Appendix C: Notification of Concern
TO:
FROM:
COURSE(S):
DATE:
It has come to my attention that there are one or more areas of professional performance on your part that need attention leading to this Notification of Concern. A Notification of Concern is issued when the student is determined to inconsistently meet one or more of the professional performance criteria (or when there have been one or more particular incidents of concern relative to professional performance criteria). A Notification of Concern is intended to assist the student with professional development in such a way that professionalism is enhanced and subsequent similar or more serious problems are avoided as you continue in the academic and fieldwork portions of the program.
The area(s) of concern is/are identified as your ability to:
RESPONSIBILITY:
- o Be punctual and dependable.
- o Complete responsibilities in a timely manner
- o Follow through with assigned or accepted responsibilities.
- o Know and abide by relevant policies and procedures (e.g. for the Institute and its facilities, the Program and its resources, program-related fieldwork setting.
- o Use scheduled meeting times effectively.
Comments/Examples:
SELF-DIRECTEDNESS:
- o Seek out and make use of a breadth of available and appropriate resources.
- o Independently pursue learning without being consistently dependent upon others or over-utilizing any one set of resources in a way that might limit access to others.
- o Initiate completion of responsibilities without waiting for direction or reminders from others.
Comments/Examples:
COMMUNICATION:
- o Use a volume and clarity of speech that is understandable to the listener or audience.
- o Utilize an appropriate level and type of language for the person, group and/or situation.
- o Utilize a tone and attitude that demonstrates respect for others and their roles (e.g. peers in program-related situations, faculty, staff, clinicians, patients, families, other health professionals).
- o Present or discuss one’s own views in a way that demonstrates respect for those with opposing viewpoints.
- o Maintain appropriate body language and non-verbal cues in a way that demonstrates respect for others.
- o Be attentive and respectful when others are speaking.
Comments/Examples:
PROFESSIONALISM:
- o Be honest and demonstrate integrity in all situations.
- o Maintain personal boundaries that are appropriate for the situation.
- o Voice criticisms and negative perspectives, when necessary, in an appropriate way and at appropriate times.
- o Respect those with opposing opinions
- o Respect the role and contribution of others to one’s education and to health care delivery.
- o Respect confidentiality of others when called for.
- o Accept and respond appropriately to criticism.
- o Demonstrate sensitivity for interpersonal differences, including cultural, racial, religious and gender.
- o Dress and maintain a level of personal cleanliness that is appropriate for a given situation.
Comments/Examples:
COLLABORATION:
- o Collaborate effectively with others in a way that facilitates achievement of goals or objectives.
- o Manage or attempt to manage conflict in constructive ways.
Comments/Examples:
Given this Notification of Concern, it is your responsibility to (1) acknowledge receipt of the NOC within 3 days of the date on this memo, and (2) contact and meet with your advisor within the next 10 days. In this meeting, we will discuss the areas of weakness noted here, as well as your strategies for strengthening your performance and minimizing future problems.
A copy of this NOC is being sent to your academic or ADE advisor, the Department Chair, the Program Director, the Registrar’s Office, and the OT Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures (CAPP). The Committee will consider whether disciplinary action is warranted (see the section on Disciplinary Action in your Program Manual).
It should be noted that a Notification of Concern in the OT Department is what the IHP Catalog refers to as an “Oral Warning”. According to the IHP Catalog, “a note documenting the oral warning will be placed in the student's permanent academic file in the Registrar's Office. In the case of oral warnings, no permanent record is retained after the student leaves the Institute. If expectations related to corrective action are not met in the delineated time, a written warning will be issued.”
Please also recognize that the Academic Support Counselor for the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is available as a resource to you. If you have any questions or concerns, please address these to your advisor, the Department Chair, or the Program Director.