Professional Suitability for the Social Work Profession

Professional Standards for Students in the School of Social Work

The School of Social work is committed to creating a learning environment conducive to optimal education and clinical practice. The School has identified the Standards of Professional Conduct as minimum requirements for the conduct of students registered with the School of Social Work.

All students are expected to abide by these Standards of Professional Conduct as well as by University policy at all times and, in particular, while in any settings where activities (e.g., academic, clinical, or social) are carried out under the auspices of the University. The School of Social Work adheres to and promotes UBC Board of Governors Policies, Procedures and Guidelines, UBC Okanagan’s Campus-Wide Policies and Regulations, including the Student Code of Conduct, and the Canadian Association of Social Workers’ (CASW) Code of Ethics.

Although satisfactory academic performance is a prerequisite to advancement, it is not the sole criterion in considering the suitability of a student for advancement from year one to year two, or advancement to course completion and then graduation. Students’ professional conduct is evaluated as a component of the MSW program that also includes assessment of academic coursework and field education required for graduation.

Students who fail to meet expectations regarding professional conduct may be deemed unsuitable for further training and may be withdrawn from the program even though they meet all other program requirements. The process that takes place prior to a decision that a student is deemed unsuitable is described in Appendix D of the Student Handbook.