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Student Handbook

Professional Behavior and Conduct of Students

Rationale

It is important that students of the School of Professional Psychology:

• recognize the importance of conducting themselves honorably, professionally, and in a manner that reflects the standards of the profession of psychology

• be sensitive to how they may be perceived by others, including clients, peers and the general public, and the manner in which their conduct, attitudes and personal appearance may shape others' perception of them and of the profession

• understand that their clients must be able to trust them to provide care that meets the standards of the profession

Policy

It is the expectation of the faculty that students will conduct themselves in accordance with the ethical standards of the profession as established by the American Psychological Association (see copy of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists). During Fall Convocation, students entering the School of Professional Psychology take an oath which is a public affirmation of their identification with the profession and their pledge to adhere to the Ethical Principles of Psychologists.

Students are advised to read the above referenced ethical code carefully, to consult it whenever questions arise about some aspect of their conduct, and to seek faculty for clarification of any part of the document that they do not understand.

Students should take special note of the fact that the ethical code of psychologists includes, but is not restricted to: personal problems and conflicts that may interfere with professional effectiveness, adherence to governmental laws as well as relevant institutional regulations, and behavior that might compromise the fulfillment of professional responsibilities or reduce the public trust in psychology or psychologists.

Conduct Related to Psychological Work and Training Supervision

The Ohio Psychology Law and Rules Governing Psychologists and School Psychologists sets forth explicit requirements relative to the psychological supervisory relationship and the professional conduct of individuals in the role of Supervisee for psychological work or psychological training. Sections of the Ohio Psychology Law relating to supervisory relations, titles to be used by unlicensed persons and professional conduct (§ 4732-13-01 through 4732-17-03) are appended to this policy. Students are expected to adhere to the Ohio law and rules governing psychologists in all supervised academic and professional work or training.

Annual Review of Professional Behavior and Conduct of Students

Students' professional behavior and conduct is considered a fundamental aspect of academic performance and, as such, will be reviewed by the Faculty at each Annual Review meeting. As noted above, a student's professional or ethical conduct may be subject to review at other times as matters of concern are brought to the attention of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services or other member of the faculty.

Procedures for Confronting Unprofessional or Unethical Conduct

It is the responsibility of each student and faculty member to uphold the standards of professional and ethical conduct and to confront and question instances when unprofessional or unethical conduct is suspected. To have knowledge of unprofessional or unethical conduct and not confront it places one in violation of Principle 7g of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists which explicitly assigns psychologists the responsibility to monitor peer conduct and confront unethical behavior.

Principle 7g of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists grants the student some latitude in dealing with situations of known or suspected unprofessional or unethical conduct. If the violation is of a minor nature and seems to have resulted from lack of sensitivity, knowledge or experience, faculty or students may elect to deal with the situation informally by discussing the behavior in question with the offending student. The goal in this kind of intervention is to educate and heighten sensitivity to the unethical or unprofessional nature of the behavior. Alternatively, the student or faculty may choose to bring the incident to the attention of either the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services. Generally speaking, allegations of unethical or unprofessional conduct associated with academic courses should be directed to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and allegations associated with field work or work on the clinical practicum or internship should be reported to the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services.

Making a formal charge of unethical or unprofessional conduct with either Associate Dean is an appropriate initial action when the violation does not seem amenable to an informal corrective action or if the violation is of a more serious nature. It is also possible for the students or faculty to employ both informal and formal approaches. For example, a faculty member or student who intervenes informally in an instance of suspected unethical or unprofessional conduct and is not satisfied with the results of that intervention may decide to proceed to formal action.

Faculty or students who are unsure whether to intervene informally or formally (or whether they are obligated to take action at all) are urged to seek counsel and advice from a faculty member, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and/or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services.

Procedures for Dealing with Formal Charges of Student Misconduct

Formal allegations of student misconduct will be dealt with by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services as follows:

1. The student accused of misconduct will be notified in writing of the person(s) making allegations and the behavior(s) under question.

2. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services, or an investigative committee appointed by one of the above, will engage in fact-finding, review and assessment of all evidence supporting the alleged misconduct.

3. Based on the information above and, if necessary, consultation with some or all core faculty, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services determines whether there is sufficient cause or the alleged misconduct is sufficiently serious to refer to the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee for a formal hearing and disciplinary action.

4. If there is not sufficient cause or the alleged misconduct is not sufficiently serious to warrant referral for a formal hearing, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services will resolve the matter with the person(s) involved in the allegation.

5. If the matter is to be referred for a formal hearing, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services will contact the Chair of the Faculty Governance Committee and request that the core faculty form a committee of three of their membership to serve as an Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee. The manner in which the committee is formed and the procedures followed by the committee in a disciplinary hearing are outlined in Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee: Policy and Procedures.

Emergency Suspension

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services may impose an emergency suspension when a student's behavior constitutes a grave breach of professional ethics, when such behavior places other people's welfare in jeopardy or threatens to disrupt the educational process of the School. Students placed on emergency suspension will not be permitted to participate in some or all of the School's activities, nor will they be allowed to take examinations or submit papers or other course work without written permission from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean for Clinical Training Programs and Psychological Services. Emergency suspensions will remain in effect until an Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee recommends another course of action.

Consequences of Unprofessional or Unethical Conduct

The maximum penalty that can be imposed independently by a faculty member is assigning a grade of F for the course. Additional penalties imposed by the Ad Hoc Disciplinary Hearing Committee may include, but are not limited to: placing the student on leave from the program, requiring specific remedial actions on the part of the student, or termination of the student from the program.