Departmental Information

Academic Standards

Professional Academic Performance Standards

The social work profession requires maturity and ethical and professional conduct (see social work code of ethics).  Therefore, professional academic performance extends beyond classroom performance and attendance to include “ethical behavior and psychological well-being sufficient to interact positively and instructively with clients” (Cobb & Jordan, 1989, pp.87-97). 

The faculty meets once a semester to review the professional academic performance of each student; though student reviews may occur at any time during the academic year. Students failing to meet any of the professional standards (see next paragraph) may be asked to meet with his/her advisor and/or the Professional Academic Performance Standards (PAPS) committee.

Standards

1. Students will adhere to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. It is printed in the department's Handbook for Social Work Studetns and the Field Education Manual.
   
2. Students will abide by the Code of Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities of Buffalo State College. In compliance with the April 2004, directive from the Chancellor of the State University of New York, Buffalo State College requires all students to receive and positively affirm the campus’s Student Code of Conduct.
   

Grounds for Termination from the social work major at BSC can include, but are not limited to, the following:

• violence or threats of violence to oneself or others
• substance use or abuse which interferes with performance
• engaging in illegal behaviors which reflect negatively upon the profession
• sexual contact with clients
• sexual harassment
• discrimination on the basis of client's age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation
• violation of the colle and/or NASW Code of Ethics
• serious violation of the Code of Ethics
• mental health issues that impede a student’s ability to work effectively in coursework or in field instruction
• termination from field placement for cause (example, violating field placement policy or rules and/or other serious misconduct associated with field placement)