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UMB School of Social Work Student Review Committee

The Student Review Committee has responsibility for the oversight of policies and procedures established by the Faculty Organization. It reviews student academic performance, student grievances, and makes recommendations to the Dean. The Student Review Committee (SRC) ensures that students' rights are protected and that students maintain adequate academic and professional performance.

The purpose of the Student Review Committee is:

1. To adopt and adapt procedures assuring the students will be given fair and objective consideration in deliberations affecting them.

2. To review the educational performance of students brought to its attention and formulate recommendations which will be forwarded to the Dean.

3. To review allegations of, including but not limited to, academic dishonesty, problematic behavior, or conviction of a crime.

If a student earns an unsatisfactory academic record, is accused of problematic behavior, demonstrates an inability to adequately carry out field assignments, or is convicted of a crime, the student may be referred to the Student Review Committee to hear the complaint against the student. A charge of academic dishonesty requires a referral.

A. Definitions.

 1. Academic Risk occurs when a student earns a course grade of "D" or "F", when a student earns 6 or more credits of unbalanced "C"s, or when a student earns an "F" in Field Placement, or demonstrates an inability to adequately carry out field assignments.

2. Academic Failure occurs when a student earns 12 credits of unbalanced "C"s or 9 credits of unbalanced "C"s plus an "F", or when a student earns 6 "F" credits. A second earned "F" cannot be repeated and indicates Academic Failure even if the first earned "F" has been replaced by a higher grade. Students who have demonstrated "academic failure" will be dismissed from the program.

3. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:

 a. false reporting of practice in the field placement,
b. false reporting of classroom work as it affects the evaluation of a student's performance,
c. bribery, seduction, or threats in relation to performance evaluation,
d. cheating and/or plagiarism, whether by using work as one's own and/or without citation regardless if taken from the WEB, printed materials, or work produced by others. Please see Code of Ethics, Standard 4.08.

4. Problematic Behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following:

 a. Commission or omission of any act, which does not conform to generally, accepted standards of responsible professional practice (e.g. NASW Code of Ethics). See Page a4 in the Appendix.
b. Behavior which jeopardized the safety of rights of students, faculty, staff or clients of the School or University or a Field Instruction site.
c. Theft of property.
d. Malicious destruction or damage to property belonging to others.
e. Threat or commission of physical violence against any person.
f. Abusive, obscene or violent behavior while on University property or participating in University activities.
g. Use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs.
h. Falsification, forgery or modification of any official document or written communication.
i. Knowingly passing a worthless check or money order in payment of financial obligations to the University.
j. Failure to follow the rules and regulations of field instruction sites participating in the School's program.
k. Commission or omission of any act which would provide cause for denial or revocation of a social work license.

 5. Conviction of a Crime occurs when a student has been convicted of criminal behavior or sentenced to probation before judgment by a court of legal jurisdiction.

B. Policies for the Student Review Committee.

 1. Composition: The Student Review Committee shall consist of the Chair, and four faculty members elected by the Faculty Organization, two of whom should hold senior rank, two student representatives designated by the Student Government Association [SGA], a representative from the Field Placement Office; the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (ex-officio); and the Associate Dean for Administration and Registration (ex-officio).

2. Quorum: A majority of the committee membership shall constitute a quorum.

3. Referrals: The Student Review Committee will consider student referrals from the Office of the Dean, the Field Instruction Department, faculty and students.

a. Office of the Dean may refer students for conviction of a crime, academic risk and/or review of the educational progress of the student when considered necessary.

b. The Field Instruction Department may refer students for:

 1. rejection by three different agencies,
2. being asked to leave an agency,
3. withdrawal from field instruction when performance is not of passing quality,
4. receiving an "F" in field instruction,
5. field performance that is judged to be at risk of academic failure or an inability to adequately carry out field assignments and/or,
6. problematic behavior.

c. The Office of the Dean, the Field Instruction Department, faculty and/or students shall refer students for

 1. an allegation of an act of academic dishonesty.

4. Recommendation. The recommendations of the Student Review Committee will be forwarded to the Dean and to the student. Examples of recommendations available to the Student Review Committee are that the Dean:

 a. Take no action;
b. Place the student on academic probation;
c. Suspend the student;
d. Dismiss the student.

 The Chair of the Student Review Committee will keep a record of the proceedings.

C. Procedures.

 1. Referrals

 a. Referrals for academic difficulty:

 As soon as grades are received, the Office of the Associate Dean will notify students who are in academic risk or failure and they may be referred to the Student Review Committee.

b. Referrals for problematic behavior:

 The Dean's Office, the Field Instruction Department, a faculty member, or a student may refer any student considered to have exhibited problematic behavior or violated the University's Student Rights and Responsibility Codes (see University of Maryland Baltimore 2000-2001 Student Answer Book) or the NASW Code of Ethics (see Appendix).

 1. The referring party bringing the allegation must provide a detailed written statement of the allegations.

 2. The referring party bringing the allegation will provide as much supporting documentation as possible including the student's written material and corroborating statements of other faculty, staff, agency, personnel, students and others, if applicable.

c. Referrals for academic dishonesty:

 In cases of alleged academic dishonesty, a review by the Student Review Committee will be initiated either by a student, a member of the faculty, or the Administration. When a student suspects that an act of academic dishonesty has occurred, the student will consult with the Chair of the Student Review Committee. When a faculty member suspects that an act of academic dishonesty has occurred the faculty member:

 1. Shall meet with the student to clarify the concerns.
2. If the matter cannot be resolved, the faculty member shall put in writing the action that he/she is taking. The letter shall describe the alleged act of dishonesty, when it occurred and under what circumstances, the faculty member's subsequent actions, and the rationale for the faculty member's decision. The faculty member shall also retain pertinent documentation of the incident in his/her files.
3. Copies of the letter shall go to the student and the Chair of the Student Review Committee.
4. Care shall be taken to ensure that all communications regarding an act of academic dishonesty are treated with utmost confidentiality.

d. Referrals for conviction of a crime:

 Upon referral by the Dean's Office of a student convicted of a crime, the Dean's Office will advise the student of the referral to the Committee. The Dean's Office will provide the Committee with a report presenting the specifications of the conviction. The student will be requested to provide the Committee with a written response reviewing the circumstances of the conviction and to present a review of the circumstances at a Committee meeting.

e. Referrals of demonstrated inability to adequately carry out field assignments:

 The Field Instruction Department will notify the student of referral to the Committee and provide the Committee with documentation of the student's performance by the field instructor, the field liaison, and any other relevant source. The student will provide the Committee with a written response, a review of the field performance, and will be requested to present a review of the performance at a Committee meeting.

2. The Chair of the Committee shall review the referral and its supporting documents and make a decision to accept or reject the case for review. The Chair shall notify the parties of the decision and provide the parties with details of the charge(s).

3. If the case is to be reviewed, the Chair shall convene the Committee within 10 working days, if practical. Under extenuating circumstances, the Chair may, upon request, allow the student additional time to prepare a response to the allegations. If graduation is imminent and contingent upon the actions of the Committee, the Committee shall convene at its earliest opportunity.

a. The Chair shall set a time convenient to all parties to hear arguments, allow points to be clarified, and collect any additional information that the Committee deems relevant.

b. Students shall have the option of discussing their educational performance and/or charges of problematic behavior with the Committee. Students may choose not to attend the hearing.

c. Students have the option of deciding whether the Committee's student representative remains a part of the Committee process.

d. Students who choose to meet with the Committee may bring advocates to discuss the student's educational performance, and/or the charges of problematic behavior, academic dishonesty, or a crime. Students cannot be accompanied by attorneys at these hearings unless the subject of the review concerns alleged criminal behavior for which criminal charges are or may be pending. In such instances, attorneys may be present to advise their clients but may not address the Committee directly.

e. The Committee will formulate its recommendation and vote upon it. The Chair will forward its recommendation and a copy of the proceedings to the Dean and to the student.

f. The student will be informed of the recommendation of the Committee immediately after the Committee's deliberations and a copy of the written recommendation will be forwarded to the Dean.

g. If the case is heard and the charges of problematic behavior, academic dishonesty, or criminal conviction are not substantiated, the written material shall be expunged from the student's record.

h. When the Committee considers Field Instruction Department referrals, the student's field liaison shall be requested to attend.

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