From: Madelyn Isaacs, Chair and Professor, Counseling

Memo

To Curriculum Committees/Dr. Cathy Duff

Re: Department of Counseling Curriculum Revision Submissions

Date: September 29, 2016

I am writing to provide an explanation concerning the four proposals that are being submitted for the fall curriculum review process with implementation dates for fall 2017 and fall 2018.

Revision to School Counseling post-master’s Certificate, “Transition to School Counseling” for fall 2017. A reduction in credits is sought to better match state requirements for school counselor certification. After operating the program for the past year, applicants and prospective students have indicated that they would not complete excess credits beyond state requirements for certification. To increase the likelihood of program completion, this revision is being sought.

The remaining three proposals are linked by demands of CACREP accreditation standards released for 2016 and objectives and timelines in the University’s September 13, 2016 Strategic Plan. To meet CACREP standards for School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, a major curriculum revision and realignment was completed during the spring and summer of 2016. This is the first major curriculum review and revision in fifteen years. Both programs will be increasing the minimum number of credits required and will be expanding curriculum coverage and offering elective options for the first time. These degree programs are proposed for implementation in fall 2018. The recruitment and application cycle in the department is May through mid-February and thus to begin recruiting and promoting significant program changes, we must have complete approval and projected catalog copy ready for dissemination in May 2017. Applications will be received during fall of 2017 and are due in February of 2018 for 2018 admission.

The third proposal that is linked to the degree proposals is for a new post-master’s certificate to be implemented in fall 2017, Relationship and Family Counseling. The courses required for this certificate are entirely anchored in the revised Clinical Mental Health Counseling proposal identified above. The Certificate is targeted for implementation in fall 2017 in the Strategic Plan (See Health Sciences, Objective 1, Action # 9 “Plan for post-Masters certificate in Marriage & Family Therapy. Plan for post-master’s certificate by end of Fall 2016; Performance Outcomes Measure(s) 1. Plan is created and Certificate program is implemented by fall 2017.”)

This will require phased implementation of the courses, certificate, and degrees over a two-year period. These proposals thus should be considered as a package of related and dependent programs.

Thank you for your consideration and accommodation.

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