Academic and Professional Behavior Policies
MSW Student Standards
The Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) faculty and professional staff are responsible for determining whether students demonstrate the required level of classroom, field, professional, and ethical achievement appropriate for professional interactions with colleagues, faculty, field instructors, administrators, staff, and clients.
The College is committed to the treatment of students with fairness and equity throughout the program. The MSW Student Standards apply to students’ enrollment in the MSW program at any point in time, from admission to graduation. Each admitted student is required to read, comprehend and complete the Student Standards. Students are required to adhere to MSW program policies, GCSW and University of Houston (UH) policies.
Enrollment Status
Applicants request admission into either face to face, hybrid, or online enrollment status. Face to face is a full-time program that is completed in 2 years. Hybrid and online programs are part-time and take three years to complete.
Most students are admitted into the specific enrollment status to which they have applied; however, the GCSW reserves the right to limit the number of students admitted in each enrollment model in a given year. Students who wish to change their status prior to their initial enrollment may have to postpone starting the program for a full year if all slots are full. Once enrolled officially (i.e., tuition and fees are paid), students may change their status only with the recommendation of the academic advisor and approval from the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs.
Final Course Letter Grade
Courses graded as S, U, or I will not be considered in computing a grade point average. A grade of “pass” in a course is equivalent to the letter grade of “B.”
| Grade Scale |
| Grade |
Percent |
| A |
90 - 100% of the points |
| B |
80 - 89% |
| C |
70 - 79% |
| D |
60 - 69% |
| F |
Below 60% |
Academic Probation and Suspension
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) and satisfactory performance in all courses, including field practicum. A student whose grade point average (GPA) falls below 3.0 (B) will be placed on academic probation. Removal from academic probation is granted when the student’s GPA is raised to B (3.0) or above. The student has 12 semester credit hours to raise the G.P.A. to a 3.0. The 12 semester credit hours include pass/fail courses. Students admitted conditionally must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their first semester of graduate work at the GCSW. Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA will result in termination from the M.S.W. program.
Automatic Academic Dismissal (Termination)
Whether or not in repeated courses, a student is automatically dismissed from the program for the reasons listed below. A student who is dismissed is ineligible for an MSW degree at this College and will not be permitted to re-enroll in the MSW Program.
- Three “C” Rule: Receives low grades (C+ or lower including U’s) in 3 graduate courses attempted at this university, whether or not in repeated courses.
- Receives 2 U’s in practicum courses.
- If a student who is on academic probation does not raise their GPA to 3.0 within 12 semester credit hours, they will be dismissed from the MSW program. This includes pass/fail courses and any course attempted at the University of Houston whether inside or outside of the GCSW.
- Students who are admitted conditionally must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their first semester of graduate work at the GCSW. Failure to achieve a 3.0 GPA will result in termination from the M.S.W. program.
Incomplete Grades
The grade of “I” (Incomplete) is a conditional and temporary grade given when students are either (a) passing a course or (b) still have a reasonable chance of passing in the judgment of the instructor but, for non-academic reasons beyond their control have not completed a relatively small part of all requirements. Students are responsible for informing the instructor immediately of the reasons for not submitting an assignment on time or not taking an examination. Students must contact the instructor of the course in which they receive an “I” grade to make arrangements to complete the course requirements. Students should be instructed not to re-register for the same course in a following semester in order to complete the incomplete requirements. The grade of “I” must be changed by fulfillment of course requirements within one year of the date awarded or it will be changed automatically to an “F” (or to a “U” [Unsatisfactory] in S/U graded courses). The instructor may require a time period of less than one year to fulfill course requirements, and the grade may be changed by the instructor at any time to reflect work completed in the course. The grade of “I” may not be changed to a grade of W.
Continuous Enrollment and Leave of Absense
Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment throughout their course of study. A temporary, time limited leave of absence generally up to 12 months may be granted for compelling reasons. To take a leave of absence, students should complete a Request for Leave of Absence (LOA) form. Students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment without initiating an official leave of absence will be considered as having withdrawn from the MSW program. Students may be required to reapply for admission without continuous enrollment or an approved LOA request.
Time Limitation on Completion of Degrees
Students who are enrolled as graduate students at the University of Houston must complete the MSW program within five years of the date of enrollment.
Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
For the full explanation of the UH Academic Honesty Policy and Procedure, see: http://www.uh.edu/provost/policies/honesty/. “Academic dishonesty” means employing a method or technique or engaging in conduct in an academic endeavor that contravenes the standards of ethical integrity expected at the University of Houston or by a course instructor to fulfill any and all academic requirements. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to, the following:
a) Plagiarism: Representing as one’s own work the work of another without acknowledging the source (plagiarism). Plagiarism includes copying verbatim text from the literature, whether printed or electronic, in all assignments including field.
b) Cheating and Unauthorized Group Work
- Openly cheating in an examination, such as copying from another’s paper;
- Being able to view during an examination, quiz or any in-class assignment an electronic device that allows communication with another person, access to unauthorized material, access to the internet, or the ability to capture an image, unless expressly permitted by the instructor;
- Using and/or possessing “crib notes,” as unauthorized use of notes or the like to aid in answering questions during an examination;
- Giving or receiving unauthorized aid during an examination, such as trading examinations, whispering answers, and passing notes, and using electronic devices to transmit or receive information;
- Securing another to take a test in the student’s place. Both the student taking the test for another and the student registered in the course are at fault.
c) Fabrication, Falsification, and Misrepresentation
- Changing answers or grades on a test that has been returned to a student in an attempt to claim instructor error;
- Using another’s laboratory results as one’s own, whether with or without the permission of the owner;
- Falsifying results in laboratory experiments;
- Misrepresenting academic records or achievements as they pertain to course prerequisites or corequisites for the purpose of enrolling or remaining in a course for which one is not eligible;
- Representing oneself as a person who has earned a degree without having earned that particular degree.
d) Stealing and Abuse of Academic Materials
- Stealing, as theft of tests or grade books, from faculty offices or elsewhere, or knowingly using stolen tests or materials in satisfaction of exams, papers, or other assignments; this includes the removal of items posted for use by the students;
- Mutilating or stealing library materials; misshelving materials with the intent to reduce accessibility to other students.
e) Complicity in Academic Dishonesty: Failing to report to the instructor or departmental hearing officer an incident which the student believes to be a violation of the academic honesty policy.
f) Academic Misconduct: Any other conduct which a reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances would recognize as dishonest or improper in an academic setting.
Process:
Students shall have the responsibility of reporting incidents of alleged academic dishonesty to the instructor of record involved or to the appropriate authority if the alleged act is not associated with a specific class within 5 class days of the incident. Faculty or instructor of record shall have the responsibility of reporting incidents of alleged academic dishonesty through their college hearing officer within 5 class days of the incident. The faculty should include the recommended sanction in the report. The college hearing officer will notify the student of the report and recommended sanction. The student can accept the sanction and waive a hearing or request a college responsibility of reporting incidents of alleged academic dishonesty through their college hearing officer within 5 class days of the incident. A hearing shall be set within 10 days and would be consist of two faculty and three students chosen by the hearing officer.
On the day exams are given, cell phones or “smart” phones of any kind are not allowed during the time an exam is given. If a student is observed using an electronic device during an exam, the student will be asked to leave the exam and will receive a score of zero.
Academic Grievances
Students have the right to seek redress of any grievances related to their academic affairs. A grievance is an actual incident, or issue, which can be substantiated, and is regarded by a student as a just cause for protest. Persons against whom a grievance may be submitted include a classroom instructor, academic advisor, administrator, or other staff or faculty member of the Graduate College of Social Work. Students pursue a grievance with a desired outcome within the grievance. For more information and documentation please visit https://uh.edu/socialwork/current-students/policies/#AcaGrie
Student Grievance Policy - https://uh.edu/socialwork/current-students/policies/#AcaGrie
Grievance Cover Sheet - https://uh.edu/socialwork/current-students/policies/grievance-cover-sheet.pdf
Notice of Intent to File a Grievance - https://uh.edu/socialwork/current-students/policies/notice-of-intent-to-file-a-grievance.pdf
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