Students with Questionable Values or Threatening Behavior: Precedent and Policy from Discipline to Dismissal

Abstract

Social work faculty and university administrators confront a significant dilemma when students exhibit inappropriate or unethical behavior. Refusing admission or terminating problem students invokes a legal process that has not been clearly resolved in the courts; however, professional programs receive special privileges to broadly define academic performance. This legal refuge creates significant and unresolved challenges for social work faculty. Ethical issues and legal precedents are reviewed, in order to understand the rights of both the university and social work students. Recommendations include tightening the admissions process, counseling out, and the development of explicit dismissal procedures.