Information taken from the Adler School Student Handbook; refer to the handbook for the most current policy.
The School requires that students demonstrate the highest standards of academic, personal, and professional conduct. The determination of students' performance is not limited to grades or grade point average, but includes all factors involved in students' academic and clinical progress and professional development (e.g. cognitive, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, technical and ethical). Upon entry into the program, all Adler School students are provided with a statement regarding the ethical and moral responsibility of the Adler School to ensure that all students' conduct meets expected professional and ethical standards at all times. This statement is derived from the recommended policy language for the comprehensive evaluation of student-trainee competence in professional psychology programs developed by the Council of Chairs of Training Councils. Such comprehensive evaluation of student-trainees is necessary to protect the public and the profession.
All students are required to sign a document indicating that they have received and reviewed this statement. This signed document is retained in the student file to indicate his/her acceptance of the comprehensive evaluation policies employed by the School. In light of this policy, in addition to assigning a grade, instructors also may submit a written evaluation of students' performance in any or all of the above areas of development and functioning, including strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for any additional work that may be needed.
Performance in courses, practica, internship, and qualifying examinations assess a broad range of areas of competency, endorsed by professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association, the Canadian Psychological Association, and the National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology, expected of students as they progress toward their degrees. To ensure that consistent and structured evaluation of students' performance in these areas of competency occurs throughout their education and training, the Adler School has developed the Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Program. This program is designed to provide multiple measures of students' performance in the areas of cognitive, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, technical and ethical functioning. The conduct and performance of students in all aspects of their education and training may be used to assess their academic and clinical suitability. Performance in individual classes may not be predictive of performance in clinical training situations or on qualifying examinations. Professional and ethical conduct is required in interactions with faculty, administrators, other students, clinical supervisors and staff members.
Students are expected to fulfill academic and clinical requirements in an ethical and honest manner. This expectation includes proper acknowledgment and appropriate use of the ideas and written works of others, submission of one's own work to fulfill course requirements, and honesty during the completion of in-class and take-home examinations. Failure to comply with the highest standards of academic integrity and conduct, including plagiarism or receiving improper assistance, will result in disciplinary action, and may lead to dismissal from the School.
A student may be subject to disciplinary action or immediate dismissal from the School, when excessive course withdrawals or class absences interfere with fulfillment of course requirements, when the student's behavior has been disruptive or is detrimental to the learning environment, when the student's physical health or emotional stability interferes with course work or clinical training, or when the student's conduct has been judged to be in violation of professional or ethical standards.
Students are expected to refrain from engaging in clinical activities, which are unethical or unlawful, those for which they are not qualified, or those for which they lack the required credentials. Students shall not maintain a private practice nor engage in rendering psychological services on either a fee or not-for-fee basis unless they are legally and professionally qualified to do so. The phrase “psychological services” is broadly defined to include psychometrics, psychotherapy, counseling, guidance, hypnosis, research, or other related activities.
Students engaged in activities which are unlawful or unethical or for which they are not qualified or lack appropriate clinical supervision are subject to dismissal from the School.
Professional psychologists and counselors have a duty of care to the public and to society. This duty makes the assessment of students' clinical competency and suitability of particular importance. The School reserves the right to take disciplinary action or dismiss a student at any time when a student's academic or clinical performance, ethical standards, attendance, financial delinquency, emotional stability, or personal conduct is significantly detrimental to the educational goals and purposes of the institution. Students who fail to meet academic or clinical requirements or who violate standards of professional, academic, or personal conduct may be referred for review by the Training Committee or Student Comprehensive Evaluation Committees or face immediate dismissal.
Students with questions as to whether a particular course of action meets the School's expectations for student conduct may receive guidance from their faculty advisor, Director of Training and Community Service or the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs.