MU Professional Disposition Policy

MU Professional Disposition Policy

Professional Performance Criteria

Social workers and social work students are guided by high standards of professionalism and a Code of Ethics. When students' behaviors run counter to these, faculty will implement informal proactive
strategies to resolve problems. When proactive strategies are ineffective, formal processes (described
below) may be used.

Professional values and behaviors

Behaviors that violate professional values including service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, competence, and integrity as well as the behaviors addressed by the NASW Code of Ethics, and which have been fully documented by professor(s) may be addressed through recommendations for professional development plans or a termination from the program. Examples of behaviors that interfere with performance expectations and that may be grounds for dismissal from the program include:

  • Non-achievement or less than the satisfactory achievement of DSW skills.
  • Behaviors that violate the NASW Code of Ethics in the classroom, field agency, University, or community.
  • Behaviors that conflict with the professional values and professional role sets of the social work professional.
  • Disruptive behaviors constitute a threat to the safety of the student or others.
  • A pattern of unwillingness to participate in the learning activities of the program.
  • Inability to communicate effectively, orally, or in written form, such that performance is seriously handicapped.

Additionally, students are expected to adhere to the skills outlined by CSWE EPAS (2022), which include:

  • Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
  • Engage in diversity and difference in practice.
  • Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
  • Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
  • Engage in policy practice.
  • Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, orgainizations, and communities.

 

Professional Performance Policies

The School of Social Work DSW Program reserves the right to dismiss students for failure to maintain
professional standards as outlined above.

• Probation. A student may be placed on probation until such time as the concern about professional behavior has been eliminated, or the student is dismissed.
• Dismissal. The School of Social Work undergraduate Program reserves the right to dismiss students for failure to maintain professional standards. Depending on the seriousness of the professional concerns, the student may be immediately dismissed, without a Professional Development Plan process.

Initiating a Professional Development Plan (PDP)

• If a faculty member or school partner identifies a concern, they should address the concern with the student. If informal strategies are not effective, faculty should discuss those concerns with the Department Chair to determine if a meeting with the student is warranted.
• If a meeting is warranted, the Department Chair will call a meeting to include relevant faculty (teaching faculty, advisor, field supervisor, field coordinator). The decision of who to include will be made by the Department Chair. Before the meeting, students must be notified of the meeting's purpose, the nature of the concerns, and the fact that the outcome could result in the development of a PDP.
• The purpose of the meeting is for the student's professional improvement; however, failure to be successful with any subsequent PDP implemented may have consequences for how the student will continue in the social work program.
• Students have the right to have advocates present at this meeting and bring forth any evidence. Further, students have the right to appeal against the outcome. See below for the appeal process.
• If PDP is developed, it must specify current deficiencies, goals, potential consequences for failure, point-in-time re-evaluation, and the right to appeal in case of failure to meet the goals of the plan.
• The PDP must have a place for the Department Chair to sign and other relevant faculty members.
• In addition to signing the PDP, the student must sign a statement acknowledging they have been informed of their rights.

Evaluation of Professional Development Plan (PDP)

• As outlined on the PDP, the individuals involved in the development of PDP will assess whether the
student was successful at meeting the goals. The positive and negative consequences of the
evaluation will be written and articulated to the student and their right to appeal.
• Everyone, including the students involved in the evaluation process will sign the document.

Appeals Process

• The appeals process applies only to cases where a PDP or failure to succeed in a PDP result in the student needing to complete extra credits or extra field placement that delays the student's progression through the undergraduate social work program.
• The student will appeal to the College of Education and Human Services Dean or PDP Committee. 
• The faculty members involved in the development of the PDP will be invited to the meeting but do not vote.
• The student has the right to have advocates present at this meeting and bring forth any evidence.