Evaluation Methods

How am I evaluated in practicum?

Your practicum instructor will conduct a mid-term oral evaluation of how well your practicum work is progressing. In addition, he or she will submit a final report to your advisor, assessing your skills across a range of practice behaviors within larger competency areas. Your advisor makes the final determination of your grade. For more details on practicum evaluation policies and how to prepare, go to the Practicum Learning Manual.

I’m not satisfied with my practicum evaluation. Who can I talk to?

You should first speak to your practicum instructor about your concerns related to your evaluation. As a social work student, you should be able to raise questions in a respectful and professional manner, even if it feels uncomfortable. You can also discuss your concerns with your advisor, the staff of the Office of Advising, or the Assistant Dean of Practicum Learning. Please remember this is an educational experience that requires dialogue and critical thinking. If you have concerns, let us know; we are here to ensure that you can obtain the best education possible.

How am I evaluated in my classes?

Your instructor will indicate on their syllabus the method of evaluation for the course, as well as all course requirements.  If you are not clear about the grading policy, speak up at the beginning of the term and ask your instructor to explain it in more detail. Typical methods of evaluation at CSSW include exams, long papers, reading logs or notes, role plays, short papers, and quizzes.

I’m not satisfied with my grade in my course. Who can I talk to?

Before doing anything else, it is important to speak with your instructor. As a social work student, you should be able to raise questions in a respectful and professional manner, even if it feels uncomfortable. You can also discuss your concerns with your advisor, the staff of the Office of Advising, or the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs (go to administrative staff list).

My instructor has said that all required papers must be submitted to Turnitin. What is Turnitin and am I required to submit my papers through this program?

Turnitin is a Web-based learning tool to prevent and detect plagiarism. Many of the School’s instructors require that students submit their required papers to Turnitin. This is to protect the academic integrity of your work and also to ensure you possess the requisite academic citation skills. Once your paper is submitted, Turnitin will compare its content to content in three primary databases:

  • Current and extensively archived content publicly accessible on the Internet.
  • Commercial papers from books, newspapers and journals.
  • Any other student papers previously submitted to Turnitin.

Turnitin then produces an “originality” report that includes an indication of the proportion of your paper that has exactly matched content from another source. NOTE: Turnitin is available for all students to use prior to submitting your papers, even if your instructor hasn’t required it.

A problem has arisen and I am unable to finish my coursework for the semester. Can I take an incomplete?

Incompletes can only be granted under the circumstances where, owing to an illness or emergency, you cannot complete your final assignment. The extension period is normally no more than 10 days in length. NOTE: An Incomplete grade cannot be awarded if you still need to complete significant portions of classroom work that predate the end of the semester.