Social Work

Vision

The University of New England School of Social Work envisions a world where social workers are at the forefront of advocating with individuals and communities for human dignity and social inclusion by mobilizing efforts to end inequities, exploitation, and violence.

Mission

The mission of the School of Social Work is to provide transformative and collaborative learning that embraces the values of social inclusion and promotes enhanced quality of life for individuals and communities.

Values

Our values promote social inclusion1 conceptualized as actions taken to improve quality of life, access to equitable resources, enhancement of human bonds within the context of cultural diversity, and engagement of people, populations, and communities to fully participate in society. Towards this end:

• We promote culturally informed practice that is respectful of the complexity and diversity of people’s lives and circumstances.
• We recognize that social exclusion prevents people from full and just participation in their communities as a consequence of inequities, discrimination, and disadvantage arising from adversity in early life and continuing across the life course.
• We practice social responsibility by raising public awareness of social exclusion; challenging discrimination; and acting with and on behalf of groups, populations, and communities.
• We support person-centered collaborative practices and partnerships that bring together diverse workers and community members to meet the best interests of individuals, families, and groups.

“The process of improving the ability, opportunity, and dignity of people, disadvantaged on the basis of their identity, to take part in society.” (2013, World Bank Publication)

References:

1. Inclusion Matters: The Foundation for Shared Prosperity, World Bank, 2013
2. The Promotion of Social Inclusion, The Charity Commission, England, and Wales, 2001
3. Dimensions of Social Inclusion and Exclusion In Yukon 2010, Yukon Bureau of Statistics, 2010

The School of Social Work prepares people for advanced professional practice and is accredited to offer the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree by the Council on Social Work Education.

M.S.W. graduates learn to:

• Understand the potential for individual and collective human development when people live with dignity and social justice
• Identify people's strengths across diverse populations and how to build upon them
• Understand the multiple social, cultural, political, and economic factors influencing the design, development, and evaluation of social policies and programs
• Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out multiple social work interventions consistent with the school's mission and the profession's ethics
• Develop intervention strategies that empower individuals, families, groups, or communities.

The M.S.W. degree offers graduates the opportunity to play active roles in the areas of physical and behavioral health, alcohol and substance abuse, poverty, public welfare, women's and children's services, intimate partner violence, homelessness, corrections, applied arts and social justice, and other emerging areas of service delivery.

The program prepares graduates to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in an array of settings and with diverse populations. The values and commitments embedded in the school's mission statement permeate our work in every area.

Program Goals

Prepare competent master-level professional social workers who at every system level provide leadership to:

• Promote social inclusion to enable people, populations, and communities to fully participate in society.
• Create person-centered collaborative and sustainable relationships across diverse communities and practice settings.
• Develop and apply ethical reflection, critical consciousness, and shared decision-making based on social work values and with consideration of the broader contexts of the world in which we live. 

These goals are integrated into the social work curriculum. Through their presence in courses, fieldwork internships, and internal School governance we bring our mission statement to life.

The School of Social Work at the University of New England is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education to offer the master's degree in social work.

Students in the campus-based program option can complete their M.S.W. in two years as a traditional full-time student or in three to four years as a part-time student. Students who have graduated from an accredited B.S.W. program can apply for Advanced Standing and complete their M.S.W. in just one year (full time) or two years (part time). Occasional campus-based M.S.W. courses are offered in a hybrid format that blends online learning with classroom experiences within the individual courses. Hybrid courses are not to be confused with the online M.S.W. option. It is not possible for students to take both online courses via the online program option and campus-based courses via the campus-based program option at the same time. Hybrid courses are offered as part of the campus-based option only.

M.S.W students are required to complete 64 credit hours of graduate course study. Additionally, students are required to complete two separate field placements (internships) that consists of four semesters of supervised practice in approved social work settings. Generalist field placements will be at least 400 hours and specialization will be at least 500 hours.

Advanced Standing students complete 32 credit hours and one field placement consisting of two semesters. Students coming from programs outside of UNE are required to take SSW 526 as a requirement of the M.S.W. program. Students coming directly from UNE’s B.S.W. program are exempt from taking SSW 526 and take another elective in its place.

Certificate options

The UNE School of Social Work offers three certificate options* in Applied Arts and Social Justice, Trauma-Informed Practice, or Training in Diversity and Aging (TRIAD**). Certificates are integrated into the M.S.W. degree curriculum and completed within the required credit course structure (see individual certificate pages for more detail).

*The Applied Arts and Social Justice and TRIAD Certificates are offered as part of the campus-based program option

**TRIAD certificate comes with a $10,000 stipend and is only available to students entering their specialization year in Fall 2022.

Generalist Year

Generalist social work courses emphasize an integrated social work perspective involving the social context and its impact on social policy, programs, and the social work profession. Courses include Human Behavior and the Social Environment I and II; Social Work Research and Action Research for Social Work Practice; Social Work Policy and Advocacy; Social Work Practice I and II; and Field Integrating Seminars I and II. In addition, students spend 400 hours in a field setting, which permits students another learning mode through placements in social agencies and programs with structured on-site professional supervision.

Specialization Year

Specialization social work courses prepare students for a wide range of advanced practice roles. Students glean clinical skills necessary for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, and groups, while they can also take advanced courses in policy and program development, administration, supervision, political advocacy, community practice, and evaluation.

The School of Social Work's curriculum is taught within a framework based in social work values of social inclusion, anti-oppression, and contextualizes human experience with consideration to social determinants of health and well-being. Students learn skills to translate practice knowledge into work in organizations and communities. The curriculum prepares graduates for professional leadership positions within their communities and beyond.

Learn more about Social Work Online Program Option

Traditional Student Progression

Generalist Curriculum	Credits
SSW/SSWO 501 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I	3
SSW/SSWO 502 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II	3
SSW/SSWO 503 Social Work Research	3
SSW/SSWO 504 Action Research for Social Work Practice	3
SSW/SSWO 505 Social Policy and Advocacy	3
SSW/SSWO 510 Social Work Practice I	3
SSW/SSWO 511 Social Work Practice II	3
SSW/SSWO 520 Field Practicum I/Seminar	4
SSW/SSWO 522 Field Practicum II/Seminar	4
SSW/SSWO Elective	3
Generalist Total	32

Specialization Curriculum	Credits
SSW/SSWO 552 Advanced Clinical Practice I	3
SSW/SSWO 553 Advanced Clinical Practice II	3
SSW/SSWO 597 Advanced Psychosocial Assessment	3
SSW/SSWO 565 Leadership, Administration and Supervision	3
SSW/SSWO 580 Field Practicum III/Seminar	4
SSW/SSWO 582 Field Practicum IV/Seminar	4
SSW/SSWO 585: Substance Use: A Social Work Perspective	3
Elective	3
Elective	3
Elective	3
Specialization Total	32

Traditional Student Progression Program Total Credits	64

Advanced Standing Progression (Online and On-Campus)

Generalist Requirements	Credits
Waived with B.S.W. from CSWE accredited program	N/A

Program Requirements	Credits
SSW/SSWO 526 Integrating Clinical/Community Practice Frameworks*	3
SSW/SSWO 552 Advanced Clinical Practice I	3
SSW/SSWO 553 Advanced Clinical Practice II	3
SSW/SSWO 597 Advanced Psychosocial Assessment	3
SSW/SSWO 565 Administration and Supervision	3
SSW/SSWO 580 Field Practicum III/Seminar	4
SSW/SSWO 582 Field Practicum IV/Seminar	4
SSW/SSWO 585 Substance Use: A Social Work Perspective	3
Elective	3
Elective	3

Total Advanced Standing Online and On-campus Program Credits	32

*Campus Advanced Standing students take this course in the middle of August, prior to New Student Orientation and the start of the fall semester. This course is only taken by non-UNE B.S.W. students. UNE B.S.W. students take an additional elective in its place.

Graduation Requirements

Students must successfully complete all courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 prior to graduation and fulfill all curriculum requirements.

Graduates of the UNE SSW will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:

1. Practice social inclusion to enable people, populations, and communities to fully participate in society, enhance human bonds in the context of cultural diversity and ensure improved quality of life and equitable resource distribution.
2. Engage in culturally-informed relationship building respectful of the complexity and diversity of contexts and circumstances.
3. Utilize theories of human behavior, social systems, and social inclusion when offering interventions with people and their environments.
4. Promote ethical reflection, critical consciousness and shared decision-making based on social work values and with consideration of the broader contexts of the world in which we live.
5. Balance the roles of helpers, activists, and advocates through collaboration with communities to build healthy and sustainable resources.
6. Engage as critical consumers and producers of research and evaluation applied to clinical and community practices.
7. Practice person-centered and collaborative community partnerships across diverse settings.

Petitions for transfer credits for graduate social work courses to be submitted at the time of acceptance to the School of Social Work

• Up to nine (9) credits may be transferred for courses completed with a minimum grade of “B” and equivalent to UNE SSW foundation courses
• P/F courses will not be accepted for transfer credit
• No course electives nor courses from programs outside of social work will be considered for transfer credit
• All courses to have been completed within seven (7) years of anticipated enrollment in the school

Applicants petitioning for transfer credits must include the following

• Professional statement to include reasons for requesting transfer to the University of New England School of Social Work
• A syllabus, with detailed readings and assignment descriptions, for each course being submitted for transfer credit

Transfer students are required to adhere to the degree-requirement progression plan in effect at the time of your admission (Note: Individualized provisions may, at times, increase the total credit hours required for graduation from the School of Social Work)

SSW may require transfer students to enroll in SSW 526 Integrating Clinical\Community Frameworks as part of their progression plan.

Consideration of transfer credit beyond nine (9) credits and 7-year matriculation may be considered on a case by case basis at the time of admission.

EXPERIENTIAL CREDIT

• Per CSWE, academic credit is not given for life experiences or previous work experience

Admission Requirements

Master of Social Work Program

Specific application information for the campus-based Advanced Standing M.S.W. Progam can be found at the bottom of this page.

Application

The University of New England School of Social Work campus-based program (CBP) participates in the Graduate Centralized Application Service (GradCAS). All applicants are required to apply online through this service.

You can access the University of New England School of Social Work online program (OP) application online. All online applicants are required to apply through this portal.

Important Note: Degree requirements for the campus-based and online programs are identical.

Degree Requirement

Completion of Bachelor’s Degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, or international equivalent, prior to matriculation.

• All applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Please refer to the GradCAS (CBP) or Online application (OP) for additional information and instructions.
• Applicants who have not yet completed a Bachelor’s degree must submit a current official transcript.
• All official transcripts should be sent directly to GradCAS (CBP) or uploaded to the Online application (OP).

GPA Requirement

• Applications are reviewed holistically as a determination of academic readiness. The admissions committee values previous academic performance as indicated on transcripts and considers it as part of the review process.

Letters of Reference

Two references are required* – submitted via GradCAS (CBP) or Online (OP).

• References should come from individuals who can speak to your academic abilities and/or professional experiences.
• All reference requests are sent electronically via the GradCAS (CBP) or Online application (OP) service.

*References from friends or family members are not acceptable.

Personal Statement

• All applicants are required to demonstrate graduate-level writing skills.
• Please refer to the GradCAS (CBP) or Online application (OP) for specific writing prompts and additional information.

Resume

• A current resume or CV is required and should be uploaded directly to the GradCAS (CBP) or Online application (OP).

International Applicants

International applicants and those with foreign degrees and coursework are required to satisfy the following additional requirements:

• Official credential evaluation by World Education Service (WES), confirming degree and grade equivalency to that of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. The completed credential evaluation should be sent directly to GradCAS (CBP) or your online enrollment specialist (OP). Please refer to the International Admissions section of the UNE website for more information on the type of credential evaluation required for admission review.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of a UNE-approved English language proficiency test.
• Applicants should refer to the English Language Proficiency page on the UNE website for specific information and minimum score requirements.
• Please refer to the GradCAS (CBP) or Online application (OP) for test score submission instructions./li>

Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) Program

The advanced standing M.S.W. program can be completed through one year of full-time or two years of part-time enrollment for campus-based program (CBP) students. Completion of the advanced standing M.S.W. online program (OP) typically takes between 16 and 28 months.

Applicants are required to meet all the requirements listed above for the traditional M.S.W. track, as well as the following additional requirements/documents:

• Submission of an official transcript reflecting conferral of a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree from a CSWE accredited B.S.W. program, preferably within the last seven (7) years.
• Completion of coursework equivalent to UNE’s Foundation courses at the undergraduate level with a “B” or better is strongly preferred.
• Evidence of field placement with M.S.W. supervision. Please submit copies of field evaluations and verification of completed field hours as part of your application.
• One reference must come from a faculty member within your previous B.S.W. program who can speak to your academic abilities (this can serve as one of the required recommendations).
• Applicants who submit a complete application prior to the conferral of a bachelor's degree may be conditionally accepted upon satisfying all requirements listed above.
• UNE's B.S.W. 4+1 students have unique requirements and should refer to UNE's GradVantage guidelines.

All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of UNE and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

Due to continuing developments with COVID-19, some application requirements and processes may change during the cycle for the health and safety of the university, its employees, and prospective students/applicants. We appreciate your flexibility and consideration.

Policy Exceptions

• Policies have been established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants
• All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements
• Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made on a case by case basis, only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Principles

Social work education requires simultaneous acquisition of theory and social work practice skills and is a competency-based education that rests upon a shared and accepted view of the nature of competence in professional practice. Social work competence is the ability to integrate and apply social work knowledge, values, and skills to practice situations in a purposeful, intentional, and professional manner to promote human and community well-being. (Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), 2015).

The essential technical standards presented are required for subsequent promotion from year-to-year, and ultimately graduating from the University of New England (UNE) with either a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) or a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree. These standards pertain to all students enrolled in either the online or on-campus M.S.W. program at UNE.

UNE’s social work faculty is committed to fostering relationships with its students that encourage personal and professional growth. Its policies and procedures attempt to reflect this commitment to proactive and supportive communication. At the same time, it is imperative that all students recognize that the primary responsibility for a successful SSW education, both in and out of the classroom, rests with the student.

All students, including students with disabilities, must have the capacity to manage their lives and anticipate their own needs. Situations can arise in which a student’s behavior and attitudes resulting from a disability or other personal circumstances present a problem which impairs the student’s ability to meet the standards set forth, even after reasonable accommodations have been considered and, if appropriate, made by the program, all students must still meet the requirements set forth by the program.

All applicants, regardless of disability, will be held to the same admission standards, and all enrolled students, regardless of disability, will be held to the same academic standards, understanding that all properly submitted requests for reasonable accommodation will be considered.

Students are expected to maintain these academic and technical standards in all online, on-campus, and UNE-sponsored off-campus activities, including clinical and fieldwork experiences and relevant community service.

Academic Program Standards

All students must complete all Social Work program requirements and receive a passing grade in all courses and practicums to be eligible for graduation. The graduating M.S.W. student must have a cumulative grade point average of a 3.0 or better. In order to progress in the program, B.S.W. students must have a “C” or better in PSY 105 - Introduction to Psychology, SOC 150 - Introduction to Sociology, and SSW 200 – Introduction to Social Work. B.S.W. students must also receive a “C” or better in PSY 205 – Abnormal Psychology, PSY 250 – Lifespan Development, PUB 300 – Global Health, and all social work courses. B.S.W. students are given two chances to earn a “C” or better in their required coursework.

Technical Standards

Throughout the program, students are expected to maintain the technical standards set forth and demonstrate them online and in face-to-face interactions; this includes in their classroom comportment, written and oral products, and interactions with peers and faculty; in service-learning settings, and in their field practicum and other professional experiences. Student behaviors that fail to demonstrate these standards while in the program will be reviewed and appropriate action (e.g., remediation, counseling, or dismissal) will be taken. Because this expectation is separate from academic achievement, simply maintaining a GPA is not sufficient.

Ethics

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics (2021) outlines explicit standards for professional conduct. All students are required to acquire their own copy of the “Code of Ethics”, and are subsequently responsible for reading, understanding, and following all Ethical Principals and Ethical Standards as outlined.

Indicators of Concern

• Violation of NASW Code of Ethics (2021), relevant laws, or policies

Respect for Diversity and Social Justice

UNE SSW students are expected to:

• Exhibit a willingness to relate and work nonjudgmentally across difference with others.
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and sensitivity to diversity, oppression, and privilege, including a willingness to examine personal beliefs, values, and assumptions that perpetuate oppression.
• Understanding that members of the social work profession must serve all persons in need of assistance, regardless of the person’s age, class, race, gender, religious affiliation, physical or cognitive ability level, sexual orientation, background, or value system.
• Demonstrate an interest in different cultural perspectives and circumstances and acknowledge diversity.
• Demonstrate the ability to solicit and identify quality sources of feedback, reflect on, and integrate the feedback, learn from mistakes and failures. And provide meaningful feedback to others (e.g. appropriately discussing and supporting diversity, be responsive to feedback and constructive criticism regarding professional behavior and attitude, and understand the seriousness of academic and disciplinary warnings).

Indicators of Concern

• Violation of NASW Code of Ethics (2021), relevant laws, or policies.
• Use of discriminatory language or stereotypes.
• Inability to recognize the impact of their own personal values and behaviors on their relationship with others.
• Discriminatory behavior or harassment towards others on the basis of race, gender, age sexual orientation, disability, religion, etc.

Communication

Communication includes speech, language, reading, writing, computer literacy, body language, and other, non-verbal ques.

UNE SSW students are expected to:

• Ensure that all their communication is timely, respectful*, with speech free from bias, discriminatory language or stereotyping and responsive to the requests of faculty, field instructors, peers, clients, collaterals, potential and current practicum sites, and associated personnel, and to the School, College, and University as a whole.
• To read all communications posted by the School of Social Work (SSW) and are responsible for staying abreast of current and ongoing information pertinent to their roles as graduate and professional students.
• Advocate for themself in an ethical, direct, respectful, and responsible manner using SSW and agency-specific channels for conflict management.
• Demonstrate respect for the privacy of their clients; refrain from gathering information about clients from online sources without the client’s consent (i.e. googling client history, accessing client social media); photographing clients; or publishing client information on social media.
• Follow relevant laws, field education agency policy, NASW Code of Ethics (1.07) pertaining to social media and in use of technology in all aspects of service delivery.
• Maintain awareness of how personal communications using social media could affect professional relationships with clients, colleagues, and agencies.
• That their written assignments demonstrate: good spelling, appropriate use of punctuation, clear structure, paragraphing, good organization, follows logical sequence. Consistent use of APA style.

Indicators of Concern

• Violation of NASW Code of Ethics (2021), relevant laws, or policies.
• Use of discriminatory language or stereotypes.
• Written work is frequently vague, shows difficulty in expressing ideas clearly and concisely.
• Student has many errors in the areas of spelling, punctuation, structure, etc. and does not make effort to show improvement.
• Appears to have plagiarized the work of others.
• Demonstrating disrespectful behavior to self or others.
• Communication is not reciprocated in a timely manner.
• Public use of social media which depicts self or others in ways that may be viewed as unprofessional or disrespectful
  • Respectful communication is partially explained in the NASW’s “Code of Ethics”: Social Workers treat each person, in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity...
  • 2.01 Respect a) Social Workers should treat colleagues with respect and should represent accurately and fairly the qualifications, views, and obligations of colleagues. b) Social Workers should avoid unwarranted negative criticism of colleagues in verbal, written, and electronic communications with clients or with other professionals. Unwarranted negative criticism may include demeaning comments that refer to colleagues’ level of competence, or to individuals'’ attributes such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, and mental or physical ability. C) Social workers should cooperate with social work colleagues and with colleagues of other professions when such cooperation serves the well-being of clients.

Intellectual

UNE SSW students are expected to:

• Effectively solve problems students must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, comprehend, integrate, and synthesize information from the clinical, natural, and social sciences in a timely fashion.
• Have the ability to use computers for searching, recording, storing, and retrieving information.
• Specialization year students must have the ability to use critical analysis to understand theory, research, literature, and principles that apply to social work practice and to apply inductive and deductive clinical reasoning to solve complex patient or client problems as necessary.
• M.S.W. students must be able to provide a reasoned explanation for likely intervention.
• Students must be able to recall and retain information in an efficient and timely manner.
• Students must have the ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and literature in formulating treatment plans is essential.

Indicators of Concern

• Limited or no access to computer and/or the internet
• Inability to reasonably explain interventions used for treatment
• Limited ability to incorporate feedback and information from peers, teachers and literature from the field.
• Inability to problem solve without intervention from a faculty or supervisor.

Openness and Willingness to Learn

UNE SSW students are expected to:

• Demonstrate an openness to learning new ideas and perspectives.
• As required by the demands of professional practice, be flexible and adaptable in new situations and as circumstances change.
• Assume the stance of learning with humility (e.g. avoid relying solely on current or past professional or personal experiences to inform your decision-making in the field and in the classroom).
• Demonstrate a willingness to effectively communicate your learning needs.

Indicators of Concern

• Monopolizes class discussion(s).
• Constantly complains about class workload to the point that it impedes the class process.
• Uses classroom tools, such as the discussion board, to make personal complaints or to lobby for personal issues.
• Creates conflict which impedes learning and/or building effective relationships.
• Uncooperative or unwilling to participate in class or practicum activities.
• Consistently late on assignments.
• Consistently late to practicum site.
• Does not sign into Blackboard as frequently as expected or is late or leaves class early.
• Disruptive to the learning environment.
• Uses derogatory language or makes demeaning remarks.
• Unable or unwilling to accept feedback.
• Responds in a defensive manner.
• Consistently argumentative.
• Academic misconduct.
• Takes little initiative in exploring areas of learning growth.

Professional and Behavioral Conduct

Each SSW student enrolled at UNE is expected to:

• Behave in a responsible, reliable, and dependable manner (e.g. manage time well; be on time for class; be on time for assignments, meetings, and appointments; plan ahead and follow through with commitments; cooperate with person(s) in charge of programs; and take responsibility for absences or missed assignment(s).
• Provide notice to faculty and/or person(s) in charge of programs when not able to follow through with commitments including assignments, class attendance and participation, and other responsibilities required by the program.
• Demonstrate personal integrity, honesty, and self-discipline (e.g. be consistent and truthful, to show appropriate personal control; take on tasks that they can manage; be honest in reports and self-evaluations).
• Project a professional image, both online and in-person, in manner, dress, grooming, speech, and interpersonal relationships.
• Recognize their personal limitations and biases, whether they are intellectual, physical or emotional, and to strive to overcome them.
• Demonstrate the professional and emotional maturity to manage tensions and conflicts which occur among professional, personal, and family responsibilities, seeking professional help if necessary (e.g. acknowledge the conflict with all parties and work to resolve misunderstandings; get needed help from student support, tutors, counselors, learning assistance professionals and other qualified persons; show ability to prioritize appropriately one’s personal, professional, and academic expectations and activities).
• Demonstrate the ability to exercise sound judgment and to function under pressure (e.g. request help when needed and to avoid endangering others; respect the difference between a licensed social worker and a social worker in training; remain focused on the task at hand; remember that as an SSW student
• they are representing UNE SSW and the social work profession to the greater community at large.)
• Demonstrate compassion and respect towards others (e.g. work cooperatively with differences and diversity in personalities and in cultural backgrounds as well as with differences in social and in economic status, and respect the privacy and individual choice of others).
• Demonstrate consistent respect for administrators, faculty, staff, students of the University, as well as all personnel associated with current or potential practicum sites, clients, patients, families, and collaterals.
• Familiarize themselves with the policies and procedures of field sites for their clinical or fieldwork placements and to act in accordance with those guidelines. Students should refer to the relevant policies of the specific institution and/or consult with clinical field instructors or supervisors.
• Be informed of, and follow all Federal and State laws and agency policies regarding confidentiality and mandatory reporting.
• Demonstrate the ability to solicit and identify quality sources of feedback, reflect on and integrate the feedback, learn from mistakes and failures.

Indicators of Concern

• Violation of NASW Code of Ethics (2021), relevant laws, or policies
• Creates conflict which impedes learning and/or building effective relationships.
• Uses classroom tools, such as the discussion board, to make personal complaints or to lobby for personal issues.
• Uncooperative or unwilling to participate in class or practicum activities.
• Consistently late on assignments.
• Consistently late to practicum site.
• Does not sign into Blackboard as frequently as expected or is late or leaves class early.
• Disruptive to the learning environment.
• Uses derogatory language or makes demeaning remarks.
• Difficulty in listening (e.g. overly sensitive, externalizes blame, distorts communication).
• Unable or unwilling to accept feedback.
• Responds in a defensive manner.
• Consistently argumentative.
• Monopolizes class discussion(s).
• Constantly complains about class workload to the point that it impedes the class process.
• Unwilling or unable to develop an understanding of people different from oneself.
• Inability to separate their personal values from professional values and responsibilities.
• Inability to recognize the impact of their own personal values and behaviors on their relationship with others.
• Discriminatory behavior or harassment towards others on the basis of race, gender, age sexual orientation, disability, religion, etc.
• Physical action directed at clients, faculty, staff, colleagues, or fellow students.
• Academic misconduct.
• Takes little initiative in exploring areas of learning growth.

Self-Understanding

UNE SSW students are expected to:

• Use self-disclosure appropriately (e.g. student seems to have an insight and self-awareness, and has resolved the issue they are sharing).
• Appear to be able to handle discussion of uncomfortable topics.
• Deal appropriately with issues that arouse emotions.
• Demonstrate an awareness of one’s own personal limits and biases.
• Understands the effect of one’s own behavior on others.
• Seeks supervision and feedback from others.
• Willing to examine, assess, and reconcile (if need be) the relationship between their own personal values and their alignment with the profession's ethics as outlined in NASW’s Code of Ethics.

Indicators of Concern

• When engaged in self-disclosure, the student appears to be working through unresolved issues and/or avoiding client issues.
• The student appears to overreact to or resent feedback (e.g. takes it personally).
• Appears unwilling or unable to control emotional reactions.
• Verbal or physical threats directed towards clients, faculty, staff, coworkers, or students.
• Demonstrates impaired judgment, decision-making, or problem-solving skills.
• Consistent failure to demonstrate the ability to form effective client/social worker relationship.

Reasonable Accommodations

• Are intended to provide students with disabilities equal access to the University’s programs and services while upholding the academic, clinical, and technical standards of the M.S.W. program.
• Are provided only to the extent that such accommodation does not fundamentally alter the academic and/or technical standards of the B.S.W. or M.S.W. program or interfere with the rights of other students.
• Do not exempt B.S.W. or M.S.W. students from completing certain tasks deemed essential.
• Are considered on a case-by-case basis and determined by the UNE Student Access Center in consultation with SSW faculty through the University’s accommodations application process.

Continued Enrollment Requirements

• HIPPA: Students must be in compliance with UNE HIPAA requirements to attend practicum.
• Background checks: Practicum sites may request background checks. Information obtained in background checks may inhibit students from completing generalist or advanced field practicums and thus may delay or hinder graduation. The university does not pay for these checks.
• Drug Screening: Practicum sites may request drug screens. Information obtained in drug screens may inhibit students from completing generalist or advanced field practicums and thus may delay or hinder graduation. The university does not pay for these tests.
• Transportation: All students must provide their own transportation to practicum sites and interviews. Students must be willing to travel a reasonable distance for their practicum.
• Technology: Students enrolled in the online M.S.W. program are required to comply with the Technology Requirements for Online Programs, as outlined.
• Last update 4.8.22