Policy Statement on Standards of Professional and Ethical Conduct

As the Rutgers University M.S.W. program seeks to prepare students for professional and ethical social work practice, M.S.W. students are expected to maintain a high level of professional and ethical conduct and adhere as closely as possible to professional and ethical standards articulated in the NASW Code of Ethics and the Rutgers University School of Social Work's professional conduct standards as articulated below. The program expects students to conduct themselves in a manner concordant with a professional social work practitioner. In addition to the clearly defined academic standards specified in the School of Social Work (SSW) Academics website, students are expected to meet the following Standards of Professional and Ethical conduct in the classroom, in the wider university community, and in their field education settings. Failure to maintain these standards at a level appropriate to their years in the program may result in a review by the School of Social Work's Committee on Students. A temporary suspension from field practicum participation may occur during the period of review by the Committee.

The social work student must communicate effectively and professionally with other students, faculty, staff, clients, field supervisors, and other professionals. These standards include, but are not limited to, civility and respectful communication; respectful attention and responsiveness to feedback in communication; self-awareness in communication, including controlling  one's emotional reactions and personal stress in communications with others; effective communication of academic and professional challenges and problem solving around these challenges with appropriate supports; and the minimization of inappropriate mobile communication device usage in professional and academic settings.

The social work student must demonstrate a commitment to the profession and behave in a professionally appropriate manner. Demonstration of professional commitment and behavior includes, but is not limited to, adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics, maintaining client confidentiality, adherence to appropriate professional boundaries in client-worker relationships, self-care and the ability to control emotional reactions and personal stress so it does not impact professional judgement and performance; appropriate professional attire in professional settings; and, refraining from impaired practice and not allowing one's own personal circumstances or issues to interfere with their professional judgment and performance. Use of alcohol and unlawful use of substances during field education, coursework and other university events may demonstrate a failure to behave and conduct oneself in a professional manner.

The social work student must appreciate the value of human diversity and demonstrate a commitment to understanding cultural difference and practicing cultural humility. The student must serve in an appropriate manner all persons in need of assistance, regardless of the person's age, class, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation (or lack thereof), gender identification, ability, sexual orientation, and value system. The student should also respect cultural differences among their peers, faculty, supervisors, and other professionals. The student should recognize how larger social inequalities impact the individuals and communities they serve and integrate social work methods that address the eradication of social injustice into their practice as professionally appropriate.