Code of Conduct

You are required to conduct yourself in accordance with the standards of The APA Code of Ethics. The University has also taken precautions to discourage dishonesty and preserve the academic integrity of its programs. Additional information can be found at https://catalog.purdueglobal.edu/policy-information/student-information-services/conduct/.

Occasionally, unique challenges may develop during your practicum. It is necessary that you immediately contact the Clinical Placement Team for guidance and support to ensure that your interactions with clients, supervisors, and staff are within acceptable, ethical, and appropriate boundaries. Clinical placement staff and faculty are available to mentor you during this important component of your program, and you must always take advantage of the opportunity to gain assurance that your practicum will be a successful one for everyone involved.

Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP): https://www.siop.org/

On occasion, issues may arise at a fieldwork site. These most often occur when you and a staff member are in conflict with one another. In other words, you just are not getting along. If you believe you are involved in a situation like this, there are several steps that should be taken.

First, you should make sure you have a good understanding of the communication process within the site setting. One way to make sure this is understood is to ask during the interview. A good way to phrase the question is as follows: “I do not anticipate having conflicts with staff, but if something comes up, who should I talk to about it?” This will provide information about whom to contact ahead of time should a conflict indeed arise.

Second, you should make sure that you have a good understanding of the Purdue Global communication process for placement-related issues. If you have concerns related to the site/placement, you should first discuss those concerns with your site supervisor. If the concerns cannot be resolved with the site supervisor, the next step is to contact your Clinical Student Manager. If the issue still cannot be resolved, the Director of Clinical and Practicum Programs should be contacted.

Purdue Global is here to help and support you throughout your practicum course. You are always welcome and encouraged to contact clinical placement staff members to discuss potential issues or concerns regarding your practicum. Although the department’s staff members are not at the site, it is often helpful for you to have someone to speak with to decide how to handle a situation. Communication with the Clinical Placement Team can be key in helping you resolve an issue.

Issues may also arise in the onsite setting if you are not performing at the expected level. A lack of performance can occur in the area of professionalism or with skills. In either case, if the site supervisor feels that the issue cannot be resolved within the site, he or she will contact the Clinical Placement Team. The Clinical Placement Team will request formal documentation of the issue from the supervisor and, as necessary, consult with the practicum course faculty member and/or Graduate Psychology Program Chair. If appropriate, a remediation plan will be created. You will be required to adhere to the remediation plan to continue your placement at that specific site. Failure to adhere to an established remediation plan will lead to termination of the practicum experience.

On occasion, a site may determine that it is no longer interested in working with a student. If you are terminated from a site due to poor performance, the Clinical Placement Team, Director of Clinical and Practicum Programs, and Graduate Psychology Program Chair will work with you to determine an appropriate course of action. If you are removed from the fieldwork site, you may not be able to complete the course in which you are enrolled or scheduled to be enrolled. Any delay in completion of, or failure to complete, practicum coursework will also delay or preclude you from completing your academic program and graduating from Purdue Global.