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April 16, 2020BSW Students:As you are aware, ASU has implemented a special policy this semester related to undergraduate grades. Here is a link to the BCHS Office of Advising and Academic Support’s summary of the policy and important information and DEADLINES which must be met. Choices you make related to your grades are serious, have impacts, and should be made thoughtfully, using your best judgment, based on accurate information (—actually, much like the way professional social workers should make important decisions in practice).Please review this information so that you are fully informed. The official posted policy posted by the Registrar’s Office: summary:doc-? advising office also created a video that addresses the policy and considering how you might make decisions under it: materials refer to a GPA calculator, so here is the link:BCHS GPA Calculator-? New Policy and BSW Students/Students Taking SW CoursesNote that your instructors will enter grades for courses as they traditionally do: A-F grades. Instructors will not know what grading option students have elected.For students who opt into the optional Enhanced Pass/No Credit Policy, the Department of Social Work has decided that a “passing” grade for this semester will include any grade that is “P_D-“ or higher. For students selecting that option, that waives the requirement to earn a “C” or higher grade for required Social Work courses and required cognates. Students who elect that option will be able to continue forward in Social Work courses. Students electing to have the actual earned grade will be subject to the normal requirements for minimum grade and overall GPA as they would apply to moving forward. Students must earn a “C” or higher grade in each required Social Work course and must have earned a 2.5 or higher overall GPA.The new policy does not apply to S/U courses (In the BSW program, that would only include the SW 4650: Field Instruction, the “field placement” course, not the “seminar.”)The university and departmental policies are in effect for the Spring 2020 semester only. Academic Standards for Retention in the BSW ProgramThe BSW Program has not waived our established academic standards. Students seeking exceptions related to the Spring 2020 semester should consult with their Academic Advisor or the BSW Program Director. The BSW Program Director must approve all exceptions.Social Work Professional Sequence Applicants Spring 2020Standards regarding grades and GPA for students applying to the Professional Sequence this semester will be applied depending on the grading option they select. Students who opt for the Enhanced Pass/No Credit Policy will have the regular standards for minimum course grade waived for this semester. Regular standards will apply for students who elect for their earned grades to count for this semester, with one exception: If a student earns a “C-“ in one or more Foundation courses, the student may be able to begin the Professional Sequence courses but will have to repeat the course(s) concurrently and the number of Professional Sequence courses the student can take will be limited. It may be a better choice to take an earned grade “C-“ and repeat the course since the grade counts towards GPA where it wouldn’t count if the student opted for the “P_Grade.” Students would have one opportunity to repeat the course and earn the minimum “C” grade.Courses that Were Being Repeated in Spring 2020If a student is taking a course seeking grade forgiveness this semester, a “P_Grade” cannot replace a letter grade. The student must stay with the letter grade option. However, students will be allowed to use grade forgiveness again for this course at a future time if desired.Students Needing to Repeat a Foundation Course (but NOT Spring 2020 Applicants for Professional Sequence)Students who earn a “C-“ or lower grade in a Foundation course may elect to take the earned grade and repeat the course (having one opportunity to repeat it). Students may elect to opt for the “Pass_Grade” option and a grade of “P_D-“ or higher will count. However, the grade would not contribute to the students’ GPA and could prevent students from having the minimum required GPA for moving forward. Students should remember that they can only repeat two Social Work courses while they pursue their BSW degree.In the case of new Transfer students who do not earn a “C” or higher grade in one or more Foundation courses in Spring 2020, students could choose the Enhanced Pass/No Credit Policy for course grades but this could result in an overall GPA lower than the minimum 2.5 required for advancing in the BSW program. They may move forward but must meet the GPA requirements and other scholastic performance standards for subsequent semesters.Grade AppealsTo date, the University has not modified the grade appeal policy. Please be reminded that grade appeals are not based on earning a grade that was not expected or is not desirable, under either grading option for this semester. Grade appeals are appropriate when a student has reason to believe that he or she was graded differently than other students in the course. IncompletesTo date, the University has not modified the Incomplete policy. Instructors are allowed to assign an incomplete grade when, in their judgment, circumstances that impact the student’s performance have been beyond the student’s control or have been so challenging that an incomplete is warranted. Not completing the requirements for a course does not count as a reason for an incomplete to be assigned.WithdrawalsWithdrawals from courses are being handled differently this semester. Students considering withdrawing from any Social Work course are encouraged to discuss this decision with their Academic Advisor before withdrawing to determine the impact it will have. The modified withdrawals policy for this semester: you are considering a withdrawal or opting into the Enhanced Pass/No Credit Policy, we encourage you to consult with your Academic Advisor or the BSW Program Director before making this decision. It is important to us that you make informed choices that will result in the best choices for you for this semester. Students Applying to Field for Fall 2020Students who have applied to enter Field in Fall must meet the minimum overall GPA of 2.5 at the end of Spring 2020 to be able to have a field placement. Students should consider this when deciding what grade option to select for Spring 2020 since grades taken under the “P_Grade” option will not contribute to the students’ GPA. Students going into Field who plan on applying to graduate school should also consider the potential impact of electing “P_Grade” grades in any courses since those courses would not contribute to the GPA.Graduation in Spring 2020 or Fall 2020To graduate with the BSW degree, students must have a 2.5 overall GPA or higher and a Social Work GPA of 2.5 or higher. GPA requirements for graduation are not waived.The Department cannot predict the potential?future implications of the students' decisions?regarding the P/NC options, especially in systems beyond the department and university.? For example, these decisions may impact future eligibility for licensure in various states or admission to graduate?or doctoral degree programs.In general, our advice to students is to opt for the grading option that will benefit the GPA the most because of the GPA requirements for the BSW Program and for graduate school.Students are encouraged to consult with their Academic Advisor before making a decision regarding the grading option they elect into for each of their courses for this semester.Regards,Dr. Michael L. Howell, BSW Program DirectorDr. Lauren Renkert, Chair ................
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