All social work majors are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner consistent with the NASW Code of Ethics. The School of Social Work reserves the right to refuse enrollment or continuation to any student who, in the judgment of a majority of the Graduate Admissions Committee, has behavioral problems which could be detrimental to the welfare of the clients served by the student or who exhibits such irresponsible behavior as to preclude confidence in his/her completion of the field practicum. This right includes the more difficult problem of the student who performs well academically but does not relate appropriately to people or is emotionally or psychologically unstable or immature. Such a student may be referred to the Missouri State University Counseling and Testing Center, if appropriate. The student might be advised that s/he cannot continue in the program, with every effort made to help him/her understand and accept this decision.

If a social work student, in the majority opinion of the Graduate Admissions Committee, violates the NASW Code of Ethics or other professional standards, the student is subject to the following process. 

1. Informal Advisement: The student will receive a verbal warning conveyed to the student by the Graduate Admissions Committee, Director of the School, or the assigned adviser.
2. Formal Advisement: The student will receive a written warning delineating the specific concerns through the assigned advisor.
3. Program Termination: If the preceding steps have not brought about acceptable changes in the student's conduct or if a student's conduct flagrantly violates the NASW Code of Ethics or other professional standards, the student will be terminated from the MSW program

Criteria for Possible Dismissal/Termination From the Social Work Program

Students are expected to meet graduate school requirements for good academic standing of a 3.00 GPA for all graduate course work transferred in or earned at missouristate. Students will be dismissed from the program for any of the following academic reasons: 

1. two grades of "C" in any social work courses;
2. a grade below "C" in any social work course;
3. a grade of  " no pass" or"C"  in any  field practicum(SWK635 and SWK680) and field seminar (SWK640 and SWK685).

In addition, students may be dismissed from the social work program for any of the following non-academic actions:

1. plagiarism;
2. cheating;
3. stealing;
4. destruction or concealment of library or other resources needed by other;
5. professional misrepresentation such as:
   1. events surrounding an incident involving professional conduct;
   2. fabrication of client data pertaining to course or field practicum assignments;
   3. professional qualifications, education, experience, or affiliations.
6. engaging in social work practice while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or other chemicals;
7. breach of professional confidentiality;
8. sexual harassment of clients, colleagues, or supervisors;
9. engagement in consensual relationship where either conflict of interest or abuse of power differential is present;
10. exploitation of professional relationships for personal gain;
11. engagement in any form of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, or physical or mental disability;
12. involvement in felonious criminal activity.

In all situations, student rights will be scrupulously protected. This protection includes but is not limited to a hearing at the student's written request before the full Graduate Admissions Committee. Students are also afforded rights to appeal a committee decision to the Director, the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the President of Missouri State University.