Program Review for

Counseling and Guidance (M.A.)

2005-2006 Recommendations

 

I.                   Strengths:

 

1.      The program description matches the program objectives, leading students to certification as a school counselor and/or a master’s degree in counseling with the option of pursing the LPC.

 

2.      Students are able to pursue the additional licensure, the LPC.

 

3.      The program has appropriate coursework to establish a quality practitioner’s degree.

 

4.      The TExES pass rate has improved in 2004-2005, and continues to successfully meet the state certification standards.

 

5.      The number of students enrolled in courses has remained steady, indicating a viable graduate program.

 

II.                Weaknesses:

 

1.      The self-review does not include information about the source of response category selected for student satisfaction with the program, job placement of graduates, and “extensive activity” for student participation in research activities.

 

2.      The total number of full-time graduate majors in the subject area has dropped over the past three years (from 96 to 37).

 

3.      Courses and objectives indicate a heavy focus on practice with little on academic research, yet the program still requires the research course EDCG 5305 to successfully complete the program. There seems to be some inconsistency about the relevance and importance of the research requirement in the program.

 

4.      The program SLOs are limited. Only one was given on the review.

 

5.      Over the past five years, while still meeting the state certification standards, almost 20% of students failed to pass the school counselor exam.

 

6.      Some inconsistency in the description of the role of the program coordinator and interaction with/participation of faculty.

 

 

 

III.             Recommendations:

 

1.      The program should develop a method of acquiring feedback from both current students and graduates to ascertain the satisfaction with the program, employment success and additional feedback concerning strengthening the program.

 

2.      The program may need a greater recruitment effort, including additional funding for recruitment (assistantships, etc.) in order to maintain the number of graduate majors in the subject area.

 

3.      Continue to meet regularly as a faculty committee to help facilitate the duties of the Coordinator, and to determine the appropriate “fit” of the research component in the program.

 

4.      Develop additional SLOs that are more reflective of the program curriculum.

 

5.      Continue efforts to increase the pass rate of the TExES.

 

6.      Program coordinator should meet with the faculty at regularly-scheduled intervals to facilitate program decisions about curriculum, course load, etc.

 

 

Program Recommendation: Program recommended for continuation.

 

Dean’s Comments:

In reference to the Program Review of Counselor Education, I would like to formalize my conclusions and commitment for action. I agree wholeheartedly with the recommendations of the Review Committee, and will work with the Program Coordinator and faculty to meet each of those during the coming year. I am somewhat puzzled, however, by Weakness # 2, the drop in full-time majors – The Office of Institutional Research indicates that the five-year range of number of majors is 105-134, with a fall 2005 count of 125.  Even with this caveat, recommendations regarding enrollment and recruitment are still valid for us.  I will strongly encourage faculty and leadership in this program to develop SLOs, as well as to better define in continually increase quality in the research component. The faculty of the program will need to work closely together to meet these recommendations.

 

 

 

Outcome/Assessment Report

Master’s Program in Counseling and Guidance

Spring 2007

 

Dean’s Comments:

 

Recommendation 1:  The program should develop a method of acquiring feedback from both current students and graduates to ascertain the satisfaction with the program, employment success and additional feedback concerning strengthening the program.

 

2007 Response:  This has not been accomplished.  While there is a survey of graduates done at Fall and Spring commencement ceremonies, and the results are overwhelming positive about this program, it falls short of accomplishing the recommendation.  This survey has a limited audience, does not include current students, and solicits no feedback regarding program improvement.  This will remain a goal for the coming year.

 

Recommendation 2:  The program may need a greater recruitment effort, including additional funding for recruitment (assistantships, etc.) in order to maintain the number of graduate majors in the subject area.

 

2007 Response:  There has been no increase in recruitment effort, and no assistantships given to this program.  However, the enrollment increased slightly over last year.

 

Recommendation 3:  Continue to meet regularly as a faculty committee to help facilitate the duties of the Coordinator, and to determine the appropriate “fit” of the research component in the program.

 

2007 Response:  This has been done, both in terms of meeting regularly and meeting to specifically address the research component.

 

Recommendation 4:  Develop additional SLOs that are more reflective of the program curriculum.

 

2007 Response:  This has been done to a limited extent, and is continuing.

 

Recommendation 5:  Continue efforts to increase the pass rate of the TExES.

 

2007 Response:  This has been and continues to be done.

 

Recommendation 6:  Program coordinator should meet with the faculty at regularly-scheduled intervals to facilitate program decisions about curriculum, course load, etc.

 

2007 Response:  Accomplished.