Social Work Distance Field Education Consortium

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  • 1.  Students Wishing to Switch Modalities

    Posted Dec 15, 2025 07:36

    Greetings all.

    I am curious about how you all address student requests to switch modalities (from online to campus or vice versa).

    We have a new online track, and we are thinking about how to handle student requests.

    Heather :)



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    Heather Edwards
    Montclair State University
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  • 2.  RE: Students Wishing to Switch Modalities

    Posted Feb 05, 2026 12:51

    Hi Heather,

    Sorry for the delay.  We only allow our students to switch one time.  Hope that helps!



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    Jennifer Schermerhorn, LMSW
    Clinical Assistant Professor/Director of Graduate Field Education
    College of Health and Human Services
    Salisbury University School of Social Work
    1101 Camden Ave
    Salisbury, MD 21801
    jlschermerhorn@salisbury.edu
    410-548-3563
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  • 3.  RE: Students Wishing to Switch Modalities

    Posted Jun 15, 2026 07:47

    Thank you so much! That did help. :)

    Do students who switch need to fulfill any criteria? For instance, a campus student struggling with academic integrity who would like to switch to an online modality.

    I hope that your summer is going well!



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    Heather Edwards
    Montclair State University
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Students Wishing to Switch Modalities

    Posted Jun 15, 2026 08:29

    Hello Heather,

    We do allow students to switch tracks or modalities one time, provided they are in good academic standing and successfully passing their current courses. Depending on the student's current track and the modality they wish to enter, they may also need to wait a semester to align with the appropriate cohort sequence.

    If there are academic integrity concerns, the request would need to be reviewed by our team before any change is approved.



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    Vickie Lynn
    MSW Program Chair
    University of South Florida
    Tampa FL
    +1 (813) 974-9819
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Students Wishing to Switch Modalities

    Posted Jun 16, 2026 07:30

    Thank you Vickie!



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    Heather Edwards
    Montclair State University
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Students Wishing to Switch Modalities

    Posted Jun 16, 2026 07:30
    We don't have any requirements for them to fulfill to make the switch only if they are switching from on campus to online they have to acknowledge that there will be a tuition increase.  Making changes can also change their graduation date since classes are only offered in certain semesters depending on the format and modality.  Any academic integrity issues would be handled by our separate processes.  

    Hope you are having a great summer as well!

    Jennifer Schermerhorn, LCSW

    Clinical Associate Professor/Director of Graduate Field Education

    College of Health and Human Services

    Salisbury University School of Social Work

    1101 Camden Ave

    Salisbury, MD 21801

    TETC 254K

    410-548-3563




    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Students Wishing to Switch Modalities

    Posted Jun 16, 2026 20:04
    Edited by Karin West-Ivarson Jun 16, 2026 20:06

    Hi Heather! Because we tend to plan courseloads based on how students are registered, we do ask that online students have priority registering for online courses, and only allow students to transfer into online if there is room within the cohorts. Occasionally there will be room in just one course, and we do make exceptions when a student has a specific need. If a student is switching programs when struggling with any ethical concerns, we always wrap the practicum advisors into the decision-making, as they will continue working with a student throughout their practicum, so there is continuity in gatekeeping. Often when an on campus student wishes to take online courses, it is because their practicum and work schedule is making class attendance difficult. We see a big number of students wanting to change to online during their final year where classes require practicum registration as well. Students need to be aware that not all courses are taught every term, and changing the focus their program (macro to clinical) or going from on campus to online might change their target graduation date. I will note that within an asynchronous online program it is much more difficult to track struggling students individually, and I don't see a lot of difference between in person and synchronous online and being able to be aware and responsive to students who are struggling. Best of luck to you in your new online track! How exciting!



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    Karin West-Ivarson, DSW, DCSW
    Portland State University
    Portland, Oregon
    509.551.1813
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