Professional Conduct

Policy for Failing/Repeating Courses for Graduate Programs

Inherent in the professions are values demonstrated through professional conduct. Examples of professional values include demonstrating a commitment to one’s profession, demonstrating cooperation and collaboration, exhibiting intellectual and personal integrity and adhering to graduate program and practicum/internship/preceptorship agency policies. These categories serve as examples by which the student may be evaluated in the area of professional conduct.

In keeping with the philosophy of the College of Saint Mary and a Graduate level program of study, a student is expected to exhibit professional behavior when performing course related activities or representing the University in any capacity. The student is expected to follow the “Code of Conduct” identified in the Graduate Program Catalog.

Professional Conduct
1. Commitment to the Profession:
  1. When in any community agency experience, the student should be identified as a College of Saint Mary student by official identification. The student is expected to exhibit a professional manner which includes, but is not limited to, having a neat, clean appearance and utilizing appropriate language and behavior.
  2. The student notifies the faculty appropriately when she/he is unable to complete expected course-related responsibilities, will be absent from the experience, or must leave the area prior to the end of the scheduled experience.
In practicum/internship/preceptorship settings, graduate students are required to be well groomed and dressed to reflect a professional image. Students will abide by host agency policies for dress code. Students will be asked to leave the practicum/internship/preceptorship experience if their appearance does not meet the guidelines for professional image and personal appearance or the agency policy on dress code.
1. A graduate student being asked to leave a host agency for any reason is grounds for dismissal from the program. Examples include but are not limited to the following:
  1. Others’ welfare:
    1. The student is expected to conduct him/herself in a nondiscriminatory and nonjudgmental manner that is sensitive to diversity.
    2. When in the community in either an internship or practicum/ internship/preceptorship, the student places the welfare of others first by: being accessible and prompt in answering requests; establishing a priority of activities which reflects others’ needs; and being responsive and reliable when needs are identified. The student preserves and protects others’ autonomy, dignity and rights.
  2. Cooperation and collaboration:
    1. The student interacts professionally with faculty, staff, community members, and peers when giving and receiving information. When a question or unclear situation occurs, the student follows the appropriate channels of communication and authority for clarification. (Faculty> Program Director> Associate Dean> Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs.) The student’s written work is accurate, has a professional appearance, and is completed according to standards of the community agency and College of Saint Mary.
    2. The student is a cooperative team member who considers the needs of the entire group when working together, giving and receiving assignments, and accepting the roles and responsibilities of others in the group. The student accepts and acts upon constructive criticism.
    3. The program director reserves the right to adjust assignments as warranted by objectives, facility requests and faculty availability. Any changes which substantially affect a student’s schedule will be communicated to the student by the program director.
  3. Intellectual and personal integrity:
    1. The student exhibits intellectual and personal integrity by readily acknowledging mistakes and/or oversights, and takes action to correct the situation. The student is honest and truthful when interacting with others and in completing written work. The student completes his/her own work, not representing anyone else’s work as being his/her own. The student identifies group collaboration on projects when appropriate. Refer to the Policy on Academic Honesty in the Graduate Program Catalog.
    2. The student is expected not to enter any learning environment if impaired by physical or mental illness, medication or substance abuse, or any other problem that could jeopardize her/him or others.
    3. Any student who is asked to vacate a facility by duly authorized personnel of the facility is subject to a recommendation of immediate dismissal from the University by the Graduate Admissions and Policies Committee. Decisions of dismissal may be appealed in accordance with Graduate Program Catalog policy.
  4. Consequences of Unprofessional Conduct
    1. Initial action
      1. If displaying unprofessional conduct, the student will be sent from the classroom, practicum/internship/preceptorship or laboratory setting by the instructor or designated authority. The instructor will then notify the Program Director. The Program Director will notify other university officials as deemed necessary. Appropriate documentation will be completed.
    2. Follow-Up
      1. The Program Director and any other University officials as deemed necessary will review any violation of the Code of Conduct. The student has the responsibility to follow appropriate communication channels within two weeks of documentation of the incident in an attempt to resolve the situation. The student will be notified if she/he may return to the classroom or practicum/internship/preceptorship setting. If warranted, the situation may be brought to the Graduate Admissions and Policies Committee for review. The student will be notified of the committee decision.
Consequences
1. Practicum/internship/preceptorship time missed in the above situation will be considered as an unexcused absence and may result in the unsuccessful completion of the course. Unprofessional conduct may result in student dismissal from the graduate program.