Social Work

A Baccalaureate of Social Work (BSW) degree through 黑料视频 will prepare students for generalist practice and will focus on understanding social work values, ethics and professional behavior. Utilizing a generalist lens, students will obtain the knowledge and skill to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Students will explore historical oppression, structural inequality and work toward navigating complex systems. Students will increase their awareness of social injustices and the impact that social injustice has on access to education, resources and services. Students will learn how to maximize empowerment of clients and communities to reduce clients' and communities' experiences of oppression and institutional violence.

Students typically apply for the BSW program in the spring semester of their sophomore year. Admission to the BSW program is for the fall semester only.

Undergraduate Major Program: Generalist Social Work Practice

The Department of Social Work offers a Baccalaureate of Social Work (BSW). The BSW program will prepare students to work in a variety of human service and policy-related settings, including: physical and mental healthcare, social services (such as child welfare, juvenile justice, residential services and nursing homes), community services, education and civic engagement. Within these settings they may work as caseworkers, intake workers and client support specialists, among other positions. Students will learn skills which are translatable across working with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. 

Following completion of a BSW, students may choose to enter the workforce or apply for Advanced Standing and go into a Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Advanced Standing students typically complete one year of graduate education, and acceptance into an Advanced Standing program is not guaranteed. Students may also opt to take a traditional (two year) or part-time path to earn an MSW. MSW requirements, including Advanced Standing options, vary by college or university and students should consult with specific programs to learn more about their admissions requirements.

The BSW curriculum is designed to create explicit linkages between practice, policy and research. Students will build knowledge of basic concepts and principles of research and create an understanding that for social work practice to be effective, it is important that social workers be both consumers of, and contributors to, research efforts that aim to build knowledge and improve social work practice. Students will gain knowledge about human development across the lifespan and become familiarized with a variety of frameworks for interpreting the interactions among human biological, psychological, sociological, cultural and spiritual systems as they affect and are affected by human behavior. Students will be provided with a foundation for understanding social problems and social welfare policies in order to prepare them to become informed and competent providers of social welfare programs and systems.

黑料视频 Department of Social Work Vision

The 黑料视频 Department of Social Work is a renowned leader in educating and empowering generalist social work practitioners to promote social, economic and environmental justice and support for individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

黑料视频 Baccalaureate of Social Work (BSW) Program Vision

The 黑料视频 Department of Social Work's BSW Program Vision is to develop future practitioners, activists and leaders, who are steadfast in engaging with others to promote the underlying values of the social work profession, with a particular focus on relationships, inclusivity, advocacy, social justice, and the dignity and worth of all.

黑料视频 Baccalaureate of Social Work (BSW) Program Mission

The 黑料视频 Department of Social Work is committed to the development of future BSW practitioners, activists and leaders by providing a solid and interdisciplinary liberal arts education. Our program promotes an understanding of, and appreciation for, the complexities of engaging and supporting individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities in the advancement of relationships, inclusivity, advocacy and social justice. 

黑料视频 Department of Social Work Philosophy

Working to ensure that all people have healthy and satisfying lives is central to our philosophy. We understand health as encompassing full physical, mental and social well-being, and know that empowerment and a high quality of life can be accomplished even in the context of disability, illness or trauma. Social workers impact many aspects of society, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and the policies that guide and influence them. Strengths and power exist within all communities. Harnessing these strengths to promote health, well-being, resiliency, organizational inclusion and policies for equity and justice is fundamental to helping people overcome obstacles and build the future they want for themselves.

BSW Program Goals

Our teaching, advising and student engagement focus is designed to ensure that all graduates of the BSW program:

  • Have the educational and practice foundation to become effective and competent generalist practitioners who are critically conscious, reflective and autonomous thinkers; and,
  • Enter the social work profession equipped with the skills to respond to the intersectionality of social justice related privileges and oppressions to educate, advocate for, and promote, social equity and well-being;

And are professionals who:

  • Integrate research and respect for the wisdom of clients and consumers to inform their practice;
  • Base their practice on a foundation of paradigms that include, but are not limited to: social constructionism, critical consciousness, anti-oppression, intersectionality, and strengths- and empowerment-based theories and perspectives of macro, mezzo and micro systems;
  • Develop social work practice and intervention skills informed by ecological systems, developmental, trauma recovery, cognitive, behavioral and relational theories.

BSW Program Requirements

The BSW degree requires the completion of 126 credits, including General Education requirements and social work major requirements. Social work upper-division major requirements total 52 credits, including 12 credits in generalist practice (with individuals, with groups and families and with organizations and communities), 4 credits in foundations of scientific inquiry with social systems, 4 credits in social welfare policy and programs, 4 credits in human behavior and the social environment, 4 credits in diversity and oppression, 12 credits in field instruction and field instruction integration seminars, 8 credits in social work major-restricted electives and 4 credits in upper-division social sciences electives.

Students need a grade of P (pass) in SW 491, Field Instruction I, to move onto SW 492, Field Instruction II. In order to receive the degree, students need a grade of P (pass) in SW 492, Field Instruction II, and a grade of C or better in SW 495, Field Instruction Integration Seminar I, and SW 496, Field Integration Seminar II.

In line with the SUNY Transfer Path requirements, the prerequisites for admission to the BSW program include versions of Introduction to Social Work, Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Human Biology and Introduction to Statistics.

Students are also required to take an additional written, oral or combined written/oral communication course. Harpur "W" credits may be considered in place of an additional written, oral or combined written/oral communication course. 

BSW Major Coursework

Junior Year (24 credits)

  • Fall semester
    • SW 304 Foundations of Scientific Inquiry with Social Systems (4 cr.)
    • SW 410 Generalist Social Work Practice with Individuals (4 cr.)
    • Upper-Division Social Science Elective (4 cr.)
  • Spring semester
    • SW 303 Diversity and Oppression (4 cr.)
    • SW 305 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (4 cr.)
    • Social Work Major-Restricted Elective (4 cr.)

Senior Year (28 credits)

  • Fall semester
    • SW 315 Social Welfare Policy and Programs (4 cr.)
    • SW 411 Generalist Social Work Practice with Groups and Families (4 cr.)
    • SW 491 Field Instruction I (4 cr.)
    • SW 495 Field Instruction Integration Seminar I (2 cr.)
  • Spring semester
    • SW 412 Generalist Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities (4 cr.)
    • SW 492 Field Instruction II (4 cr.)
    • SW 496 Field Instruction Integration Seminar II (2 cr.)
    • Social Work Major-Restricted Elective (4 cr.)

Prerequisite Courses and Course Order

Courses in the BSW Program are intended to be taken sequentially. As such, most BSW courses have prerequisites to force completion in the order described in the "BSW Major Coursework" section. Consult the course catalog, BSW Student Handbook, and/or the BSW academic advisor for additional information about prerequisite classes. Note that BSW courses are typically offered once per academic year.

Field Instruction

Field instruction is a pivotal and integral part of the BSW curriculum. In the field, students acquire practice experience, and develop competence in the skills that will help them attain their personal and professional goals within a framework of social work values and ethics. BSW students must enroll in their Field Instruction and Field Instruction Integration Seminars concurrently. BSW students must achieve a grade of Pass in SW 491, in addition to a grade of C or better in SW 495 (Field Integration Seminar I) in order to proceed to SW 492 and SW 496. Additionally, BSW students must achieve a minimum number of hours of field instruction in order to fulfill requirements for the degree. Consult the BSW Field Manual for additional policies and procedures that govern student internship experiences.

Grade Policies for Core Courses

Core courses (which include pre-requisite classes) in the BSW program, with the exception of SW 491 and SW 492, must be completed with a grade of C or better to count toward major requirements. Core courses, including pre-requisite classes, may not be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. 

Degree Requirements

Credit Requirements to Qualify for a Baccalaureate of Social Work Degree from CCPA:

  • Earn a minimum of 126 credits required for graduation, including transfer credits with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and a minimum GPA of at least 2.0 in the major program.
  • Liberal arts and sciences, which includes courses used to fulfill General Education requirements and electives, total 64 credits.
  • Upper-division major requirements, which includes BSW courses and a social science elective taken in the junior/senior year, total 52 credits.
  • No more than 12 credit hours in internship and independent study courses may be applied towards the 126 credit total for degree.
  • Meet General Education requirements as stated in the Academic Guide (Formerly Bulletin).
  • Complete the specified requirements in the major program in which they are candidates for the degree.
  • Not be on probation or under disciplinary action, and pay or make a satisfactory adjustment of all tuition, fees or other bills incident to their attendance at the University.
  • Be recommended by the faculty of the College of Community and Public Affairs.
  • Be admitted to the degree by the State University Trustees, by formal action.

The Department of Social Work in the College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA) reserves the right to make changes in the requirements listed above for graduation, except that no increase in total credit hours required for graduation shall retroactively affect any student already matriculated in the Department of Social Work in CCPA when the change is made.

Transfer of BSW Course Credits

Undergraduate core BSW courses successfully completed at another institution's CSWE-accredited BSW program may be accepted for credit toward the BSW degree in lieu of any of the BSW required courses, provided such courses covered content similar to that taught in 黑料视频's required courses. This will be subject to review and approval by the BSW program director. 

A minimum grade of a B is required for transfer credit of core BSW courses. Undergraduate courses for which BSW transfer credit is sought must have been taken within the last five years in order to be considered for degree completion. Residency requirements still apply to students who may be given BSW transfer credit, and therefore students for whom this applies should work closely with their academic advisor to carefully plan their program of study. 

Specific policies governing transfer credits can be found in the BSW Student Handbook.

Academic credit is not given for life experience or previous work experience.

BSW Program Admission

Admission requirements are:

  • A strong liberal arts base (minimum of 52 credits in LAS)
  • A minimum of 56 credits previously earned and awarded per program and college policy 
  • A recommended GPA of 3.0
  • The following transfer path requirement has to be met:
    • Intro to Social Work Practice (SW 300 or SW 250 for 黑料视频 students)
    • Recommended that the following four transfer path requirements are met (minimally two need to be completed for admission to the BSW program):
      • General Psychology (PSYC 111 for 黑料视频 students)
      • Introduction to Statistics (MATH 147, SW 243 or PSYC 243 for 黑料视频 students)
      • Introduction to Sociology (SOC 100 for 黑料视频 students)
      • Human Biology (BIOL 113, BIOL 114, BIOL 251, or BIOL 341 for 黑料视频 students)
      • Resume
      • Personal statement

Additionally, applicants will be required to participate in group or individual interviews. Students may petition the academic advisor or program director for the BSW program to see if other coursework may fulfill a transfer path requirement. Admission into the BSW program is competitive, and is not guaranteed even if prerequisites and other criteria are met. 

Double Degree

Students wishing to complete both a BSW and an additional degree in another school or college at 黑料视频 (for example, a BS in psychology in Harpur College and a BSW in CCPA, or a BS in management in SOM and a BSW in CCPA) will need to apply for admission as a Double Degree student.

Students who wish to earn a double degree within CCPA (for example, a BSW in addition to a BS in human development) will need to complete a request form which can be found online.

All students pursuing a Double Degree require completion of a minimum of 156 credit hours. Students complete the two baccalaureate degrees simultaneously and the degrees are awarded together.

Social Work Program Core Competencies

The Department of Social Work's mission is to prepare social workers for autonomous, knowledge-based, generalist practice within an integrated community of scholars, practitioners and learners. The principles that guide the program are:

  • A focus on people's strengths;
  • A celebration of human diversity;
  • The application of multi-system proactive methods to promote human well-being and fair, equitable communities;
  • A commitment to social justice;
  • A focus on working with diverse clients from a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-cultural perspective across the entire lifespan; and 
  • A focus on social work practice and collaboration with clients and organizations in public and not-for-profit settings.

The well-being of clients and the integrity of the social work profession are our top priorities.

In order to remain in good standing in the Department of Social Work, all students, as stated in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, "must not allow their own personal problems, psychosocial distress, legal problems, substance use, or mental health difficulties to interfere with their professional judgment and performance or to jeopardize the best interests of people for whom they have a professional responsibility" (p.23, NASW Code of Ethics).

The Department of Social Work has developed a list of core competencies that when clearly and consistently observed and followed, allows students to be successful in the program. 

Professional Ethics

  • Skills and Essential Behaviors
    • Demonstrates an understanding of, adheres to and promotes the NASW Code of Ethics.
    • Demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of the value of diversity. Works effectively and responsibly with people who are of differing races, ethnicities, abilities, ages, classes, genders, sexual orientations, religious beliefs and/or nationalities, etc.
    • Shows respect and effectively advocates for the rights of others.
    • Demonstrates a commitment to ending social and economic injustice.
    • Maintains and demonstrates comprehension of professional boundaries.
    • Is committed to clients' freedom of choice and self-determination.
    • Is consistently honest and demonstrates integrity by being truthful about one's own background, experiences and qualifications.
    • Refrains from sexually harassing or abusing others in physical, emotional, verbal or sexual ways.
    • Refrains from being involved in sexual relationships with clients or participating in dual relationships with clients where conflicts of interest may develop or exist.
    • Utilizes clinical supervision effectively and demonstrates a willingness to ask for help.
    • Demonstrates ability to acknowledge how one's own attitudes, beliefs, biases and personal and past experiences affect professional judgment, decision-making, thinking, behavior and relationships.
    • Shows willingness and ability to assess and reflect on strengths and identify areas for improvement.
  • Descriptors/Examples
    • Maintains confidentiality.
    • Demonstrates openness to working with diverse groups and individuals of different backgrounds including fellow students, colleagues and clients.
    • Asks supervisor and instructors for help when needed.
    • Follows through with commitments.
    • Maintains clear boundaries. For example, does not socialize with clients.

Self-Awareness

  • Skills and Essential Behaviors
    • Demonstrates ability to acknowledge how one's own attitudes, beliefs, biases and personal and past experiences affect professional judgment, decision-making, thinking, behavior and relationships.
    • Shows willingness and ability to assess and reflect on strengths and identify areas for improvement.
    • Is open to feedback and constructive criticism.
    • Demonstrates a level of self-awareness and an ability to express how one is perceived by others.
    • Demonstrates an ability to self-critique and an ability to assume full responsibility to protect peers, colleagues, research participants, clients and others from the adverse consequences of personal performance problems and behaviors.
    • Communicates responsibly, respectfully and effectively with colleagues, faculty, staff, administrators, field instructors and clients, etc.
    • Utilizes effective listening and empathic skills in order to establish rapport.
  • Descriptors/Examples
    • Demonstrates self-reflection in class, internship, process recordings, group work and written course exercises.
    • Makes necessary adjustments to professional and/or academic workloads in the face of personal difficulties that may adversely impact the quality of academic work or practice with clients.
    • Takes initiative in gaining knowledge as needed.
    • Makes changes based on feedback and constructive guidance.

Communication

  • Skills and Essential Behaviors
    • Communicates responsibly, respectfully and effectively with colleagues, faculty, staff, administrators, field instructors and clients, etc.
    • Utilizes effective listening and empathic skills in order to establish rapport.
    • Demonstrates ability and willingness to listen to others and is open to feedback.
    • Advocates effectively in a constructive manner according to NASW guidelines.
    • Utilizes institutional channels first in order to effectively resolve conflicts.
    • Demonstrates respect for the professional expertise of fellow agency workers, students in class and program faculty and staff, etc.
  • Descriptors/Examples
    • Communicates responsibly, respectfully and effectively with colleagues, faculty, staff, administrators, field instructors and clients, etc.
    • Utilizes effective listening and empathic skills in order to establish rapport.
    • Demonstrates ability and willingness to listen to others and is open to feedback.
    • Advocates effectively in a constructive manner according to NASW guidelines.
    • Utilizes institutional channels first in order to effectively resolve conflicts.
    • Demonstrates respect for the professional expertise of fellow agency workers, students in class and program faculty and staff, etc.

Readiness

  • Skills and Essential Behaviors
    • Is open and committed to learning from colleagues, classroom and field instructors.
    • Seeks out and utilizes help when needed and responsibly addresses one's own health and emotional challenges that may interfere with scholastic and professional performance.
    • Is able to distinguish between facts and inference.
    • Is able to draw conclusions based on relevant information and evidence.
    • Demonstrates the ability to think critically.
    • Demonstrates an ability to write clearly with appropriate grammar and sentence construction.
  • Descriptors/Examples
    • Takes initiative with basic tasks in agencies such as making phone calls, taking messages, calling agencies to gain information about their services, locating resources in the community.
    • Demonstrates ability to include relevant and applicable literature in presentations, research and written work.
    • Assessments of clients reflect comprehensive, inclusive and relevant data.
    • Demonstrates use and knowledge when working with clients through the use of process recordings.
    • Demonstrates willingness to take initiative.
    • Can identify problem-solving steps to resolving challenges.
    • Able to communicate ideas clearly in writing.

Professional Behavior

  • Skills and Essential Behaviors
    • Shows willingness and ability to effectively prioritize, manage and complete tasks on time and observe and meet deadlines.
    • Seeks professional help and consultation when needed.
    • Utilizes thoughtful and informed judgment in making professional decisions.
    • Demonstrates appearance and demeanor that are appropriate to the roles and settings encountered during the educational process, including field practice experiences.
    • Is sober and not actively under the influence of recreational psychoactive substances that impair professional decision-making while in the classroom, field sites, and professional settings.
    • Is able to form and sustain professional relationships.
  • Descriptors/Examples
    • Arrives on time to all classes, meetings and field agency required hours.
    • Consistently follows through with commitments including group work assignments, field work and assignments.
    • Demonstrates an ability to be flexible in responding to changing needs and priorities of the field agency and clients.
    • Communicates in advance whenever there is an interruption of planned attendance or task completion and identifies alternatives for task completion to instructors, field instructors, field liaisons and academic advisors.
    • Voices concerns to field instructor and/or liaison in a respectful manner and in accordance with agency and field protocols and policies.
    • Keeps field instructor, liaison, instructors and staff apprised of issues that may arise and works proactively with all parties to alleviate issues.

Social Work Program Advancement Policy

Purpose

The faculty and staff of the 黑料视频 Department of Social Work are responsible for creating an educational environment that fosters student growth, academic success and professional development.  When students apply to the program, they sign an academic contract agreeing to advance their professional development and to have it assessed by social work faculty and staff throughout their time in the program.  The Social Work Department Advancement Policy supports this responsibility by addressing criteria including academic, professional and ethical conduct (e.g., being respectful; displaying integrity and honesty; addressing concerns in a clear and constructive manner; responding to evaluation and criticism with appropriate self-reflection, and modification of behavior), to ensure that graduates of the program have the necessary professional conduct to effectively serve clients. When there are concerns about a student's academic/professional conduct, the Social Work Department may institute the Advancement Policy as a way to address such behavior. 

The nature of the social work profession demands that practitioners use sound professional judgment and exercise professional and ethical conduct in all aspects of their work. When there is evidence of unprofessional behavior (e.g., plagiarism, misuse of University property, verbally or physically abusive behavior, behavior that is counter to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics or other unprofessional conduct), the Social Work Department has the right and responsibility to terminate the enrollment of the student. Alternatively, any student who, at any time in the program is determined by the Social Work Department faculty and administration to have engaged in unprofessional behavior, may be required to participate in the Social Work Advancement Process to assess and support their professional readiness for social work practice. Students will not be approved for graduation if they have unexecuted/unresolved concern(s) in relation to the Advancement Policy on file. 

Process and Procedure

Students will advance automatically from semester to semester unless they are informed otherwise. Problems in academic/professional and/or ethical behavior may be identified at any point in the semester by faculty members (full-time and adjunct), field instructors or staff.

Any faculty members (full-time or adjunct), field instructors or staff who identify a concern regarding a student's professional behavior will confer with the BSW program director to determine if the behavior can be handled inside of the class/field structure. If not, the involved party(ies) will put their concerns in writing and share them with the BSW program director, and/or the academic advisor and/or field director, and the student.

  1. The BSW program director will meet with the student to construct a written plan that will be signed by the two of them with the goal being to resolve the professional and/or ethical deficiency. The plan shall state with specificity: (1) the concern(s); (2) the actions to be undertaken by the student; (3) how success with the plan will be determined; and (4) dates(s) by which the student must demonstrate the completion of, and compliance with, the plan.
  2. If unable to reach consensus in the development of the plan, if the student does not agree that there is a concern, if the plan is not fulfilled and/or if concerns escalate, the written documents with evidence regarding the concerns will be brought to the Social Work Grievance Committee chair via email from the student's advisor.
  3. The Grievance Committee chair will notify the Grievance Committee within five business days of receipt of the email from the student's professional advisor. The email should be posted as received by 5 p.m. on the fifth day. If the Grievance Committee chair is the person identifying the concern or is unavailable (such as may be the case over the summer session), the Social Work Department chair shall convene the Grievance Committee.
  4. The chair of the Grievance Committee will convene the Grievance Committee within 10 business days from receipt of the email from the student's professional advisor to review any documents submitted by the student and gathered and submitted by the professional advisor. The Grievance Committee chair will notify the student and the professional advisor of the meeting date. The student and BSW program director must submit any additional documents via email no later than five business days before the meeting date. The email should be posted as received by 5 p.m. on the fifth day. 

The Grievance Committee will consider the concern(s) as explained by the professional advisor and person(s) identifying the concern(s) and the response of the student. The student may be accompanied at the meeting by an advocate who is permitted to communicate directly with the student, but who is not allowed to directly address the Grievance Committee. 

At the culmination of the meeting, the Grievance Committee may choose to:

  • Dismiss the concern as not being substantiated or having no merit;
  • Place conditions on the student's advancement in the program;
  • Recommend the student be suspended for a period of time or dismissed from the program.

If further questions need to be answered prior to making a final determination, the Grievance Committee has the right to question the student and/or others involved in putting forward the concern(s) after the meeting. The Grievance Committee shall notify the student and the professional advisor of their decision via email and certified mail within 20 working days of the Grievance Committee meeting. The email should be posted as received by 5 p.m. on the 20th day.

The Grievance Committee will consist of two faculty members (one of whom will serve as chair of the Grievance Committee), one professional staff member and one student representative.

"Business days" refers to any day in which the University is in operation.

Appeal Process

If the student, the BSW program director, and/or individual(s) expressing the concern(s) is/are dissatisfied with the decision of the Grievance Committee or if the Grievance Committee is unable to reach consensus, the matter can be appealed to the Social Work Department chair. In the case of disagreement with the decision, the professional advisor, instructor-of-record or student must put in writing the reasons why they believe that the decision should be re-examined. The written document must be submitted to the Social Work Department chair via email within 10 business days of receiving notice of the decision from the Grievance Committee. The final decision regarding the student's advancement rests with the Social Work Department chair. The Social Work Department chair shall notify the student and professional advisor of the decision via email and certified mail within 10 business days of receiving the written document from the party(ies) in disagreement with the Grievance Committee's decision. The email should be posted as received by 5 p.m. on the 10th day.

As noted in the College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA) by-laws, in order to pursue and be granted an appeal beyond the Social Work Department chair, with the dean of CCPA, there must be submitted a "written claim of abrogation of due process and/or new information." In such cases as an appeal goes to the dean, and as cited from the CCPA by-laws, "there will be no further recourse after the dean's decision."  

Social Work Program Grade Appeal Process and Procedure

  1. To appeal a final course grade, the student must put in writing the reasons why they believe that the grade should be changed, citing perceived unfairness in the grading process. The student must submit this written appeal via email to the instructor-of-record for the course (field/non-field) within 10 business days of receiving notice of the grade from the instructor-of-record or registrar, whichever is first. The email should be posted as received by 5 p.m. on the 10th day. 
  2. Upon receipt of the written appeal, the instructor-of-record will consider the student's appeal and respond to the student in writing via email within 20 business days with a final decision. The email should be posted as received by 5 p.m. on the 20th day.
  3. If the student is not satisfied with the instructor-of-record's decision, the student must put in writing the reasons why s/he still believes that the grade should be changed and attach a copy of the original appeal document that was written to the instructor-of-record and the instructor's response to this appeal. These documents must be forwarded via email to the chair of the Grievance Committee within 10 business days from the date that the student received written notification from the instructor-of- record's decision. The email should be posted as received by 5 p.m. on the 10th day. If the Grievance Committee chair is the instructor-of-record, then the appeal goes to the department chair. 
  4. The Grievance Committee chair (or department chair if the Grievance Committee chair is the instructor-of-record) will notify the Grievance Committee of the appeal and will schedule a meeting within 20 business days for the committee to review the documents submitted by the student and instructor-of-record. If further questions need to be answered prior to making a final determination, the committee has the right to question the student, instructor-of-record or other relevant individuals in writing or by phone. When necessary, the committee has the right to request more written material. The Grievance Committee shall notify the student and the instructor-of-record of the committee's decision via email and certified mail within 20 business days of the Grievance Committee meeting. The email should be posted as received by 5 p.m. on the 20th day.
  5. If either the student or instructor-of-record is dissatisfied with the decision of the Grievance Committee, they may appeal the decision to the department chair. If the instructor-of-record is the department chair, then the final decision rests with the Grievance Committee, providing that the committee's decision is unanimous. The student must put in writing the reason why they still believes the grade should be changed and attach all original documents from the original appeal to the instructor-of-record, the instructor's written response to the original appeal, all documents submitted to the Grievance Committee, the letter of notification regarding the Grievance Committee's decision and any other relevant documents. These will be emailed to the Social Work Department chair within 10 business days of written notification of the Grievance Committee's decision. The email should be posted as received by 5 p.m. on the 10h day. The final decision regarding the student's grade appeal rests with the Social Work Department chair.
  6. If the instructor-of-record is the department chair and the Grievance Committee's decision is not unanimous, then the dean of the College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA) will review the written record and make the final determination.
  7. As noted in the College of Community and Public Affairs (CCPA) by-laws, in order to pursue and be granted an appeal with the dean of CCPA, there must be a submitted "written claim of abrogation of due process and/or new information." In such cases as an appeal goes to the dean, and as cited from the CCPA by-laws, "there will be no further recourse after the dean's decision."

"Business days" refers to any day in which the University is in operation. The Grievance Committee will consist of two faculty (one of who will serve as chair of the Grievance Committee), one professional staff and one student representative.

Withdrawal

It is the policy of the Department of Social Work that students who are considering withdrawal from the program meet their academic advisor and/or BSW program director to discuss the challenges they are facing and explore options that may help support their continuation in the program. The academic advisor and/or BSW program director can offer guidance regarding the process of officially withdrawing from the program or from classes. The student must inform all faculty from whom they are currently receiving instruction (i.e., for the courses in which the student is currently enrolled) or make a plan to inform faculty with the assistance of the academic advisor and/or BSW program director. 

For more information on the University's withdrawal policies, see the Academic Policies and Procedures for All Students section of the Academic Guide (Formerly Bulletin). 

Social Work Contract

Students accepted and enrolled into the BSW major agree to abide by the following contract:

I agree to the following contract:

Social workers serve a wide variety of client systems that could include the poor, victims, as well as perpetrators of abuse, people with different sexual orientations, those with racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, people of all ages, persons from diverse religious, spiritual and cultural backgrounds and many other aspects of human diversity. Social work services should be provided without prejudice and/or imposition of the worker's values on clients.

  • I have read and understand the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and agree to adhere to the standards therein.
  • I have read the 黑料视频 Department of Social Work Performance Standards for Admission, Matriculation and Graduation, and agree to adhere to the standards therein.
  • I will continue my professional development through regular self-assessment of my academic and personal aptitude and performance.
  • I will continue my professional development, taking seriously faculty assessments of my academic and professional aptitude and performance. This includes discussion with faculty about their observations underlying their evaluations and the steps I might take when improvement is warranted.
  • I understand and agree that the faculty and staff may share with other faculty, staff and administrators, field instructors and other staff at field agencies, information about student situations in connection with professional development and academic concerns arising in the social work program. Faculty and staff will make every effort to keep confidential any student information that the faculty or staff member feels is not necessary to discuss concerning the student, in connection with professional development and academic concerns. As appropriate, faculty and staff will discuss with students the scope of the information being shared.
  • I will become familiar with all course and program requirements and accept responsibility for taking all required courses in the correct sequence.
  • I understand that although I am admitted to the BSW program, if my professional development is deemed unsatisfactory by the social work faculty, the BSW program has the right and responsibility to request reassessment of my suitability for the program. The social work faculty, in turn, will provide academic instruction and professional advising to assist with the learning and professional development process.

List of Faculty