Program Policies: MS, Couple and Family Therapy

The CFT program seeks to recruit students who offer a range of unique perspectives and 61 experiences and have strong academic abilities and personal characteristics needed to develop into competent and ethical therapists. The program faculty and current students participate in the two virtual Open Houses offered at UMD and the University Reception at the annual conference of the National Council for Family Relations. If needed, the faculty engage in further outreach to faculty and potential students on campuses across the country.

The CFT Program follows the University of Maryland, College Park’s Graduate Admission Policy. A student is admitted to the CFT program on the basis of the criteria outlined in this policy including previous undergraduate and graduate academic work, letters of recommendation, scores on the TOEFL for international students when relevant, statement of the candidate’s academic and career objectives, and an academic writing sample. The CFT Program also considers previous experience in both research and human service, which are desired, but not required. Following the faculty’s initial review of the pool of applicants, the faculty select a group of applicants to invite for personal interviews.

Unless a waiver or substitution is granted in writing from the Graduate Director of the Department of Family Science and the CFT Program Director, it is expected that all core course requirements will be completed.

Credits used to satisfy the requirements for another earned degree may NOT be applied toward the requirements for the Master of Science degree from this department. With the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, students may transfer up to six credit hours of graduate work not applied to a previous degree toward their FMSC degree. For further information on transfer of credits, see the Graduate Catalog on the University website. If a student is inadequately prepared for some graduate courses, the CFT Program faculty may require the student to take additional courses. Such additional coursework is not considered part of the coursework required for the degree.

Requests to substitute another course, either within or outside the department, for a core course requirement may be made. Such requests will be considered when a student can demonstrate that such a course is equivalent to the core course in question or can provide a rationale to justify taking the alternative course (e.g., substitution for waiver of a core course). To request a substitution, complete the form titled REQUEST FOR SUBSTITUTION OF GRADUATE CORE REQUIREMENT available from the departmental office. The request should be signed by the student’s advisor and submitted to the Graduate Director for final approval at least two months prior to when the student would like to take the substitution course. When considering course substitutions, students are encouraged to check the requirements of the licensing boards of the states in which they plan to practice.

The Graduate School has specific limits on the number of years that courses are considered valid in counting toward the student's degree, and on the number of years the student has to complete the M.S. degree. Information about these limits can be found here. The Graduate School does grant extensions of time limits in certain circumstances (usually a one-year extension for completing the degree; an additional one-year extension is much more difficult to obtain).

The CFT Program limits the amount of time students will be able to gain client contact hours from the Center for Healthy Families to the two years they are in the program. In the unlikely event that a student does not meet all required client contact hours for graduation by the end of the Spring semester of their second year, the student may be allowed to continue their internship at CHF during the summer of their second year in the program (Summer II). In those rare circumstances, and with written approval by the Program Director and CHF Director, the student will need to (1) register for 1 credit of FMSC 658 Supervised Clinical Practice for summer session I; (2) extend the clinic internship at CHF and continue with FMSC 654 requirements until the end of the summer session; and (3) continue attending morning and evening supervision groups. The student’s grade for FMSC 654 will be posted at the end of the summer session and the UMD diploma will have an August graduation date.

The CFT Program follows the University of Maryland, College Park and the Graduate School’s academic regulations and grading procedures, including the plus-minus system of letter grades and achievement of a minimum 3.0 GPA. The full University policy can be read here.

The University of Maryland, College Park is an academic community. Its fundamental purpose is the pursuit of knowledge. The University functions properly in fulfilling this mission when its community members adhere to clearly established goals and values. Essential to the fundamental purpose of the University is the commitment to the principles of truth and academic honesty. 

Academic Misconduct is a corrosive force in the academic life of a university. It 63 jeopardizes the quality of education and depreciates the genuine achievements of others. It is, without reservation, the responsibility of all members of the campus community to actively deter it. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of Academic Misconduct is not a neutral act. Histories of institutions demonstrate that indifference will reinforce, perpetuate, and enlarge the scope of such misconduct. Institutional reputations for Academic Misconduct are regrettable aspects of modern education. These reputations become self-fulfilling and grow, unless vigorously challenged by Students, Instructors, and all campus community members. 

The Code of Academic Integrity (Code) is designed to ensure that the principle of academic honesty is upheld. 

Prohibited Conduct 

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: Any of the following acts, when committed by a Student, constitute Academic Misconduct: 

• Cheating: fraud, deceit, or misconduct in any academic course, exercise, or research in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage and/or using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic course, exercise or research, including qualifying and other graduate Student examinations. 
• Fabrication: unauthorized falsification or invention of any data, images, information or citation in any academic course, exercise or research, including but not limited to articles, proposals, dissertations, and theses. 
• Facilitating Academic Misconduct: Knowingly helping or attempting to help another individual to violate any provision of this Code. 
• Plagiarism: representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic course, exercise or research, including but not limited to articles, proposals, dissertations, and theses. 
• Self-Plagiarism: the reuse of substantially identical or nearly identical portions of one’s own work in multiple courses without prior permission from the current Instructor or from each of the Instructors, if the work is being submitted for multiple courses in the same semester. 

Code of Student Conduct 

The CFT Program follows the University of Maryland Code of Student Conduct in regards to prohibited behavior and sanctions. For the complete Code and description of sanctions, please see the following link.

When an ethical concern is raised, the CFT faculty will first evaluate whether or not an AAMFT ethical principle has been violated. The CFT faculty make this determination based on the AAMFT Code of Ethics. The faculty will consult with the AAMFT ethics committee as appropriate. The CFT Program also adheres to the State of Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists Act regarding the ethical practice of Marriage and Family Therapy. The full code of ethics for the State of Maryland can be found at the following link. (COMAR links are under construction - may be able to view elsewhere online.) Please note: Under State Government Article, §7-217, Annotated Code of Maryland, the printed version of COMAR is the official and enforceable text. Only the official text may be judicially noticed under Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §10-203 Annotated Code of Maryland.) 

In the case of a violation of AAMFT ethical principles the faculty as a whole will meet to decide, based on the nature of the violation, if the student will be put on probation or dismissed from the program. The faculty will, on a case by case basis, make a decision on the necessary steps to remove the probationary status. While on probation, a student cannot see clients. In the case where there is a concern but no violation, faculty as a whole will meet to decide on appropriate remediation on a case by case basis, such as but not limited to taking an additional ethics course, recommendation of personal therapy, and/or additional supervision.

All CFT faculty members and clinical supervisors are required to conduct their work with students according to the relevant Ethical Principles of AAMFT. In the event of a violation of the relevant ethical principles, the case will be brought to the attention of the Department of Family Science Chair, who is responsible for overseeing the conduct of all faculty members.

The CFT program is committed to diversity and inclusion among its students, faculty, and clients. The program’s definition of diversity includes, but is not limited to, age, gender, gender identity/expression, ethnicity, race, nationality, physical/cognitive/health ability or condition, international status, immigrant status, English language proficiency, accent, sexual orientation, military status, religious/spiritual views, political views, socioeconomic status, education level, relationship status, or family composition. 

The Department of Family Science provides leadership and expertise for helping the university achieve its diversity, equity and inclusion goals. Guided by social justice principles, we cultivate a vibrant learning and working community for all members. We envision a university that fully embraces diversity, equity and inclusion as morally right and educationally sound, and that centers the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

The CFT Program adheres to the University of Maryland Non-Discrimination Policy and Procedures. In addition to the characteristics protected by the University of Maryland Policy, the CFT Program also does not discriminate on the basis of socioeconomic status. This non- discrimination policy applies to the recruitment and admission of students, the code of student conduct, the CFT Program Policy on Remediation and Dismissal Regarding Ethical Violations, the Policy on Faculty and Supervisor Ethical Behavior, academic accommodations made for students’ disabilities, hiring and promotion of faculty. The faculty, staff, and students strive to create a climate of safety, respect, and appreciation for all involved in the CFT program. This climate of the CFT program is evaluated yearly via an anonymous survey.

The CFT Program differentiates among student concerns, complaints, and grievances. 

1. A concern is an issue that one or more students have regarding an aspect of the clinic facilities or procedures, course content, administration of the program, etc. that they wish to bring to the attention of the faculty for potential improvement. 
2. A complaint is an issue that students experience as adversely affecting aspects of clinical practice and education that students see as needing prompt attention and resolution. 
3. A grievance is an issue in which the student perceives unjust or inequitable personal treatment within the program and is seeking remediation and resolution. 

At the Program level, there are several established procedures through which a student can express a concern, complaint, or grievance. If a student decides to file a written complaint regarding any aspect of the CFT program, the complaint and the resolution are recorded and stored by the Program Director. The Program Director maintains a record of all written complaints and grievances, the review process followed, and the resolution reached. This record is reviewed by the core faculty each year as part of the annual review of environmental supports described in the Assessment Plan section of this Handbook, so that recurring concerns inform program improvement procedures through which a student can express a concern, complaint, or grievance 

Procedures to express a concern, complaint, or grievance 

• Academic Advisor Upon entry to the program, students are assigned a faculty advisor and are encouraged to meet with them at least once a semester to discuss any issues or problems experienced in the Program. There are two weeks during each semester especially designated for academic advising meetings and they are marked in the Student Calendar 
• Student Representatives at Faculty Meetings Students elect a representative from each class to attend faculty meetings once a month. In addition to giving a student perspective on issues being discussed during the faculty meeting and taking information back to their cohorts, one part of their responsibilities is to share cohort concerns or complaints with faculty. Students representative are selected in the first two weeks of the Fall semester and the first two weeks of the Spring semester.
• Private Meeting with CHF Director The CHF Director is available to schedule meetings with individual students or groups of students to discuss student concerns, complaints, or potential grievances regarding CHF clinic related aspects. At the student’s choice, the concern, complaint, or grievance may be presented orally and/or in writing. With the knowledge of the student, the CHF Director will usually share the information with the CFT Program Director and the rest of the CFT core faculty. 
• Private Meeting with the Program Director The Program Director is available to schedule meetings with individual students or groups of students to discuss student concerns, complaints, or potential grievances. At the student’s choice, the concern, complaint, or grievance may be presented orally and/or in writing. At the discretion of the Program Director and with the knowledge of the student, the information will be shared with the necessary departmental faculty and administrators for resolution. 
• Private Meeting with Department Graduate Director The Graduate Director is available to schedule meetings with individual students or groups of students to discuss student concerns, complaints, or potential grievances. At the student’s choice, the concern, complaint, or grievance may be presented orally and/or in writing. At the discretion of the Graduate Director and with the knowledge of the student, the information will be shared with the necessary departmental faculty and administrators for resolution. 
• Private Meeting with Department Chair The Department Chair is available to schedule meetings with individual students or groups of students to discuss student concerns, complaints, or potential grievances. At the student’s choice, the concern, complaint, or grievance may be presented orally and/or in writing. At the discretion of the Department Chair and with the knowledge of the student, the information will be shared with the necessary departmental faculty and administrators for resolution. 
• Course and Supervision Evaluations On a regular semester basis, students complete anonymous evaluations of all courses, instructors, and supervisors. These evaluations include open-ended questions that allow students to describe their concerns and complaints. 
• Leadership and Maintenance Survey Each spring, students complete an anonymous survey that evaluates the Program Director, CHF Director, Core Faculty, Adjunct Faculty, Adjunct Supervisors, and Program Administrative Specialist on their leadership efforts and maintenance of the Program Mission, Goals, and Student Learning Outcomes. Responses and concerns expressed by the students are reviewed by the Program Director and brought to the attention of the appropriate administrative body to make changes 
• CFT Program Climate Survey Each spring, students complete an anonymous survey that evaluates the climate of safety, respect, and appreciation of students in the CFT Program. Responses and concerns expressed by the students are reviewed by the Program Faculty. 
• Anonymous Box Students can submit concerns, complaints, and suggestions electronically and anonymously at Anonymous Box. The Program Director will be responsible for checking the comments in the Anonymous Box monthly. If students have urgent concerns that need to be addressed, the Program Director is also available to meet and discuss the concern. 

How Concerns, Complaints, and Grievances Are Reviewed and Resolved 

The channels described above are the ways in which students raise a concern, complaint, or grievance. This section describes what happens next. 

• Concerns. Minor matters and matters needing immediate attention — for example, clinic facilities, equipment, or scheduling — are addressed directly by the Program Director, or by the CHF Director where the matter concerns clinic operations, and the core faculty are informed at the next CFT faculty meeting. All other concerns are discussed by the core faculty at the monthly CFT faculty meeting, which decides the response or improvement plan. Comments submitted to the Anonymous Box are reviewed by the Program Director monthly and brought to the core faculty in the same way. Concerns expressed in the anonymous surveys are aggregated in the annual COI Data Report and reviewed by the core faculty at the August CFT Faculty Retreat. 
• Complaints. A student may make a complaint orally or in writing to the Program Director or, for CHF clinic-related matters, the CHF Director. Written complaints are acknowledged within five business days. The Program Director, in consultation with the core faculty as appropriate, reviews the complaint and communicates the outcome to the student, ordinarily within twenty business days of receipt. Where a complaint affects a cohort rather than an individual, the response is also reported to students in a Program/Clinic meeting. 
• Grievances. A grievance is directed to the Program Director unless it concerns the Program Director. The Program Director acknowledges the grievance within five business days, reviews it with the core faculty, and communicates the outcome to the student in writing. 
  • A grievance concerning an adjunct instructional faculty member or adjunct clinical supervisor is reviewed by the Program Director, together with the CHF Director where a clinical supervisor is involved. Where the grievance alleges conduct contrary to the AAMFT Code of Ethics, it is handled under the Policy on Faculty and Supervisor Ethical Behavior in this Handbook. 
  • A grievance concerning a core faculty member is reviewed by the Program Director with the Department Chair. 
  • A grievance concerning the Program Director may be brought to the Chair of the Department of Family Science. The Program Director does not take part in the review of a grievance concerning themselves. 
  • A grievance concerning another student is reviewed by the core faculty under the University of Maryland Code of Student Conduct and, where an AAMFT ethical principle may have been violated, under the Policy on Remediation and Dismissal Regarding Ethical Violations in this Handbook.

No retaliation. No student will be penalized, disadvantaged, or treated differently in the CFT Program for raising a concern, complaint, or grievance in good faith Concerns beyond the program. Where a concern, complaint, or grievance is about the Department Graduate Director, the Chair of the Department of Family Science, or the Dean of the School of Public Health, or where a student is not satisfied with the outcome at the program level, the student may use the University's graduate student grievance procedure. The Graduate Ombuds Officer and the School of Public Health Resolution Officer provide confidential guidance and can serve as the student's primary contact. Details are available from the Graduate School at gradschool.umd.edu/students/grievances. 

Concerns beyond the program 

Where a concern, complaint, or grievance is about the Department Graduate Director, the Chair of the Department of Family Science, or the Dean of the School of Public Health, or where a student is not satisfied with the outcome at the program level, the student may use the University's graduate student grievance procedure. The Graduate Ombuds Officer (Graduate Student Ombuds Office | The Graduate School) provides confidential guidance and can serve as the student's primary contact.

Procedures for Review of Alleged Arbitrary and Capricious Grading 

Arbitrary and capricious grading is constituted by the assignment of a course grade to a student on some basis other than performance in the course, or the assignment of a course grade to a student by unreasonable application of standards different from standards that were applied to other students in that course, or the assignment of a course grade by a substantial and unreasonable departure from the instructor's initially articulated standards. 

A student who believes they have received an improper final grade in a course should inform the instructor promptly. The instructor will meet with the student at a mutually convenient time and place within ten working days of receipt of the information. The purpose of the meeting is to attempt to reach a resolution. 

If the instructor has left the University, is on approved leave, or cannot be reached by the student, the student should contact the Department Chairperson. The Department Chairperson, or a designee, will meet with the student as described above to attempt to resolve the problem. 

If these meetings (known as the informal process) do not resolve the problem, the student may initiate a formal appeal. This appeal must be made in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School and must contain: the course title and number; the instructor's name; and a statement detailing why the grade is believed to be arbitrary and capricious as defined in this policy, and providing all relevant supporting evidence. The appeal must be received in the Dean's Office within twenty (20) days of the first day of instruction of the next semester (excluding summer and winter semesters.) If these criteria are met, the Dean will institute a formal procedure. 

Formal Procedures 

Each academic unit will have a standing committee of two tenured professors and two graduate level students to hear appeals of arbitrary and capricious grading. The appeal will be heard within the academic unit offering the course. If the instructor of the course is a member of the committee, that instructor will be replaced by an alternate designated by the Department Chairperson. 

Each written appeal is to be reviewed by the entire committee for a decision by the majority. The committee will either dismiss the appeal, or move it forward. Grounds for dismissal are: the student has submitted the same complaint to any other grievance procedure; the allegations, if true, would not constitute arbitrary and capricious grading; the appeal was not timely; or the informal process has not been exhausted. If the appeal is dismissed, the committee will notify the student in writing within ten days of the decision, and will include the reason or reasons for the dismissal. 

If the appeal is not dismissed, the committee will submit a copy of the appeal to the instructor. The instructor must reply in writing to the committee within ten days. If, based on the instructor's reply, the committee feels there is a viable solution, that solution should be pursued with the student and the instructor. If no solution is reached, the committee shall hold a fact- finding meeting with the student and the instructor. It is to be non-adversarial and informal, with neither party represented by an advocate. 

Witnesses may be asked to make statements to the committee if the committee is informed prior to the meeting. The meeting will not be open to the public. The committee will meet privately at the close of the fact-finding meeting to decide whether a majority believes the evidence supports the allegation of arbitrary and capricious grading beyond a reasonable doubt. The committee will notify the student, the instructor, and the Dean of the Graduate School of the decision in writing within five days of the meeting. 

The committee has the authority to take any action that it believes will bring about substantial justice, including but not limited to directing the instructor to grade the student's work anew, directing the instructor to administer a new final exam or paper, directing the cancellation of the student's registration in the course, and directing the award of a grade of "pass" in the course. The committee does not have the authority to assign a letter grade for the course or reprimand or take disciplinary action against the instructor. 

The decision of the committee is final, and binding on both parties. The decision may not be appealed to any other body within the University of Maryland or the University of Maryland System. 

The Dean of the Graduate School will be responsible for implementing the decision of the committee. For more information, please review The University Policy on Arbitrary and Capricious Grading.

To facilitate the retention of students, the CFT program, through the Program Handbook, introduces students to academic and personal (e.g., counseling, legal aid) support services on campus. The Program, to the extent possible based on departmental budget, provides assistantships for those in need of financial support. Additionally, departmental scholarships targeted to CFT students with financial needs are available. Travel monies are also given by the department for students presenting at conferences. Finally, faculty advisors are assigned to each CFT student for ongoing consultation and support as needed by the students.

The CFT Program follows the University of Maryland, College Park policy on academic graduation requirements. 

Clinical Requirement for Graduation: Exit Interview 

Students will complete a final audit to ensure that all responsibilities are completed, including all paperwork necessary to close or transfer paper case files, delete all videos and electronic case paperwork not being transferred, submit final client contact and supervision records (indicating achievement of minimum of 500 client contact hours with at least 400 hours of direct client contact, at least 150 hours of relational direct client contact hours, at least 75 direct client contact hours providing in-person therapy, at least 75 direct client contact hours providing teletherapy, at least 100 hours of direct client contact hours with diverse/marginalized/underserved clients, and a minimum of 100 hours of supervision out of which 50 hours included supervision based on observable data) to the CHF Director. Students will have an exit interview with the CHF Director to review the student intern’s checklist of completed closure tasks.

For each incoming cohort of CFT students, formal training sessions are conducted in the Center for Healthy Families (CHF) as part of the weekly in-service training schedule. The CHF Director, in collaboration with the second-year students (seniors), schedules a series of specific technical training sessions for the first-year students. Those include completing client intakes via telephone, management of digital clinical records, accessing and utilizing the digital video recording system, the video-conferencing system, and the digital storage system for recordings, and writing client progress notes, and handling client payment and receipts. Under the supervision of the clinic director, the second-year students explain and demonstrate these skills, and first year students are guided in practicing these skills. In addition, a library of videos and presentations has been produced to allow students to review the skills presented at their own pace. All students are required to become familiar with technical procedures used in the clinic by studying the CHF Clinic Manual. In addition, students receive training on how to access UMD and CHF Clinic technology resources by SPH IT Support Team on the first clinic meeting. 

All core program faculty members, who also serve as clinical supervisors, also receive copies of the CHF Manual and participate in the supervisors’ meetings during which the CHF director provides instruction on technical and procedural issues. 

All supervisors receive instruction and training in technical aspects of the CHF operations by receiving copies of the CHF and instruction by the CHF director and SPH IT Support Team during weekly Supervisors’ Meetings during the semester. The clinic director also provides individualized technical instruction to each new supervisor. Furthermore, supervisors are invited to attend the weekly in-service presentations in the clinic, many of which cover technical issues. 

All students and clinical supervisors that participate in the CHF clinical activities are required to understand and comply with all CHF policies as outlined in the CHF Clinical Manual, including the Program and CHF Technology policies.

Graduates from the CFT program are eligible for licensure as a Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist (LGMFT) in the state of Maryland. The Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist (LGMFT) designation was established for CFTs who have graduated and passed the licensing exam but are still accumulating the required post- graduate clinical hours. The state requirements to sit for the licensing exam parallel the course curriculum of the University of Maryland CFT program. Two years of clinical experience and supervision are required after graduation to obtain the Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT) designation. Students seeking licensure in other states (including DC) will need to refer to AAFMT’s state resources website to ensure that they meet requirements in that state.

Students that plan to apply for the LGMFT designation in Maryland can find information about the application process from Appendix G in the program handbook. Note that students from our CFT program can apply for the LGMFT license in Maryland and therefore, they can register for the National Licensing Exam before graduation. However, in order to do so students should submit all the paperwork to the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists at least 45 days before the deadline for exam registration.

Marriage and Family Therapy is a profession that leads to licensure in all 50 states; however each state has its own laws and regulations about what is needed to become licensed as an MFT in that state. As a COAMFTE accredited program, the Couple and Family Therapy Program at the University of Maryland, College Park provides the supervised clinical training typically required in states with Couple and Family Therapy licensure. In order to evaluate whether our CFT program meets the requirements for professional licensure in states other than Maryland, you can refer to the AAMFT's state resources website.  All newly admitted students that have enrolled in our program receive a form indicating that there is variation in licensing requirements across states and also indicating where to find MFT licensure information and are required to sign the form acknowledging that they have received it ( in Appendix F) during the summer before the first day of class in the program. Students that are planning to seek licensure in states other than Maryland should notify the Program Director and Clinic Director no later than the end of the first Spring semester to assess if licensure requirements will be met and whether adjustments could be made by the program to accommodate such requirements. Students can review more detailed information in the program's Policy on Regulatory Alignment and the Student Licensure Acknowledgement Form.

The University of Maryland, College Park uses the CANVAS Course Management System for all courses. Students enrolled in the CFT program are required to learn how to use the CANVAS system for accessing course materials, communicating with the instructor, and submitting their work. Guidance and support on CANVAS use can be found IT Support - Getting Started in ELMS-Canvas. In addition, all students in the CFT program must adhere to the UMD IT Policies. Below is a list of major UMD IT policies that students must follow: 

• Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources - UMD Policy X-1.0(A) IT resources are provided to support the academic, research, instructional, and administrative objectives of the university. This policy sets forth standards for responsible and acceptable use of university information technology (IT) resources. These resources include computer systems, computer labs, applications, networks, software, and files. 
• Privacy Policy - UMD Policy X-15.00(A) The UMD Privacy Policy establishes a framework for compliance, responsibility, and accountability as it relates to an individual’s privacy rights, with regard to the collection, use, and protection of personally identifiable information. 
• Web Accessibility Policy - UMD Policy VI-1.00(E) UMD is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive educational and working environment for people of all abilities and to ensuring equal access to information and services for all its constituencies. Web-based information and service delivery are the primary means by which the campus community and its visitors communicate and conduct business. These are minimum standards for the accessibility of all university Web pages used to conduct core university business and academic activities to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations, specifically, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
• Policy on Telephone System Usage (UMD Policy X-3.00(A) The UMD telephone system provides service for conducting university business. Use of the telephone system is subject to university network policies along with this policy. It provides details about usage, records, information services, voicemail, and emergency calls. 
• Policy on Institutional Data Management - UMD Policy VI-22.00(A) This policy establishes a framework for the management of university institutional data and the responsibilities for the protection of those data. 
• Policy on Compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act - UMD Policy VI-24.00(A) The policy of the University of Maryland, College Park is to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its implementing regulations (collectively “HIPAA”) to the extent that HIPAA is applicable to the university as a hybrid entity. 
• Student Guidelines for Network Computer Use - The University of Maryland provides students with the capability to connect their computers to the university network in the residence halls, the houses on Fraternity Row, via wireless access points located throughout the campus, and at network jacks in select public locations. This access is provided for the purpose of facilitating student academic activity, whether or not such activity directly relates to formal course work. There are restraints on network use as stated in law and the university's Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources. There are restrictions placed on usage based upon the need for security and the costs associated with providing network services. 

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Tools 

Students should follow the policies provided by instructors in their course syllabi regarding the use of GenAI tools. When such policies are unclear, students should consult with their instructors to clarify expectations regarding the use of GenAI tools in that course. When permitted by the instructor, students should appropriately acknowledge and cite their use of GenAI applications. When conducting research-related and scholarly activities (e.g., theses, assignments) students should refer to the UMD guidance for research and scholarship using GAI. Allegations of unauthorized use of GenAI will be treated by UMD similarly to allegations of unauthorized assistance (cheating) or plagiarism and investigated by the Office of Student Conduct. UMD specific guidelines for GAI use are available at Guidelines for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Tools at UMD | AI @ UMD. Below are general guidelines for using GenAI 

• A. Considerations in Choosing a Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Tool: 
  • 1. Privacy risks: Be cautious as some tools might not guarantee data privacy and could be accessible by external parties. Avoid sharing sensitive information like credit card details or personal identifiers
  • 2. Misleading costs: Some tools might appear free initially but might require a credit card for a trial, making it difficult to cancel the subscription later. Stay vigilant of such tactics 
  • 3. Learn to use: Familiarize yourself with tools like ChatGPT using available resources, such as training materials from UMD or comprehensive lists of prompts for different purposes 
  • 4. Understand limitations: Recognize the capabilities and constraints of GenAI tools, as they are predictive models and not sentient beings. Explore information about their limitations to use them effectively 
  • 5. Use reputable resources: Ensure the tools you choose are from reliable companies like OpenAI's ChatGPT and DALL-E 2, Google's Bard, and Microsoft's Bing AI 
  • 6. Safe computing: Adhere to guidelines provided by DIT to remain safe on the internet      
• B. Considerations for the Ethics of Using GenAI: 
  • 1. GenAI is not sentient: These models don't possess self-awareness but are trained on datasets, leading to inherent biases and limitations 
  • 2. GenAI is biased: Due to training on past data, these models may not account for current social changes and could have implicit biases 
  • 3. GenAI can mislead: Models might produce information that lacks veracity, relying on verbosity rather than actual evidence 
  • 4. GenAI prefers English: Language models can be biased towards Standard American English, disadvantaging other dialects and writing style                   
• C. Student Guidance for Using GenAI Responsible in Academic Settings: 
  • 1. Seek guidance from professors on appropriate use in coursework 
  • 2. Verify information and citations from GenAI and supplement with independent research 
  • 3. Remember that GenAI tools are only tools and shouldn't replace critical thinking 
  • 4. Ask yourself relevant questions regarding your usage of GenAI, its impact on your learning, content accuracy, and its equitable use compared to peers. Use these tools ethically to contribute positively to society

 For GenAI Services approved by the Division of IT, please visit: Available Services | AI @ UMD

As interns in the Center for Healthy Families, students have access to computers, printers, and electronic systems that should only be used for clinical, supervisory, administrative, and other approved CHF activities. Therapist-interns are expected to protect client confidentiality and follow all applicable University and CHF information-security procedures when accessing clinic systems. CHF currently uses several electronic systems for different purposes: 

• Titanium Scheduler is CHF's official electronic medical record and is used for clinical scheduling, case information, and clinical documentation. 
• VALT is used for recording and reviewing in-person clinical sessions according to CHF recording procedures. 
• Microsoft Teams is the approved platform used by CHF for teletherapy. 
• SharePoint is used for the approved storage of recordings of teletherapy sessions after recordings are transferred from Microsoft Teams. 
• UMD Box may be used for approved CHF administrative, training, and program materials but should not be treated as a substitute for Titanium as the official clinical record. 

The CHF Clinic Manual provides detailed guidance and policies for the access and use of these systems (also including phone and email communication) in compliance with  HIPAA, AAMFT Code of Ethics, and COMAR to protect clients’ identifying and sensitive information. The CHF Clinic Manual also provides guidance and policies on tele-therapy services (and tele-supervision for the rare situation when in-person supervision is not possible) based on Maryland laws and regulations (COMAR 10.58.06, Teletherapy), AAMFT Code of Ethics (Standard VI: Technology-Assisted Professional Services), and HIPAA. 

AI Use 

All students are required to take the AI and Information Literacy modules provided by UMD and pass the quiz. The AI and Information Literacy modules will be made available through the FMSC 640 and FMSC 642 on CANVAS/ELMS. All students must meet this requirement by September 22, 2025. Until further notice, the use of GenAI tools for clinical use is prohibited in this CFT program due to privacy concerns about clients’ information. This prohibition is not limited to in-session work but it also extends to assessment, diagnosing, treatment planning, supervision, and any administrative tasks involved in clinical work (e.g., progress notes, letters and/or emails to clients and third parties, etc.).