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MSW Student Guide

Section 3.10.01: Leaving Field Placement, Replacement Protocol, and Grading

If a student leaves their field placement, it will fall into one of four categories. These categories require separate forms. The student will collaborate with the Office of Field Education to determine the category and complete the appropriate documentation.

1. Terminated from Field Placement

Termination from field occurs when a student is requested to leave the field placement due to student performance issues, ethical violations, unprofessional conduct, or if the field site determines that continuation of the student at the field site would have a negative impact on the field site and the clients/community being served. The appropriate form is used is to document that a student is terminated from their field placement. The student should complete this form after consulting with the UM-SSW field faculty and the Office of Field Education.

Students who are terminated from their field placement will receive a grade of U for their field course(s) the term, and any field hours completed prior to termination during the term will not count toward field hours in future terms. The terminated student may be required to meet with the student success team (which would include, the field faculty, the faculty advisor, the director of field education, the MSW program director, and a representative from the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management). Once it is determined that it is appropriate for the student to re-enter field, the student would be placed in a new field placement at the start of the next term. The student is required to submit an
Out-of-Sequence Petition and a new field placement application as soon as possible after termination. Termination from two field placements will result in a referral to the associate dean for educational programs and the Academic Concerns Committee to determine an appropriate plan of action which may include possible dismissal from the program.

Students terminated from their field placement in the final term of SW691, will be required to complete an additional term of field education in order to secure a new placement and demonstrate competency development.

2. Withdrawing from Field (Placement and Course)

Students who choose to leave their field placement during the term would be withdrawing from their field course. The student must withdraw from or submit an add/drop slip for SW 515 "Foundation Field Education" and/or SW 691 "Advanced Field Education". The student must also submit an
Out-of-Sequence Petition so the Office of Field Education can adjust their student record.

Students who choose to withdraw will receive “W” for the field course(s) the term (if after the drop/add deadline). If a student withdraws from field, field hours accumulated for the term prior to withdrawal will not count toward field hours in future terms. The student is responsible for submitting an add/drop request and/or request a withdraw with the SSW Office of the Registrar. In order to be placed for next term, the student must submit an
Out-of-Sequence Petition and a new field placement application as soon as possible. The student would work with the Office of Field Education to identify a new field placement that will begin at the start of the next term the student is enrolled.

Students who choose to leave their field placement with only one term of SW691 remaining, may be required to complete an additional term of field education in order to secure a new placement and demonstrate competency development. Students should meet with their assigned UM-SSW field faculty to determine if a one semester placement is a viable option.

3. Special Circumstances for Leaving Field Placement

The field faculty, in consultation with the director of field education, will determine whether any given instance falls into this category, but may include issues at the agency level affecting field education.  The appropriate form is used to document when a student is leaving their field placement because of special circumstances. Depending on the circumstance, the student’s hours may or may not count towards their next field placement. The student’s grade will be dependent on their performance while at the field placement. The Office of Field Education will work to replace the student in the same term if possible.

The student must submit a field placement application as soon as possible so that the Office of Field Education can work to find a new field placement during the current term. If OFE is unable to find a new field placement in the current term, the student would receive a grade of I or NR. OFE will update this grade once the student has completed the necessary field hours and documentation in their new placement.

4. End-of-Term Switching Field Placement

Online students may choose to switch field placements at the end of a term. However, students should be mindful that alternative options may not be available in their locations. Consideration regarding switching placements must be discussed in advance with the students’ field faculty. Students should be aware that a switch in field sites may delay their progress through the program.