Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Student Handbook
4. Student Progress Assessment


According to CACREP, a systematic student evaluation as described in the 2009 CACREP Accreditation Manual, pgs. 87-88 is required. The CMHC program uses a professional identity portfolio to 1) provide an ongoing and systemic assessment and 2) engage students in a process of creating and defining their professional identity.   

  

While the iWebfolio is an electronic portfolio it also serves as the assessment protocol the CMHC program has chosen for its student progress data management system. This system allows students to be active online participants in multiple areas of their college experience including course instruction, field experiences, and sharing of assessment data.   

  

The CMHC program is one of a few UNF programs that are in a pilot phase of implementation of the iWebfolio. Therefore, students in the current CMHC cohort will be granted their portfolio license at no additional cost.   


With the introduction of the iWebfolio students will have the option of maintaining this portfolio after graduation.  It can then be changed to reflect any change in their professional goals and any part of it can be made available to prospective employers, professional schools or other professional needs.  

  

iWebfolio, the professional portfolio is a collection of experience-based materials and reflective information that demonstrate the various dimensions of the student counselor’s work, philosophy, abilities, and dispositions. The goal of the portfolio is to have student counselors analyze their various learning experiences and to then synthesize their learning in a way that demonstrates how diverse activities and insights from the program have contributed to their competence and professional identity. Therefore this portfolio is as much a process as it is a product.   



4.1 Portfolio Structure


The iWebfolio should be a well-organized and attractive presentation of professional materials that represent the student counselor’s “best work.”  It should be organized corresponding to the CMHC specialty themes. Sub-themes are left to the discretion of the individual student, but should make a statement about the individual’s standards of quality and the sense of self that one brings to the counseling profession.   


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4.2 Sections of the Portfolio


The CMHC iWebfolio is designed around the six CMHC specialty domains with the eight core curricular experiences imbedded. Additionally it includes feedback on the developmental progression of the clinical experience, a section of personal growth, a section on professional identity and a final portfolio assessment.   


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4.3 Assessment of the Portfolio


At a minimum this portfolio will be assessed at least once each semester. This assessment will take place with the individual faculty advisor to determine if the student counselor is making progress in creating and building on evidence of counseling knowledge and skills during the course of the program.  A student progress assessment is completed by your program advisor at the end of years one and two prior to graduation.  This final assessment will take place during the student counselor’s last internship and it will include an evaluation of the student’s counseling knowledge, and skills as well as personal characteristics such as ethical behavior and professionalism as a counselor.  The student will also be formally assessed to determine the degree to which portfolio standards have been met according to the portfolio grading rubric. (See Appendix B for iWebfolio Instructions) 

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4.4 Grade Requirements


Students are required to: 

  • Maintain aBaverage.Individuals who receivea “C”in threeormore courses will beplaced on academicprobation for review.  A student cannot graduate with more than 3 C’sin the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.  
  • Retakethe followingclasses if you makeagradeofC:
    • MHS6941 Clinical CounselingSkills 
    • MHS 6810 Group Counseling 
    • MHS6800 Practicum 
       
    • MHS6830 Internship; while Internship is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, the Program faculty and instructors maintain the right to look at each questionable student progress on a case to case basis and prescribe any remediation necessary to increase the quality of skills and service provision.   
     

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4.5 CPCE Examination


Allstudents are requiredto post apassingscorefortheCounselorPreparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE)in the semesterpriorto theirfirst internship.  

   

Students must complete all CACREP corecourses listed belowpriorto takingthe examination. TheCPCE has 160multiple-choicequestions that test students’ knowledgeofthe8 CACREP content domains including: 

  1. Human Growth&Development 
  2. Social and CulturalFoundations 
  3. HelpingRelationships 
  4. Group Work 
  5. CareerandLifestyleDevelopment 
  6. Appraisal (Assessment) 
  7. Research andProgramEvaluation 
  8. ProfessionalOrientation and Ethics 

Students will beinformed about test location andtimewhen they areidentified. Students are required tobring identificationand acheck forthe currentappropriate chargefortheexam, madeout to theCenter forCredentialing and Education (CCE) for admission forthetest. 

  

CompletedtestsaremailedtoandscoredbyCCEandareusuallyreturnedin3-4weeks. Soonthereafter, examinees willreceivea formal letter fromthe Clinical DirectortheProgram Director informingthem oftheirtestresults. 

  

Students who do not pass theCPCE can takethe examination 2 additional times.Examinations will be administered each semester.Ifthestudent does not pasttheexam he/sheshould meetwith theirfacultymentor/advisertodiscuss how to work toward score improvement.  Ifthestudent is unableto passthe examination afterthree attempts, theCMHC facultywill considerpossibledismissalfrom the program. 


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4.6 Remediation


It is imperative that students demonstrateprofessional behaviorthat conforms to CACREP and university program guidelines and theACACodeofEthics. Any student who demonstrates problems with professional competence and conduct may be required to complete remediation to address the concerns. Faculty will evaluate each student in the following competency areas:  

Interpersonal and professional competence; examples of which include the following:  

  • Demonstrates respectful peer and faculty interactions  
  • Demonstrates respect for the ideas and integrity of others  
  • Demonstrates maturity in interactions with others  
  • Demonstrates ability to interact respectfully with people of diversebackgrounds  
  • Demonstrates ability to react with appropriate empathy and sensitivity 

Sample behaviors that could result in remediation are:  

  • An inability to control anger  
  • Uses insulting or profane words  
  • Uses intimidating tactics  
  • An inability to tolerate cultural or lifestyle differences  
  • Dishonest or unethical behavior  
  • Lack of self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-evaluation  
  • A lack of awareness or inability to manage own limitations and responsibilities  
  • Turns assignments in late with some regularity 
  • Avoids responsibility for situations by blaming others  
  • Overt hostile reaction to supervision  
  • Refuses or is unable to adjust behavior in response to clearly communicated feedback  
  • Consistently fails to give appropriate credit to others  
  • Demonstrates a pattern of overreaction to a small slight  
  • An inability or refusal to accept academic inquiry or disagreement or to work collaboratively in a professional or academic environment   

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4.7 Program Dismissal


  • Studentsmaybedismissedfromtheprogramforacademicreasons(e.g.,grades ofCor lower, plagiarism, and/orverbal, non-verbal, orwritten communication problems).  
  • Students maybedismissed for overt violations ofthe current ACA EthicalCodes and Standards ofPractice. 
  • Students maybedismissed for “personal unsuitabilityfortheprofession.”Examples ofsuch behaviorinclude:
    • Consistent inabilitytoassess problem situations in amental health or educational setting and determinehow tonegotiate/compromiseorotherwiseresolve thesituation 
    • Ongoing inabilityor unwillingness torecognizepersonalboundary/powerissues which a) inhibit orprevent the student from learning appropriateprofessionalbehavior/counseling skills; and/or b) havethe potential to harm a client 
    • Ongoing inability or unwillingness to participatein learning activities designed to promote and improveself-understanding, self-analysis skills and interpersonal skills 
     

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4.8 Appeals Process


Allmembers oftheUniversitycommunityare entitled to fair and equitableprocedures and have theright of appeal. A student who believes the Universitypolicyimposes an unduehardship, or has not met reasonableaccommodations foradisabilitymaysubmit apetition requesting waiverofthespecificpolicythrough theRegistrar’s Office. Thestudent will beinformed in writingoftheresults of the appeal. 

  

Guidelines forgradeappeals arein the Registrar’s Office. Members ofthecommunitywho believethattheyhavenot beenaccorded rights underthe1990 Americanswith Disabilities Act, theCivil Rights Act of1964 orTitleIXoftheHigherEducation Amendments of1972 may submit inquiries to EqualOpportunityProgram Director, Room 2515,J.J.Daniel Hall,620-2507. 

 


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