Progressing Through the Major

1. Applications must be submitted to the Social Work Program Director by the last day of classes during the student's fourth semester. Students will not be allowed to register for third year social work classes without being accepted into and declaring the social work major. Early in the fall of their junior year, students attend a mandatory program orientation where program policies and expectations are discussed and student feedback sought.

2. Advising is an important component of the social work major. Students are consistently given feedback by faculty regarding their professional and scholastic performance. Students who are told that there are concerns about their scholastic or professional preparedness (as defined in the Standards for Social Work Education) for social work practice must arrange follow up meetings with their faculty advisor to establish a written plan for improvement and to demonstrate its implementation. Failure to actively participate in this advising process can result in denying the student entrance into the field.

3. To be a candidate for field placement the Social Work Program requires at least a C in all required social work courses. If a student has a legitimate reason for not satisfying this criterion, s/he must meet with the Program Director and present a written plan for how foundation material will be mastered before placement. This can include re-taking the course at the request of social work faculty.

4. While progressing through the major, students are urged to consult regularly with their faculty advisors and use campus academic and health resources, especially when faculty makes appropriate referrals.

5. Students are expected to adhere to the Skidmore College's Standards for Social Work Education. The social work faculty reserve the right to deny enrollment in the field practicum to any student if, in the judgment of the faculty, that student does not show adequate and appropriate scholastic and professional preparation. The student may appeal such decisions to the Chair of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work and follow the procedures related to administrative complaints as outlined in the Skidmore College Student Handbook.

Termination Policies

A student entering and continuing in the Social Work Program must demonstrate behav¬ior that is in accordance with the program's Standards for Social Work Education and the NASW Code of Ethics. Suitability for beginning professional practice is violated by the activities and behaviors such as the following:

• active abuse of alcohol or drugs
• failure to attend class, submit work on time, or handle work responsibilities
• manifestation of academic or personal problems that would interfere with professional practice
• manifestation of any behavior that would render the student unable to apply for professional certification in New York State

Students who fail to meet the academic and professional standards of the program will be terminated from the Social Work Program. Students who are terminated from the program may appeal termination through mechanisms described in the Skidmore College Student Handbook.