Decision Points: Evaluation of Standards and Dispositions

The Counseling Program at IU Southeast is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and is approved by the Indiana Professional Standards Board and the Kentucky Department of Education. The School Counseling Program follows the standards set by the Indiana Professional Standards Board. These requirements also meet the Kentucky standards for School Counseling Programs. The entire list of program standards and a checklist showing the assessments for each standard are in the Appendices. The following is a list of the four Decision Points which the candidate must pass as s/he moves through the program.

Decision Point I - Acceptance as a Counseling Major

The applicant will be accepted as a Counseling major if s/he has a 2.75 (our of 4.00) undergraduate GPA in any major, or a master's in any field with a 3.0 GPA. There is no admittance for a candidat who does not meet at least one of these requirements.

Decision Point II - Acceptance into the Clinical Cohort

After completing the pre-core and the pre-requisites, the candidate applies to the Clinical Cohort by preparing a brief portfolio and getting letters of recommendation (directions are in the appendix). Applications are due on April 1 of the year that the student wants to begin the clinical program. The first class will be in the summer of that same year.

Decision Point III - After Practicum (end of spring semester of first clinical year)

Candidates must achieve a grade of "B" or better and pass all of the assessment items at the required level in the five courses in this decision point. Candidates will receive a list of assessments at the start of their first year in the cohort.

Decision Point IV - After Internship (end of spring semester second clinical year)

Candidates must achieve a grade of "B" or better and pass all of the assessment items at the required level in the five courses in this decision point. Candidates will receive a list of assessments at the start of their first year in the cohort.

Dispositions

Candidates are assessed using the School of Education Dispositions in four courses during the two years of the Clinical Cohort years. If candidates receive a disposition marked as "Concern" or "Unacceptable," a member of the program faculty will meet with the candidate to set up a remediation plan. Candidates must pass all of the dispositions before graduation.

Courses in which dispositions are assessed:

• Disposition Point 3: G523; G575; also in G524 by both university and site supervisor
• Disposition Point 4: G550 (fall) by both university and site supervisor

Any instructor who has a concern about a disposition in any other course may bring it to the attention of the candidate and the program coordinator and this concern will result in a remediation plan for correction. Candidates will also complete a self-assessment when they enter the Clinical Cohort and will complete a reflection on their progress at Decision Points 3 and 4. A copy of the dispositions is in the appendices.

Opportunities to Redo Performance Assessments

Candidates will be given the opportunity to redo some assessment measures in courses. When there are several assessments in one course, the candidate will be given the ONE TIME opportunity to redo up to two of those assessments for standards . The other requirements must be passed the first time. If the candidate is allowed to redo an assessment, s/he will receive the minimum number of points for a pass at the basic level for that project.

Notification of Deficiency and Remediation Plan

Candidates will be given written notice in any class where there is a concern regarding dispositions and/or standards. The notice could include suggestions for remediation. If the behavior is still a concern at mid-semester, then a remediation plan will be developed, using the remediation form in the Appendices.

Due Process: Petitions For Exceptions And Appeals

Candidates have the right to appeal any decision by the Counseling Program faculty including course grades, decision points and field placement decisions. In addition, candidates can ask to be allowed to substitute courses for the pre-core or pre-requisite requirements in the program. Candidates with substantial experience/training in special education or classroom management may appeal for a waiver of those courses. The process for appeals and a sample petition form is located in the Appendices. Candidates should use the Graduate Program Appeals Form. These processes are consistent with those in the IU Student Handbook.

Candidate Work

IU Southeast follows the guidelines for national (NCATE) and state (IPSB) accreditation agencies that require outside groups to review candidate work. Groups such as the School Counseling Advisory Committee, NCATE and IPSB reviewers and various IU Southeast Committees may need to review candidate work to insure that standards are being met. When possible all identifying information is removed from that work. When candidates enter the Counseling Program, they sign an agreement that these additional groups can review their work. Those outside the University who review candidate work, sign a confidentiality agreement and also agree not to publish or present the work without the candidate's written permission.

ASCA Membership And Liability Insurance

Once candidates are accepted into the Clinical Cohort, they are required to join the American School Counseling Association as a student member. This gives the candidate liability insurance. Proof of membership and liability insurance coverage will be required by October 1 of the first clinical year. The membership application is available on line at www.schoolcounselor.org. ASCA provides a journal and a school counseling magazine that will be used in the counseling courses. In addition, there are books from ASCA that the candidate will be required to buy for classes. The membership discount for books helps to offset the price of membership. Candidates must abide by the ASCA ethical guidelines during their practicum and internship placements.

Attendance At Counseling Conferences

In the first clinical year all candidates attend a counseling conference; the specific conference will be determined by the Program. Candidates are responsible for paying all fees for the conference and arranging time off from their jobs. Some schools allow personnel to use professional days for the counseling conferences, but if necessary, candidates must use personal days to attend these conferences because they are a vital part of the counselor's education and professional development. Candidates are also required to attend the school counseling conference in their state during the second year.

Access To Web And E-mail

All counseling candidates must have regular access to the web and to e-mail. As an IU Southeast candidate, you receive an e-mail account; you may use this, a work account, or a home e-mail account. If you are using a work account, however, you must be able to access it during summer classes. Many course materials will be delivered through ONCOURSE, which requires web access.

Class Participation

During the counseling program candidates will often have a role as a student counselor, but will also have to be a "student client" to allow other candidates to practice their skills. During such exercises, candidates will be required to self-disclose personal thoughts, feelings and behaviors, but will be able to select what they disclose. They will always have the right to decline to discuss specific personal information. As a "student client" the candidate must also make a good faith effort to work on an actual personal issue. No part of the candidate's grade will be determined by the information self-disclosed as a "student client". It is a serious ethical responsibility for the candidate to keep personal information disclosed by other candidates in the program confidential and not to discuss this information outside of class.

Terms Of Agreement

When candidates are invited to join the Clinical Cohort, they must sign a Terms of Agreement form that summarizes all the candidate responsibilities. A copy of this document is in the Appendices.

Application For Graduation

Candidates must complete the Application for Degree form by November1 before they plan to graduate in May or August. The forms are available from the SOE Records Office (HH0024) or the University Registrar. They should be returned to the SOE Records Office. The candidate's file will be reviewed to be sure that all requirements for graduation have been completed.