Departmental Information

Retention and Termination

Procedures on Retention and Termination of Students

If student's problem(s) or faculty concern(s) cannot be resolved between the student and the faculty advisor, or if the problem(s) is/are so serious as to require immediate attention, the following procedures will be followed:

1. The concerned faculty member will present written documentation of a student's problem(s) or faculty concern(s) to the chairperson of the Professional Academic Performance Standards (PAPS) committee of the Social Work Department.
2. The PAPS committee chairperson will copy and distribute the documentation to all other committee members and to the chairperson of the Social Work Department within ten days of the written notice.
3. The PAPS committee chairperson will convene a meeting of the Professional  Academic Performance Standards committee within ten class days and notify the student by certified mail of the problem(s) or concern(s), date of the meeting, and who will be present. A copy of the Academic Grievance Procedures from the Office of Academic Affairs will also be enclosed to inform the student of his/her rights according to the college wide policies.
4. A student who fails to appear relinquishes the right to be heard.
5. The student may bring an advocate of his/her choice to the meeting.
6. Following the PAPS meeting, a written corrective action plan that includes action items, with dates for completion, and consequences for not abiding by the plan will be developed by the PAPS committee and approved by a majority vote of the committee members present.
7. In the case of a recommendation for termination of a student from the program, three-fourths of the members of the PAPS committee must concur.  Three-fourths of the committee members must also concur in order to reinstate a student who has been dismissed from the program following an unsatisfactory (U) grade or agency dismissal in Field Instruction (SWK 493 or 494).
8. The PAPS committee chairperson will notify the student by certified mail and the faculty, in writing, of the committee's decision and plan.