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 standards required by Kentucky 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 undergraduate GPA in any major or a masters in any field with a 3.0 GPA. There is no admittance for a student 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 student 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 second summer of that same year.

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

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

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

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

Dispositions

Students are assessed using the School of Education Dispositions in four courses during the two years of the clinical cohort years. If students receive a disposition marked as "concern" or "unacceptable," a member of the program faculty will meet with the student to set up a remedial plan. Students 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 student and the program coordinator and this concern will result in a remedial plan for correction. Students will also do a self-assessment when they enter the clinical cohort and will do 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

Students will be given the opportunity to redo some assessment measures in courses. When there are several assessments in one course, the student will be given the opportunity to redo up to two of those assessments for standards ONE TIME. The other requirements must be passed the first time. If the student 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

Students 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

Students have the right to appeal any decision by the Counseling Program faculty including course grades, decision points and field placement decisions. In addition, students can ask to be allowed to substitute courses in the pre-core or pre-requisite requirements in the program. Students 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. Students should use the Graduate Program Appeals Form. These processes are consistent with those in the IU Student Handbook.

Student Work

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

ASCA Membership And Liability Insurance

Once students are accepted into the clinical cohort, they are required to join the American School Counseling Association as a student member. This gives the student 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 student will be required to buy for classes. The membership discount for books helps to offset the price of membership. Students must abide by the ASCA ethical guidelines during their practicum and internship placements.

Attendance At Counseling Conferences

In the first clinical year all students attend a counseling conference; the specific conference will be determined by the Program. Students 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, students must use personal days to attend these conferences because they are a vital part of the counselor's education and professional development. Students are also required to attend the school counseling conference in their state during the second year.

Access To Web And E-mail

All counseling students must have regular access to the web and to e-mail. As an IUS student, you receive an e-mail account and you may either use this, a work account, or e-mail at home. 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 students will often have a role as a student counselor, but will also have to be a student client to allow other students to practice their skills. During such exercises, students 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 student's grade will be determined by the information self-disclosed as a student client. It is a serious ethical responsibility for the student to keep personal information disclosed by other students in the program confidential and not to discuss this information outside of class.

Terms Of Agreement

When students are invited to join the clinical cohort, they must sign a Terms of Agreement that summarizes all the student responsibilities. A copy of this document is in the Appendices.

Application For Graduation

Students 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 (HH0023) or the University registrar. They should be returned to the SOE Records Office. The student's file will be reviewed to be sure that all requirements for graduation have been completed.