Formative Performance Evaluation Procedures: Student Success Plan

Forms:

• Student Success Plan Notice [odt]
• Student Success Plan [odt]
• Student Success Plan Resolution Report [odt]

Overview:
The Social Work program utilizes a formative performance evaluation (Student Success Plan) to assess students’ performance throughout the curriculum and encourage them either toward successful completion of the program, or the selection of another major. Students are assessed academically to determine whether they have mastered the knowledge necessary for entry-level social work practice. Additionally, students are monitored non-academically to determine whether they can function effectively and professionally in a field placement, and ultimately as autonomously licensed professionals. Therefore, the Social Work program equally emphasizes both academic and non-academic performance standards during all phases of the evaluation process to determine students’ professional potential.

Academic Assessment
Student academic performance is evaluated solely based on academic standards, including any requirements noted in the catalog, course syllabus, and University student handbook. Students have protection against prejudiced or capricious evaluation and shall not be evaluated based on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students have the right to review their corrected examinations or other required assignments used by the faculty in evaluating the student's academic performance.

Papers, essays, journals, projects, presentations, and similar property shall be returned to a student upon request, within a reasonable timeframe, when no longer needed for evaluation purposes. Academic assessment is done in each social work and non-social work course using the traditional letter grading scheme. Each student must maintain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in all social work courses, and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for graduation. All courses with an SWK prefix need to be completed with a grade of C or higher. Courses with an SWK prefix can only be repeated once.

The Social Work program specific course attendance policy is considered when determining academic assessment. This policy can be found in every syllabus with an SWK prefix.

Non-Academic Assessment
In addition to ongoing academic assessment, each student is formatively assessed non-academically both in and outside the classroom through advising, informal faculty-student interaction, complaints lodged by others, concerns expressed by agency supervisors and/or field instructors. The following conduct standards are used when considering each student’s suitability for professional social work, and continuation in the social work program. These standards are divided into two categories:

1. those the university uses across campus; and
2. those the Social Work program uses that are specific to licensed professional social work practice.

Student Conduct Policy

Minot State University’s Non-Academic University Performance Violations:
*Not an exclusive list of violations
*Additional details located in the Student Conduct Policy

• Academic Integrity Violations, Plagiarism, and/or the Use of Artificial Intelligence platforms
• Academic Dishonesty
• Complicity in Prohibited Acts
• Computer Misuse
• Debts to the University
• Disruption of Operations of the University
• Disruptive Activity, Behavior, or Disorderly Conduct
• Disruptive Demonstration
• False Complaint
• Falsification of Records/Representation
• Fire/Arson
• Firearms/Fireworks
• Gambling
• Harassment and Sexual Harassment
• Hazing
• Interfering with Judicial Procedures
• Interference with the Operations of the University
• Interference with Laws, Ordinances, and/or University Policies
• Misrepresentation of Another’s Work as Your Own
• Misuse or Forgery of a Student Identification Card
• Physical Harm and/or Threat to Others
• Psychological/Emotional Abuse to Others
• Sexual Violence
• Stalking/Surveillance
• Tampering with Fire Equipment
• Theft, Vandalism, Defacement and Damage to Property
• Unauthorized Use of University Property
• Unlawful Use and Possession of Alcohol
• Unlawful Use and Possession of Drugs
• Use of a Fixed Optical Device or Surveillance Camera
• Violation of the Tobacco Policy

Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the laws of the federal government, the state of North Dakota, the State Board of Higher Education policies, Minot city ordinances, and University regulations. Students may be disciplined by the University for violating these standards of conduct even though the students may be punished by federal, state or city authorities for the same act. However, institutional disciplinary action shall not be used merely to duplicate penalties by civil authorities.

Social Work program Non-Academic Performance Violations:

• Breach of NASW Code of Ethics.
• Breach of agency specific policy at field sites.
• Violations of conduct set forth by the NDBSWE (North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners) and North Dakota Century Code.
• Violation of client confidentiality.
• Conditions interfering with student functioning and competence.
• Current substance abuse
• Failure to Respect interpersonal boundaries with students, faculty, placement staff, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Inability to master skills, competencies, and behaviors required for the Social Work profession as set forth by the 2022 CSWE EPAS (accreditation standards).
• Inability to relate to other students, clientele, faculty, and/or field agency staff.
• Mental or physical conditions interfering with the ability of a student to complete degree requirements or field activities.
• Mental or physical conditions leading to potential emotional or physical harm of another student, faculty member, client, or field agency personnel.
• Sexual involvement with a client at a field agency.
• Unresolved bias and/or behavior in violation of ADEI policies (Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

All students are held equally to the above academic and non-academic performance standards, and each student’s continuance in the MSU Social Work program is determined by their suitability for professional social work practice as observed by social work faculty, and as evidenced by acceptable performance while in the formative evaluation process.

Formative Performance Evaluation Procedure

Step One: The student will receive a Formative Performance Evaluation Student Success Plan Notice via email listing the concern(s). A copy of this notice will also be given to the student’s assigned program option advisor.

• The student has seven days to meet with their advisor to discuss the concern. This meeting will include the faculty with the presenting concern, and other faculty as deemed appropriate.
• The student, faculty member, and advisor will sign and date the notice.
• The notice will be placed in the student file

Step Two: The faculty with the presenting concern and the student develops a written Student Success Plan to address the concern. This document will be developed within seven days and will prescribe the remediation time frame, University or community support resources available, and action steps required to resolve the deficiencies.

• The student, faculty member, and advisor will sign the plan.
• A copy of the plan is given to the student and to the student’s advisor to be placed in the student’s file.

Step Three: The faculty with the presenting concern completes the Student Success Plan Resolution Form at the time of the assigned remediation date to assess performance compliance.

• The student, faculty, and advisor will sign the resolution form and the form will be placed in the student file.
• If the deficiencies are not resolved the student may be denied field and/or terminated from the program.

Considerations:

1. In extreme instances (e.g., where the deficiencies are considered severe, the Social Work program may opt to bypass the remediation plan and process the student out of the Social Work program.
2. If the student does not follow the process of remediation, the program option faculty may terminate the student from the program.

Social Work Program Appeal and/or Grievance Procedures
Students are expected and encouraged to voice their concerns regarding factors that may present barriers to their learning objectives in the program.

Prior to formal grievance proceedings, several avenues are available to students’ seeking recourse, including:

• Talking to the instructor with whom the student has the concern to try to resolve the problem.
• Talking to the faculty advisor within seven days regarding the specific incident or concern.

In the event the issue cannot be resolved informally the student may:

• Appeal to the Social Work Program Director
• Appeal to the Chair of the Behavioral Sciences and Criminal Justice Department.
• Appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs
• Appeal to the Student Rights Committee

Appeal and/or Grievance Instructions

1. A student wishing to file a grievance is advised to submit an email to the Program Director.
2. The Program Director will meet with the appropriate faculty member(s) to discuss the grievance.
3. The Program Director will schedule a follow-up meeting with the student as appropriate to discuss options for resolution.
4. If no resolution can be found after the initial meeting, a meeting with the department chair will be scheduled.
5.  If the Social Work Program Director is the faculty member initiating the concern, the student would appeal to the department chair as the first step in the process.