The University of Michigan School of Social Work is fully committed to supporting and educating students as they progress through their education and prepare to enter the social work profession. Given the ethical responsibilities of professional social work practice to promote and protect the well-being of the clients and communities being served, problems arise when students struggle to meet minimum professional and technical standards and expectations that interfere with field education and put clients and community well-being at risk.

If concerns about a student's ability to meet these professional and technical standards are identified prior to starting field placement, the student will be referred for a Field Success meeting with the goal of reviewing their readiness for field education. If an agreeable resolution and plan cannot be established the matter will be referred to the associate dean for educational programs who determines whether a referral to the Academic Concerns Committee is warranted. Outcomes of meetings will be decided on a case-by-case basis and can result in a number of outcomes up to and including dismissal from the program.

If a student experiences an unexpected break (i.e., a break that causes them to vary from their course planning worksheet or take an extended period away from their field placement for any reason), they are required to complete a "Return to Field Placement Action Plan." The goal of the action plan is to ensure that the student is prepared to fulfill the responsibilities and expectations associated with field education. This plan must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the posted start date of field education for the term. It may not be possible to establish a new placement within a four week timeframe. An Out of Sequence Petition may also be required.

The student’s action plan will be reviewed and approved by the assigned field faculty member and must also have the approval of the director of field education (or designee). A Field Success meeting or Student Success meeting may also be scheduled at the recommendation of the field faculty.

If a student’s break in field placement was due to a medical need and a written medical release request is provided, a letter from a treating provider is required to document a student’s clearance to return. In these instances, the field office will provide the student a summary of the expected field duties which should be provided to their provider for consideration. In all cases in which a break in field placement is permitted (with or without a written medical release), the student’s Action Plan should include a statement regarding their readiness to return to field placement.

If a student’s Action Plan requires or anticipates requiring disability-related accommodations at a field site, the student is encouraged to work with the University of Michigan Services for Students with Disabilities Office, which is the centralized unit on campus that reviews and approves academic accommodations for students with disabilities. If a student is approved for accommodation(s), OFE will then work with the student to determine whether the accommodation(s) are feasible at a field site.

In some cases, a field site may not be able to provide the same accommodations that a student would otherwise receive at the University. In those cases, if the field instructor/agency is unable to provide equally effective reasonable accommodations, the Office of Field Education will make a good faith effort to obtain another field placement.

If a new field placement is needed, the field placing process can take approximately 2-4 months for all students located approximately 45 min - 1 hour from the Ann Arbor campus and 6-8 months for all students located beyond 60 min from the Ann Arbor campus (e.g. non-local and out of state students) and may delay the student’s progress through the program.