• Social Work Student Association
  
  • To represent the voice of every College of Social Work student, while addressing social justice issues and affecting policy change. The organization serves as an example of practicing social work ethics and to be a source of community and support for the college and all of its affiliates. 
• Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society
  
  • An honor organization dedicated to developing high standards of training, excellence in scholarship, service and achievement in social work. The purpose is to provide a closer bond among students of social work and promote humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work.

• National Association of Social Workers
  
  • The NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.
• National Association of Social Workers - South Carolina Chapter
  
  • A membership organization of professional social workers that works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members. NASW-SC strivea to provide networking opportunities, educational and training experiences, advocacy and job opportunities. 
• Council on Social Work Education
  
  • The national association representing social work education in the United States. Through its many initiatives, activities, and centers, CSWE supports quality social work education and provides opportunities for leadership and professional development, so that social workers play a central role in achieving the profession’s goals of social and economic justice.
• Society for Social Work and Research
  
  • A free-standing organization dedicated to the advancement of social work research. SSWR works collaboratively with a number of other organizations that are committed to improving support for research among social workers. Members include faculty in schools of social work and other professional schools, research staff in public and private agencies, and masters/doctoral students.

• Student Organizations
• Off-Campus Living and Neighborhood Relations
• Graduation Information

• Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau
• City of Columbia
• The Vista
• Five Points
• The State (Newspaper)
• One Columbia (Arts and Culture)
• Koger Center for the Arts
• Colonial Life Arena

Overview

Students sometimes face an academic issue or problem that requires assistance to resolve. These issues or problems are categorized as grievances, appeals and petitions. In general,

• Grievances are alleged violations of the teaching responsibilities of the faculty, free expression policies, or other violations of responsibilities as stated in the USC Faculty Manual or of the official policies or procedures of the University.
• Appeals are requests to reconsider decisions that have been rendered.
• Petitions are requests to make individual exceptions to written requirements imposed by the program, the College of Social Work, the Graduate School, or the university. For further discussion, refer to the Graduate Bulletin concerning Academic Exception Petitions and Appeal of Academic Decisions and the Undergraduate Bulletin concerning Academic Standards Policies.

This policy is consistent with the policies maintained by the USC Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support (STAF 6.27, Student Grievance Policy).

Note: Grievances, Appeals and Petitions do not extend to matters of grading student work, where the substance of the complaint is simply student disagreement with the mark or grade placed upon the work. Such matters are to be discussed between the student and course instructor. Final authority for grade assignment shall remain with the course instructor.

Note: This policy does not refer to issues involving allegations of harassment or discrimination. For such issues, students are referred to the USC Office of Civil Rights & Title IX and the associated policies. The primary objective of the grievance procedure is to ensure that concerns are promptly dealt with, and resolutions reached in a fair and just manner.

A grievance must be initiated within 30 calendar days from the date of the alleged violation. The COSW Student Ombudsman will advise students on grievance procedures. Students are encouraged to first attempt to resolve the grievance with the person with whom they have a grievance. If the student has good reason not to attempt a resolution with this person or cannot reach a resolution, the COSW Student Ombudsman will arrange for the student to meet with the Associate Dean for Curriculum within one week to address the grievance. The Associate Dean for Curriculum will respond to the grievance in writing within one to two weeks of receiving the grievance. If the student wishes to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision, the COSW Student Ombudsman may facilitate a meeting between the student and the Dean. The Dean will respond to the grievance in writing within two weeks. Students who wish to appeal the Dean’s decision may appeal to the university ombuds for further guidance.

Procedures for Petitions and Appeals

1. When a student decides to file a grievance, they begin by reaching out to the COSW Ombudsperson via phone or email. The Ombudsperson will meet with the student to listen to their concerns. The ombudsperson will provide the student with the grievance policy and procedure and answer any questions they may have about the policy or procedure.
2. The ombudsperson will first encourage the student to attempt to resolve the grievance with the person with whom they have a grievance. If the student has already attempted this without success, or has good reason not to attempt the resolution, the ombudsperson will instruct the student to put the grievance in writing and send it to the Associate Dean of Curriculum via email within one week. The ombudsperson will also arrange for the student to meet with the Associate Dean of Curriculum if needed.
3. The Associate Dean of Curriculum will review and respond to the grievance in writing within two weeks of receiving the grievance. The Associate Dean of Curriculum may also choose to meet with the student within this time frame. The Associate Dean of Curriculum will also inform the student of their right to appeal the response/decision to the dean.
4. If the student wishes to appeal, they will send the written grievance to the dean via email within one week of receiving the Associate Dean of Curriculum’s decision.
5. The Dean will review and respond to the appeal in writing within two weeks of receiving the appeal. The dean may also choose to meet the student within the same time frame. The dean will also inform the student of their right to contact the university ombudsperson for further guidance should they wish to appeal the dean’s decision.

Final Grade Review and Academic Grievances

Students who believe that an error affected their final course grade may request a review under University of South Carolina policy STAF 6.27, Student Grievance Policy.

When a grade review may be appropriate

A student may request review of a final course grade when they believe that:

• the final grade was calculated incorrectly; or
• the final grade does not follow the grading rubric or other grading procedures stated in the course syllabus.

A grade review is not a process for reconsidering an instructor’s academic judgment about the quality of a student’s work. If the concern is simply disagreement with the grade assigned to an assignment or exam, the student should discuss the matter directly with the instructor. Final authority for assigning grades remains with the instructor.

Concerns involving discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should be directed to the University of South Carolina Office of Civil Rights and Title IX.

Steps for requesting a review

1. Contact the course instructor.
   Students should first discuss the concern with the instructor and identify the specific calculation, syllabus provision, or other basis for the requested review.
2. Seek informal resolution.
   If the matter is not resolved with the instructor, the student may seek review through the appropriate academic channel, ordinarily the department chair or other designated College of Social Work administrator. The College of Social Work Student Ombudsperson is available to advise students about the process and to help identify the appropriate contact.
3. Submit a formal resolution petition, if needed.
   If informal resolution is unsuccessful, the student may submit a written formal resolution petition to the University official involved in the informal-resolution process. The petition should explain:
• the specific error or policy concern;
• the steps already taken to resolve the matter;
• relevant supporting documentation, such as the syllabus, graded work, grade calculations, and email correspondence; and
• the outcome requested.

Deadlines

A grievance must be initiated within 30 business days of the alleged error or violation. A formal resolution petition should be submitted within five business days after the informal-resolution process concludes.

What happens next

Formal petitions are reviewed through the College of Social Work’s designated appeals process in accordance with University policy. Students will receive the decision in writing. For academic matters, further appeal may be available through the University’s Scholastic Standards and Petitions Committee.

Questions or assistance

Students may contact the College of Social Work Student Ombudsperson for guidance about the process. Students may also contact the University Office of Student Advocacy for assistance understanding grievance-resolution options.

USC Policy STAF 6.27: Student Grievance Policy