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Essential information for current students Topics in alphabetical order: 1. Advisors, 2. Candidacy, 3. Changing Sequences, 4. Counseling Services for Students, 5. Counselor Education Student Association, 6. Departmental Proficiency Examination, 7. Endorsement Policy, 8. Faculty Expectations, 9. Financial Aid, 10. Grades, 11. Graduate Assistantships, 12. In the Event a Student Moves, 13. Incompletes, 14. Insurance, 15. Minority Recruitment Policy, 16. Name Change, 17. Non-Therapeutic Small Group Experiences for Students, 18. Placement Office, 19. Student Assistants for Clinical Courses, 20. Student Resource Room, 21. Syllabi, 22. Time Limitation, 23. Transfer of Credits, 24. Listserv, 25. Campus Information 1. Advisors Each student is assigned a sequence advisor. After being admitted to the program, the student should make an appointment with the advisor to prepare a tentative course plan. She/he should again meet with the designated advisor to discuss courses for the remainder of the program as they pertain both to career and internship plans. 2. Candidacy Candidacy is no longer required. 3. Changing Sequences A student who believes that a change of sequence is in her/his best interest should consult the advisor. A change is permitted only with the approval of the Admission and Retention Committee and the Dean of the Graduate College. 4. Counseling Services for Students Personal counseling is available free to all university students through the University Counseling Center. Students are urged to use these services as the need arises. Faculty may also suggest that students seek counseling when personal issues appear to be interfering with personal or professional development. 5. Counselor Education Student Association (CESA) The Counselor Education Student Association (CESA) provides services and programs that supplement the curriculum. Membership to CESA is free to all Counselor Education students. CESA elects officers annually and has a faculty advisor. For the Spring term, each CESA officer receives a tuition waiver for up to 6 credit hours. 6. Departmental Proficiency Examination (DPE) Students who are accepted in the Department of Counselor Education may apply to sit for the DPE after completing 36 hours of coursework (School, Community, and Rehabilitation sequences) and 45 hours of coursework (Family program). Completed work must include all core courses. The DPE application form should list all completed coursework with final grades and must be verified by the student's advisor. Applications to take the DPE may be submitted up to two weeks prior to the examination. The DPE is offered three times per year-in February, June, and October. The DPE is a 100 question (120 for Family Counseling) objective examination based on the 10 areas of study prescribed by CACREP. A score of 70 for the Community, School, and Rehabilitation sequences (84 for Family Counseling) is passing. The ten areas of study include: The Counseling Profession (for community, family, school), Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling (for rehabilitation), Developmental Counseling, Multicultural Counseling, Frameworks, Evaluation Techniques, Research, Individual Counseling Skills, Group Counseling, Career Development, and Ethics. A DPE study guide is available for study and research. In special circumstances (such as when a job offer or a salary increase is contingent upon completing the examination), students may petition the Department to take the DPE at a special sitting, provided that all course requirements for DPE eligibility have been met. 7. Endorsement Policy Students only receive endorsement for licensure and certification for the specific program of study. Licensure forms are only completed for students in the Community sequence, School sequence, Rehabilitation sequence, or the Family program for students who complete the appropriate additional work. Only students in the School Counseling sequence receive endorsement for School Counseling in the State of Illinois. 8. Faculty Expectations Faculty expectations of the professional and personal development of students are made explicit in admission and retention standards and procedures as well as in the academic standards listed in course syllabi. Students are responsible for knowing and following all departmental policies, procedures, and deadlines. The student is urged to maintain regular contact with her/his advisor. 9. Financial Aid The university has a financial aid office. Students are encouraged to apply when aid is needed. Also, the department offers a limited number of Graduate Merit Tuition Awards each semester. Application is made online through the Graduate College website. The criteria used in selecting recipients include, but is not limited to, the number of courses completed in the department, GPA, and whether and when a student has previously received a tuition award. 10. Grades A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for continuation in the program. The Graduate College will dismiss a student after receiving a third grade of "C" or below. All clinical courses (COUN 405, 406, Practicum, and Internship) require a minimum grade of "B" before a student can continue with the next course. Each clinical course may be retaken only once. 11. Graduate Assistants The program employs a limited number of graduate assistants during the year. Typically, a graduate assistant works 10 hours a week taking courses in the department. In addition, graduate assistants receive a monthly stipend and tuition waivers. Interested students should contact the department. 12. In the Event that a Student Moves In certain situations a student, with the approval of the program, may complete up to 9 semester hours at another CACREP approved university. 13. Incompletes Instructors will assign an "I" grade online. Students will have two semesters (including Summer) after the incomplete grade has been assigned to remove the incomplete (this does not apply to the Research or Practicum/Internship courses in Counselor Education). Incompletes that have not been removed within two semesters will be changed to an "F" grade. Incompletes assigned prior to the recordings of a degree cannot be removed after the degree has been awarded. 14. Insurance While in the program and fulfilling program requirements, students are insured against personal liability through the university. In addition, individual liability insurance is available through the American Counseling Association (ACA) for student members and is encouraged. 15. Minority Recruitment Policy The department actively seeks out and strongly encourages applications from students of ethnic and racial diversity. The department is committed to a multicultural perspective in its program, student body, and the counseling profession. 16. Name Change Submit appropriate documents to the Enrollment Services Office, the Department of Counselor Education, and Graduate Enrollment Services. This can also be done online through the student's NEIUport. 17. Non-Therapeutic Small Group Experiences for Students Students are urged to contact the University Counseling Office to arrange for small group experiences as they progress through the program. No Counselor Education faculty members participate in these group experiences. Students may use these groups for whatever purposes they choose, such as self-understanding, self-analysis, and refinement of interpersonal skills. Participation is held in strict confidence. 18. Placement Office The University Placement Office assists students in finding employment through its bi-weekly listings of job openings in the Chicago area and elsewhere, as well as other specialized services such as its library, which includes instructional videos, books, magazines, and timely articles. Also, students can produce a professional resume and have it placed on the internet by contacting the Placement Office. Job opportunities sent directly to Counselor Education are posted on the department's bulletin board on this website. 19. Student Assistants for Clinical Courses At the end of each semester, students are presented with evaluation forms to be completed anonymously for each course and instructor. These evaluations are used in two ways: 1) to influence the manner in which courses are taught in the future, and 2) to be part of the evaluation data used to determine the retention, promotion, and tenure of faculty members. Additionally, students at any time may communicate their needs, suggestions, criticisms, or observations to the Department Chairperson. 20. Student Resource Room The Student Resource Room is located in the Classroom Building, 4th floor, room CLS 4077. Professional journals, books, videos, newsletters, catalogues, and other related material are available for students. The room is available for student use when classes or meetings are not scheduled. 21. Syllabi Copies of all course syllabi are available to students and kept in the departmental office. Syllabi include descriptions of course content, instructional methodology, goals and competencies, assignments, evaluation criteria, and bibliographies. Professors will follow the program syllabus for a given course, but each is free to supplement and enrich the course according to the principle of academic freedom and one's personal uniqueness. 22. Time Limitation All course work must be completed within six years of the date when the first course is taken. In extraordinary cases, a limited extension may be granted by the Graduate College. The student's advisor must approve the application for a limited time extension. 23. Transfer of Credits All petitions for the transfer of credits must be submitted to the Graduate College. Up to 9 semester hours of course credits may be transferred from a CACREP approved program if the coursework is equivalent to that which is required in a student's program. Catalogue course descriptions must accompany any petitions for transfer credit. The student's advisor must evaluate the appropriateness of all transfer courses. Petitions for the transfer of non-CACREP courses are at the discretion of the Graduate College and student's advisor. 24. Listserv The department provides notifications to its graduate students in the form of a listserv, an email distribution list. Listserv provides notifications, including, but not limited to, upcoming events and seminars, information about the Counselor Education programs, job openings, practicum/internship sites, and deadlines for the DPE and licensure examinations. If you would like to be added to the Listserv, email Dona Wisniewski at D-Wisniewski@neiu.edu with your name, email address, and student ID number. 25. Campus Information Student Computer Centers are located across campus: first floor of the B-Building, basement and second floor of Lech Walesa Hall and the second floor of the Science Building. Computer workshops are offered through the Student Computing Services Department. These workshops are free courses offered as part of NEIU student fees and are a great way to obtain computer skills. The Physical Education Building provides students with a full gym with workout equipment, use of a pool and track, showers, lockers and towels, etc. A current NEIU student ID is required for use of the Physical Education Building resources. The Library on campus has computer labs for research, and offers students a variety of resources.
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Department of Counselor Education |
