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Student handbook

(Table of contents)
Chpt 1: Introduction
Chpt 2: Why a personal therapy requirement
Chpt 3: How personal therapy works
Chpt 4: Early evaluation
Chpt 5: Professionalism
Chpt 6: Common style errors to avoid
Chpt 7: Empowering your writing
Chpt 8: Grades and GPA
Chpt 9: Avoiding burnout
Chpt 10: Various policies
Chpt 11: Student complaint process
Chpt 12: Faculty complaint process
Chpt 13: Degree candidate status
Chpt 14: Looking ahead: post graduation
Chpt 15: Applying for graduation
Chpt 16: Friday night baccalaureate
Chpt 17: The formal graduation

(On-line forms)
Common style errors   
Intent to receive therapy
Verification of therapy 
Degree candidate status

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology ("MAC")

The MAC student handbook:
Chapter 4:  The early evaluation process 

Your admission to the Program constitutes permission to take initial coursework.  However, admission to the Program is only a first step in this process - and it is an implicitly probationary state.  At some point in all graduate programs, students are reviewed to make certain they are making satisfactory progress.  In the MAC Program, there are two evaluation stages.  The first, called the "Early Evaluation" process, is a relatively informal and straightforward procedure designed to provide feedback.  The second, "Degree Candidate Status" is a more formal stage that yields an advanced standing in the Program.

Since students in the MAC Program are investing considerable time and money in their education, it is only fitting that there is a process designed to provide some feedback on how they're doing.  This is the process of "Early Evaluation."  It occurs near the end of, or immediately following, the second semester of a student's Program.  Every attempt is made to complete this process before the beginning of third semester classes.

There is nothing you need do to initiate the Early Evaluation process.  It will occur automatically.  You will be contacted by mail or telephone regarding your evaluation if the faculty judges that there are problems that need resolving.  In this case, no news truly is good news.

Although the process occurs automatically, we want you to be completely familiar with it and to thoroughly understand what is going on.  There is no reason to worry about it; the process is seen as a service to you.  A variety of factors are taken into account in this evaluation step.  Certainly, Early Evaluation considers academic proficiency and achievement.

However, it is not limited to this area.  It is possible to do well academically and yet have problems that have the potential to interfere with a student's progress.  Thus, the Early Evaluation also focuses on observation or question about any of the problems discussed in the section on "Grievance Procedures" including:

• emotional problems, mental disorders, addictions, or dysfunctional personality traits
  

• inappropriate conduct in or out of class, such as:
  
  -finding the student overly negative, loud, or monopolizing in
   discussions
  
  -observing insensitivity to others or to important issues such as
   treatment of people of color, sexual  minorities, women, or victims
   and trauma
  
  -becoming aware of student's prior or current involvement in
   addictive or criminal behavior.

The Early Evaluation process, however, is also one that celebrates positives and the faculty are also searching for such factors as enthusiastic, creative, and supportive contributions in class; professionalism in attitude and behavior; second-mile efforts and commitment to the educational process, and positive social integration with other students and faculty members.

You will receive the faculty members' direct, but brief, comments and are encouraged to talk directly with the faculty member if you have any questions or would like clarification.  Particularly positive evaluations may result in lifting of "probationary status" for those accepted to the Program on that basis.  However, that is not automatic.  Particularly problematic evaluation will likely result  in a meeting with the MAC faculty to discuss how to resolve the problems or to consider your future in the Program.

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