Student Handbook - Penn School of Social Policy & Practice

Masters Student Handbook

Policies & Procedures for Student Performance

The policies and procedures for the evaluation of student performance are consistent with University policy: the faculty has final responsibility for all decisions about student performance. At the same time, as members of the academic community, students have a voice in decisions that affect them.

It is the responsibility of the instructor to determine whether or not the student has met the requirements of the course.
The instructor is responsible for informing students about the course objectives and requirements. The instructor is also responsible for defining the criteria that will be used to assess whether the student has met the course requirements and for informing students about the criteria. Course performance expectations may apply to performance on examinations, papers, class participation and performance in the field, among other evaluative criteria.

Evaluation Procedures for students

Instructor Feedback
The instructor gives periodic reports to the student, assessing student progress in relation to course objectives and requirements. Students should receive written feedback twice a semester, in the middle and at the end of the semester. The instructor will notify students of the approximate dates of these periodic evaluations.

The mid-term feedback will be on an evaluation form or through evaluative comments on papers and/or other assignments. When an instructor determines that a student is failing or at risk of failing, at any time during the semester, the student should be notified in writing about her/his status in the course with copies sent to the Educational Advisor and student record. The exception to this policy is if the student's failure to meet course requirements occurs as a result of performance on a final examination or final assignment.

Notification of Final Grades
Students receive notification of final grades from both the instructor and the University Registrar after the completion of each semester.

Grading Scale
The SP2 letter grade evaluation system is consistent with that used by the M.A. and Ph.D. programs at the University. That system consists of grades of A, B, C, D, and F with pluses and minuses possible for A, B, or C.

Grade Point Averages (GPAs) are tabulated at the end of each semester and on a cumulative basis. GPAs are established on the following scale:

A plus: 4.0
A: 4.0
A minus: 3.7
B plus: 3.3
B: 3.0
B minus: 2.7
C plus: 2.3
C: 2.0
C minus: 1.7
D: 1.0
F: 0
I: Incomplete

Evaluation of Field Instruction / Mentorship
Field instructor evaluations for students in the MSW program use the following grading system: Pass/Satisfactory, Marginal Pass or Fail/Unsatisfactory. The core practice instructor has final responsibility to assign a letter grade for the course.

In the MSSP and NPL programs, the Supervisor/Mentor’s feedback will be descriptive and is used primarily for the student’s learning.

Grade Point Average Minimum Requirement
Students in SP2 are expected to maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 to remain in good academic standing in the School and the University.

A cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above is required for graduation.

Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 for any semester or whose cumulative GPA is below 3.0, will be placed on academic probation.

Definition of Passing Grade
In the letter grade evaluation system, a grade of B or above is a passing grade. A grade of B minus is considered a “borderline pass,” and must be balanced by a grade of B plus or higher in another course for the student to remain in good academic standing. A grade of C plus or lower is considered a failing grade. Students must pass the first course in a sequence to move on the subsequent course.

Consequences of Failing Grade
Failure of any of the following required core courses will subject the student to dismissal from the program, regardless of cumulative GPA:
MSW Program: SWRK 604, 614, 704, 714, 708, 718
NPL Program: NPLD 787, 788, 789, 790,791
MSSP Program: MSSP 628, 629, 630, 631, 632

Failure of any two (2) other courses or failure of the same course twice will subject the student to dismissal from the program, regardless of cumulative GPA, even if a failure has been made up with a passing grade.

In the MSW program, a student who fails SW 601, 602, 603, 611, 612, 613, 715, or the Research Option (7xx) must retake the failed course and cannot proceed to the next course in the sequence until the pre-requisite course has been retaken and passed.

Grade of Incomplete
If for some reason the student cannot complete the work for a course by the end of the semester, she/he may request an Incomplete from the instructor. The grade of Incomplete is meant to allow the student, with the permission of the professor, to finish a small amount of work left undone at the end of the semester. In accordance with the policy of the Graduate Division, the instructor may permit an extension of up to one year for completion of the course (although the instructor is by no means required to do so and may specify an earlier deadline for course completion).

When a student is given an incomplete, she/he must complete the work within the time specified by the instructor. An Incomplete that is not made up by the deadline specified by the instructor will automatically become an 'F'. The instructor may, however, change the 'F' to a grade when the work is finished.

If at the beginning of a semester the student has an outstanding incomplete grade from a course that is a prerequisite for a subsequent class, the incomplete must be changed to a passing grade before the start date of the subsequent class.

Notification of Failure to Meet Course Expectations
A student or an instructor may request a conference to discuss student performance at any time. The point at which an instructor discerns that a student is not meeting course expectations, he/she should notify in writing the student and the student's Educational Advisor, with a copy filed in the student record. The exception to this policy is if the student's failure to meet course requirements occurs as a result of performance on a final examination or final assignment.

Academic Probation Procedure
A student with a semester GPA below 3.0 or a cumulative GPA below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation and notified accordingly by the Educational Advisor. A student with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 will not be eligible for graduation.

A student on Academic Probation is expected to meet with his/her Educational Advisor, at the student’s initiation, to design a performance improvement plan. If the student achieves a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above at the end of the subsequent semester, the student will be notified that he/she is no longer on academic probation. If the student does not achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above at the end of the subsequent semester, the student will be notified that he/she remains on academic probation and is expected to contact the Educational Advisor to design a performance improvement plan.

Grade Appeal Procedure
In accordance with University policy, faculty members have the authority to make academic judgments in relation to their students. A student who believes he/she was graded unfairly should proceed according to the following steps:

Step 1: Review the concern with the appropriate instructor (or instructors). If this review does not result in resolution,

Step 2: Review the concern with the Educational Advisor. If this review does not result in resolution,

Step 3: Review the concern with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will make the final determination about the student’s appeal.

Non-academic Performance and Student Conduct Issues
Students are expected to comply with University policies and regulations outlined in the Penn Book, the University Code of Student Conduct, the Code of Academic Integrity, and the SP2 Student Handbook. Students are expected to be ethical and to operate according to professional values in their behaviors and demonstrate knowledge, skills, maturity and emotional stability necessary to function as a professional.

Examples of non-academic performance and conduct that will subject the student to disciplinary action or dismissal from the program include:

Violations of the University Code of Academic Integrity
Behavior determined to be a violation of University or School policies or regulations.
Behaviors that do not meet professional expectations and standards, personal integrity or emotional stability.
Behaviors determined to be unprofessional conduct towards colleagues, faculty or staff.

Alleged violations of the University’s Code of Student Conduct, Code of Academic Integrity, and other applicable policies regarding student behavior may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct (OSC). The OSC is responsible for acting on behalf of the University in matters of student discipline. The OSC deals with alleged instances of academic dishonesty and other student misconduct, in order to determine how best to resolve these allegations consistent with the goals and mission of the University as an educational and intellectual community. For more information on the OSC see: www.upenn.edu/osc.

Professional Performance Standards (MSW Program)
All students must meet required standards of behavior for professional social work practice. The following standards, along with related skill areas and required behaviors for each, are delineated in the SP2 Student Handbook.

Standards	Skill Areas	Required Student Behavior
Professional Ethics:
Conduct conforms to values and ethics of the social work profession as codified in the NASW Code of Ethics	Adheres to legal and ethical standards in all practice and academic roles and settings. Demonstrates integrity in all dealings with clients, agency and collateral staff, faculty, and student colleagues. Understands and follows all laws pertaining to client confidentiality. Demonstrates willingness to work with and advocate on behalf of vulnerable populations. Demonstrates awareness and respect for diversity	Does not engage in social relationships with clients; maintains appropriate boundaries with clients. Makes appropriate use of supervision and refers client when needed services are beyond his/her competence. Keeps commitments to clients, colleagues, and faculty. Disguises clients’ identity in class discussions and academic papers. Accepts responsibility for working with vulnerable populations, and participates in advocacy activities on behalf of clients. Willingly accepts and works with a diverse client caseload.
Professional Comportment and Conduct:
Demonstrates responsible, accountable professional behavior, protecting peers, colleagues, clients and others from the adverse consequences of personal performance problems and misconduct.	Explores and identifies strengths and weaknesses related to professional practice. Solicits and makes use of feedback regarding performance. Works to correct performance problems through the development of goals and strategies for professional growth.	Makes productive use of supervision sessions and/or other forms of professional and academic advising and mentorship. Actively participates in field supervision. Seeks professional mental help and self improvement services and consultation when necessary.
Professional Relationships:
All professional interactions reflect respect, integrity, collaboration and accountability, as well as awareness of appropriate professional role, authority and boundaries.	Develops and maintains solid professional working alliances with clients, colleagues, superiors, peers, students, agency personnel, faculty, school staff, advisors, and field educators. Actively and constructively participles in academic and agency affairs. Engages, sustains and appropriately ends professional relationships with clients and colleagues.	Provides feedback and constructive criticism to field instructor and other agency personnel that is respectful and in accordance with agency protocol. Informs field instructor, field liaison and academic adviser of problems that arise in field and works in a professional, way to address these issues. Follows through on verbal and written agreements. Ends services responsibly with clients and field agency, including proper notification of all relevant parties (clients, field instructor, field liaison and/or practice faculty).
Communication:
Verbal, non-verbal and written communications with client, faculty, colleagues and others encountered in student role conform to established legal and professional standards.	Receives and responds appropriately to verbal, non-verbal and written forms of communication with a wide range of client systems and persons regardless of differences related to class, age, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and physical or mental abilities. Demonstrates timely response to, and documentation of communication with school and agency contacts.	Verbal, non-verbal and written communications to clients, colleagues, faculty, school staff, field staff, students and others are delivered with in a respectful, sensitive manner.. Follows agency rules and protocols for record keeping. Responds in a timely manner to all correspondence from clients, agency staff, faculty, and others encountered in student role.

Professional Performance Standards: Procedures for Corrective Action (MSW Program)
As outlined in the SP2 Student Handbook, the Corrective Action Plan is a written document that describes how the student’s professional behavior violates one or more Core Professional Performance Standards, and identifies corrective action to be taken time frame for completion by the student, faculty member and/or field liaison, field instructor, academic advisor. The problematic behaviors must be behaviorally described, using examples.
Procedures:

Depending on the nature of the problem(s), the academic advisor or field liaison develops the Corrective Action Plan.
The Corrective Action Plan is submitted to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for review and signature. The Associate Dean fro Student Affairs returns the signed form to the originating individual (academic advisor or field liaison).
It is the responsibility of the academic advisor or field liaison to closely monitor the student’s performance and evaluate the student’s compliance at the end of the specified period.
If the student satisfactorily improves, the plan is signed by all respective parties at the end of the specified period and forwarded to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
The Associate Dean for Student Affairs may arrange a consultation with the academic advisor or field liaison and student before rendering a recommendation regarding the student’s continued matriculation in the program. It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs to ensure that the student has had access to due process throughout the review process.
The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs reviews the recommendation, makes a determination and informs the Associate Dean for Student Affairs of the decision.
It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs to ensure that all related documents are made a part of the student’s file.

Exceptions to the Corrective Action Plan Procedure

The student’s behavior poses an imminent danger to clients, other students, faculty/staff, and/or self and others (e.g., abuse of clients and/or colleagues, violence or threat of violence).
The student’s behavior represents an egregious breach of the core performance standards and ethics (e.g., drugs on the premises, theft, bizarre and/or disruptive behavior)
The student receives a failing grade in a core practice class or in two other classes. In such cases the policy governing dismissal from the program for failure to meet academic requirements supercedes the corrective action plan procedure.
The University decides to place the student on an involuntary leave of absence with conditions specified for return to the program, according to the conditions and procedures described in the Pennbook. The University may place a student on an involuntary leave of absence or require conditions for continued attendance under the following circumstances when the student exhibits behavior resulting from a psychological, psychiatric, or other medical condition that: harms or threatens to harm the health or safety of the student or others; causes or threatens to cause significant property damage; or significantly disrupts the educational and other activities of the University community.

Dismissal Appeal Procedure
A student may appeal the decision to be dismissed from the program by sending a letter stating the specific grounds for his/her appeal to the Dean within two (2) weeks from the date of the written dismissal notice. The Dean will then convene the Faculty Committee on Academic Standing (FCAS) to review the circumstances. The FCAS will make the final decision and notify the student in writing. Copies of the decision will be sent to the student, the Dean, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and the student record.