Program Overview

CMHC Program Retention and Review Policy

The CMHC program prepares students for roles as professional counselors, entailing development beyond academic coursework to include intrapersonal/interpersonal skills and ethical behavior. This policy outlines how students will be assessed and the processes in place to address any problems that may arise.

Explanation of Purpose

The faculty members of this program have established a policy that is developmental, aiming to provide opportunities for growth and change while ensuring that only qualified individuals graduate and are endorsed by the program. Applicants and students are asked to read and sign this statement to indicate that they understand the policy.

Candidacy and Clinical Candidacy

All graduate students admitted to the CMHC program are subject to candidacy review upon completion of 12 Credit Hours and again before they enter their clinical coursework. Admission into this program is considered provisional during the first academic year. The student is expected to establish themselves as a student in good standing, demonstrating the skills and aptitudes necessary to develop into a professional counselor.

Criteria for Advancement to Degree Candidacy

• Academic Performance: Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in each course.
• Intrapersonal/Interpersonal Skills and Personal Growth: Demonstrate effective intrapersonal/interpersonal skills and a commitment to personal growth.
• Professional Attitudes and Skills: Conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.
• Ethical Behavior: Demonstrate awareness of and concern for the ethical standards of mental health and all other disciplines within the counseling field.

Criteria for Advancement to Clinical Candidacy

Similar to the criteria for advancement to degree candidacy, with an additional focus on readiness for clinical work, including sufficient interpersonal skills and clinical skills necessary to begin practicing counseling.

Intervention Process Initiation and Steps

The Retention and Review Intervention Process will be initiated upon one of three conditions:

1. The faculty member and student are unable to agree upon or develop an Informal Plan.
2. The faculty member observes continued difficulty on the part of the student despite the Informal Plan.
3. The situation or issue is so serious that more formal actions/proceedings are warranted immediately.

Steps in the Retention and Review Intervention Process

1. Step One: Present the student's ongoing difficulty to the CMHC Program Faculty.
2. Step Two – Corrective Action Plan: Develop a written plan that specifies Goals, Objectives, Interventions, and Outcomes.
3. Step Three – Corrective Action Plan Review: Review the student's progress upon completion of the timeframe specified in the Corrective Action Plan.
4. Step Four – Retention Review Hearing: Determine if the student's failure to achieve the goals in the Corrective Action Plan warrants further actions.

Decision After Retention Review Hearing

After the hearing, a decision will be made, which may include:

• The concerns do not warrant further action.
• The student will be placed on "Professional Probation" with specific requirements for remediation.
• The student should be terminated from the Program due to an inability to render competent professional service.