MSW Student Guide
Section 3.09.04: Policy on Unsuccessful Field Placement Interviews and Failure to Meet the Technical Standards Related to Field
Students must have a successful interview in order to receive a placement and proceed with the field education courses (SW 515 and SW 691). If the student is not accepted for the placement after the interview, they should reach out to the OFE placer, as they may have feedback from the field site that may be helpful to the student going forward.
Interview Offers
Students will be offered interviews based on their pathway, field application, and goal statements. Students are expected to move forward with interviews in a timely manner during the placing process. Students who refuse two invitations to interview with two different placements that align with their pathway and take into consideration any approved accommodations, will be required to attend a Field Support meeting. Field Support meetings include the student, Field Faculty, Placement Coordinator as applicable, and the Field Director (or designee). Students may at any point be referred for a Student Success meeting (See volume 1, section 14.05 Policy Governing Student Success Meetings). Students not placed within the placing semester may need to postpone field to the following semester.
Post Interviews
If a student declines two field placement offers following interviews or is not accepted by the field site for a field placement after two different interviews and/or if at any point the student fails to display the abilities and attributes identified in the U-M SSW Technical Standards, the student will not be permitted to interview further until a Field Support meeting occurs.
Occasionally, a student is not accepted for field placement after the initial interview because the field site identifies the student has displayed inappropriate professional behavior and/or has failed to demonstrate the ability to meet the U-M SSW Technical Standards. Inappropriate professional behavior can include, but is not limited to, arriving late for an interview or not calling/arriving for the interview; unprofessional/disrespectful language during the interview; or exhibiting behavior deemed not acceptable/suitable to the field site and the clients being served.
Students may at any point be referred for a Student Success meeting. Students not placed within the placing semester may need to postpone field to the following semester. A student may be referred to the associate dean for educational programs who determines whether a referral to the Academic Concerns Committee is warranted. Outcomes of meetings at this level will be decided on a case-by-case basis and can result in a number of outcomes up to and including dismissal from the program.
Interview Offers
Students will be offered interviews based on their pathway, field application, and goal statements. Students are expected to move forward with interviews in a timely manner during the placing process. Students who refuse two invitations to interview with two different placements that align with their pathway and take into consideration any approved accommodations, will be required to attend a Field Support meeting. Field Support meetings include the student, Field Faculty, Placement Coordinator as applicable, and the Field Director (or designee). Students may at any point be referred for a Student Success meeting (See volume 1, section 14.05 Policy Governing Student Success Meetings). Students not placed within the placing semester may need to postpone field to the following semester.
Post Interviews
If a student declines two field placement offers following interviews or is not accepted by the field site for a field placement after two different interviews and/or if at any point the student fails to display the abilities and attributes identified in the U-M SSW Technical Standards, the student will not be permitted to interview further until a Field Support meeting occurs.
Occasionally, a student is not accepted for field placement after the initial interview because the field site identifies the student has displayed inappropriate professional behavior and/or has failed to demonstrate the ability to meet the U-M SSW Technical Standards. Inappropriate professional behavior can include, but is not limited to, arriving late for an interview or not calling/arriving for the interview; unprofessional/disrespectful language during the interview; or exhibiting behavior deemed not acceptable/suitable to the field site and the clients being served.
Students may at any point be referred for a Student Success meeting. Students not placed within the placing semester may need to postpone field to the following semester. A student may be referred to the associate dean for educational programs who determines whether a referral to the Academic Concerns Committee is warranted. Outcomes of meetings at this level will be decided on a case-by-case basis and can result in a number of outcomes up to and including dismissal from the program.