilizing knowledge for professional practice.

VI. The Social Worker's Ethical Responsibility to Society

Promoting the General Welfare--The social worker should promote the general welfare of society.

V. Procedures for Termination for Non-academic reasons

a. If a faculty member (full and/or part-time) or any social work program constituency has a concern about a student's professional or ethical conduct or action (using the non-academic reasons for termination policies), they must write to the Program Director describing the concern.

b. The Director contacts the student and the student's advisor in writing listing the concerns of the faculty member.

The Director will convene the faculty of the program along with two community practitioners to decide and act on the concern. The decision reached may be appealed through the process in the University Student Handbook.

Specific behaviors relating to the NASW Code of Ethics.Violations of NASW Code of Ethics as evidenced by the following specific behaviors but not limited to:

Behaviors indicative of chemical dependency

• ~ Untreated, and/or uncontrolled; mental illness
• ~ Sexual relationships with clients
• ~ Repeated violation of the boundaries of professional relationship
• ~ Violation of the client's confidentiality and privacy
• ~ Repeated disrespect for diversity of clients
• ~ Repeated failure to complete assignments including learning contract
• ~ Repeated tardiness and absenteeism in the practicum
• ~ Unwillingness to consider alternative viewpoints when problem-solving
• ~ Improper use of client's finances
• ~ Failure to excuse or disqualify yourself in dual relationships
• ~ Repeated violation of agency policy and regulations
• ~ Irresponsible use of agency resources
• ~ Convicted of a felony while in the social work program

VII. Termination Policy and Procedures—Appeal procedures

     If a student falls below a satisfactory level of performance in their overall GPA and in the Social Work major including field practicum and/or has violated the criteria for termination for non-academic reasons, the student must be reviewed by the Social Work Program (see above for minimum academic performance levels and termination for non-academic reasons criteria). The Director notifies the student's advisor for discussion and consultation with the student. If remediation is planned, a document regarding all activities signed by all parties is required in order to alleviate the problem and raise academic performance to a satisfactory level or rectification of the problem. This document must be signed by the student, advisor and other involved party(ies). If the student does not achieve satisfactory academic performance levels by the end of the next semester (including summer school), they will be terminated from the Social Work Program.

     Termination from major status in the Social Work Program may be appealed to the Program Director. The Director then appoints and convenes a committee of two faculty, one community practitioner and two students, who are acceptable to the petitioner, to review and act upon the appeal. The decision of this committee is binding.

_______________________________ ____________________
Signature                                                        Date