Counseling Services (CS) must incorporate student learning and student development in its mission.  CS must enhance overall educational experiences.  CS must develop, record, disseminate, implement, and regularly review its mission and goals.  Mission statements must be consistent with the mission and goals of the institution and with the standards in this document.  CS must operate as an integral part of the institution’s overall mission.

The mission of CS is to assist students to define and accomplish personal, academic, and career goals.  To accomplish the mission, the scope of CS must include:

•  high quality individual and group counseling services to students who may be experiencing psychological, behavioral, or learning difficulties

•  programming focused on the developmental needs of college students to maximize the potential of students to benefit from the academic environment and experience

•  consultative services to the institution to help foster an environment supportive of the intellectual, emotional, spiritual and physical development of students

•  assessment services to identify student needs and appropriate services and referrals

A wide variety of counseling, consultative, evaluative, and training functions may be performed by the CS as an expression of its institutional mission.

 To effectively respond to the educational needs of the institution and of students, CS should have the following complementary functions:

Developmental.  The developmental function is to help students enhance their growth.  Developmental interventions help students benefit from the academic environment.  To do so, the counseling services promote student growth by encouraging positive and realistic self-appraisal, intellectual development, appropriate personal and occupational choices, the ability to relate meaningfully and mutually with others, and the capacity to engage in a personally satisfying and effective style of living.

Remedial.  The remedial function recognizes that some students experience significant problems, ranging from serious adjustment issues to more severe psychological disorders that require immediate professional attention.  This function includes assisting students in overcoming current specific personal and educational problems and, in some cases, remedying current academic skill deficiencies.

Preventive.  The preventive function is to anticipate environmental conditions and developmental processes that may negatively influence students’ well being and initiate interventions that will promote personal adjustment and growth. 

While there are basic similarities in the overall goals of various types of institutions, differences in student populations and institutional priorities may affect emphases of functions within individual counseling services.  For these reasons, counseling services at two given institutions may emphasize different combinations of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling or student development services.

CS should be organized based on institutional characteristics, priorities and organizational structures.  Accordingly, not all functions may exist within the same administrative unit.  In such cases, coordination among the units is essential to insure a cohesive system of services for students.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

The formal education of students consists of the curriculum and the co-curriculum, and must promote student learning and development that is purposeful and holistic.  Counseling Services (CS) must identify relevant and desirable student learning and development outcomes and provide programs and services that encourage the achievement of those outcomes.

Relevant and desirable outcomes include: intellectual growth, effective communication, realistic self-appraisal, enhanced self-esteem, clarified values, career choices, leadership development,  healthy behaviors, meaningful interpersonal relationships, independence, collaboration, social responsibility, satisfying and productive lifestyles, appreciation of diversity, spiritual awareness, and achievement of personal and educational goals.

CS must provide evidence of its impact on the achievement of student learning and development outcomes. 

The table below offers examples of evidence of achievement of student learning and development.

Programs and services must be (a) intentional, (b) coherent, (c) based on theories and knowledge of learning and human development, (d) reflective of developmental and demographic profiles of the student population, and (e) responsive to needs of individuals, special populations, and communities.

To effectively fulfill its mission CS must provide directly, through referral, or in collaboration:

•  individual counseling and/or psychotherapy in areas of personal, educational, career development/vocational choice, interpersonal relationships, family, social, and psychological issues

•  group interventions (e.g., counseling, psychotherapy, support) to help students establish satisfying personal relationships and to become more effective in areas such as interpersonal processes, communication skills, decision-making concerning personal relationships and educational or career matters, and the establishment of personal values

•  psychological testing and other assessment techniques to foster client self-understanding and decision making

•  outreach efforts to address developmental needs and concerns of students

•  counseling support to help students assess and overcome specific deficiencies in educational preparation or skills

•  psychiatric consultation, evaluation, and support services for students needing maintenance or monitoring of psychotropic medications

•  crisis intervention and emergency coverage

•  staff and faculty professional development programs

In those cases where other campus agencies address similar issues, such as career counseling and educational counseling, CS should establish cooperative relationships and maintain appropriate mutual referrals.   In those cases where specialized and needed expertise is not available within counseling services, staff members should make full and active use of referral resources within the institution and the local community.

CS should play an active role in interpreting and, when appropriate, advocating for addressing the needs of students to administration, faculty and staff of the institution.  CS can provide a needed perspective for campus administrative leaders, reflecting an appropriate balance between administrative requirements and the special needs and interests of students.  CS should interpret the institutional environment to students and intervene to either improve the quality of the environment or facilitate the development of better interactions between the student and environment.  CS should be sensitive to the needs of traditionally under-served and special populations.

CS may engage in research that contributes to knowledge of student characteristics and needs and evaluation of student outcomes in its programs.  CS may assist students, faculty and staff members who conduct individual research on student characteristics or on the influence of specific student development activities.

CS should provide consultation, supervision, and in-service professional development for faculty members, administrators, staff and student staff members, and paraprofessionals.

Training and supervision of paraprofessionals, practicum students, and interns is an appropriate and desirable responsibility of CS.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Effective and ethical leadership is essential to the success of all organizations.  Institutions must appoint, position, and empower Counseling Services (CS) leaders within the administrative structure to accomplish stated missions.  CS Leaders at various levels must be selected on the basis of formal education and training, relevant work experience, personal skills and competencies,  relevant professional credentials, as well as potential for promoting learning and development in students, applying effective practices to educational processes, and enhancing institutional effectiveness.  Institutions must determine expectations of accountability for leaders and fairly assess their performance.

Leaders of CS must exercise authority over resources for which they are responsible to achieve their respective missions.

CS leaders must:

·         articulate a vision for their organization

·         set goals and objectives based on the needs and capabilities of the  population served

·         promote student learning and development

·         prescribe and practice ethical behavior

·         recruit, select, supervise, and develop others in the organization

·         manage  financial resources

·         coordinate human resources

·         plan, budget for, and evaluate personnel and programs

·         apply effective practices to educational and administrative processes

·         communicate effectively

·         initiate collaborative interaction between individuals and agencies that possess legitimate concerns and interests in the functional area

CS leaders must identify and find means to address individual, organizational, or environmental conditions that inhibit goal achievement.

CS leaders must promote campus environments that result in multiple opportunities for student learning and development.

CS leaders must continuously improve programs and services in response to changing needs of students and other constituents, and evolving institutional priorities.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Guided by an overarching intent to ensure student learning and development, Counseling Services (CS) must be structured purposefully and managed effectively to achieve stated goals.  Evidence of appropriate structure must include current and accessible policies and procedures, written performance expectations for all employees, functional workflow graphics or organizational charts, and clearly stated service delivery expectations.

Evidence of effective management must include use of comprehensive and accurate information for decisions, clear sources and channels of authority, effective communication practices, decision-making and conflict resolution procedures, responsiveness to changing conditions, accountability and evaluation systems, and recognition and reward processes.  CS must provide channels within the organization for regular review of administrative policies and procedures.

Because the functions of CS are essential to the overall mission of an institution, their value and impact should be clearly articulated to the campus and their placement within the organizational structure should be such that it facilitates significant interaction with unit heads in academic and student affairs.

CS should function independently of units directly responsible for making decisions concerning students’ official matriculation status, such as judicial actions, academic probation, and admissions or re-admissions actions.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Counseling Services (CS) must be staffed adequately by individuals qualified to accomplish its mission and goals.  Within established guidelines of the institution, CS must establish procedures for staff selection, training, and evaluation; set expectations for supervision, and provide appropriate professional development opportunities.  CS must strive to improve the professional competence and skills of all personnel it employs.

Counseling functions must be performed by professionals from disciplines such as counseling and clinical psychology, counselor education, psychiatry, and clinical social work, and by others with appropriate training, credentials, and supervised experience. 

CS professional staff members must hold an earned graduate degree in a field relevant to the position they hold or must possess an appropriate combination of educational credentials and related work experience.

Degree or credential-seeking interns must be qualified by enrollment in an appropriate field of study and by relevant experience.  These individuals must be trained and supervised adequately by professional staff members holding educational credentials and related work experience appropriate for supervision.

Student employees and volunteers must be carefully selected, trained, supervised, and evaluated.  They must be trained on how and when to refer those in need of assistance to qualified staff members and have access to a supervisor for assistance in making these judgments.  Student employees and volunteers must be provided clear and precise job descriptions, pre-service training based on assessed needs, and continuing staff development.

Salary levels and fringe benefits for all CS staff members must be commensurate with those for comparable positions within the institution, in similar institutions, and in the relevant geographic area.

CS must institute hiring and promotion practices that are fair, inclusive, and non-discriminatory.  CS must employ a diverse staff to provide readily identifiable role models for students and to

enrich the campus community.

CS must create and maintain position descriptions for all staff members and provide regular performance planning and appraisals.

CS must have a system for regular staff evaluation and must provide access to continuing education and professional development opportunities, including in-service training programs and participation in professional conferences and workshops.

CS should maintain an in-service and staff development program which includes supervision, case presentations, research reports, and discussion of relevant professional issues.  Institutional budgetary support should be available to provide for in-service and professional development activities.

The director of counseling services must have an appropriate combination of graduate course work, formal training, and supervised experience.

The director of CS should have a doctoral degree in counseling psychology, clinical psychology, counselor education or other related discipline from an accredited institution with a minimum of a master’s degree in such areas.  The director should hold or be eligible for state licensure or certification where such exists or should pursue such credentials.  It is highly desirable that the director has a minimum of three years experience as a staff member or administrator in counseling services within higher education.  The director should have received supervision (either pre- or post-doctoral) in counseling within higher education. 

The director should have the ability to interact effectively with administrators, faculty and staff members, students, colleagues and community members and should possess all the general qualifications of a counseling staff member.

The responsibilities of the director should include:

·         overall administration and coordination of counseling activities

·         coordination, recruitment, training, supervision, development and evaluation of counseling and support staff personnel

·         preparation and administration of budget

·         preparation of annual reports

·         provision of counseling information and services to students, faculty and staff in accordance with the mission of  CS and the institution, to the community

·         evaluation of services

·         provision of consultation/leadership in policy formation and program development

·         education of staff members regarding legal issues in mental health, medicine and higher education, as well as legal issues governing the delivery of counseling services.

Counseling staff members must have an appropriate combination of graduate course work, formal training, and supervised experience.

The minimum qualification for counseling staff members should be a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in a relevant discipline such as counseling psychology, clinical psychology, counseling and personnel services, mental health counseling, and clinical social work, with a supervised practicum/internship at the graduate level, preferably in the counseling of students within a higher education setting or should be appropriately supervised until they can transfer their skills to this setting.  Counseling staff members should hold, or be eligible for, state or provincial licensure or certification in their chosen discipline (e.g., counseling, psychology, social work), where such exists.

Counseling staff members should have appropriate course work and training in psychological assessment, theories of personality, abnormal psychology or psychopathology, career development, multicultural counseling, legal and ethical issues in counseling, and learning theory.  Counseling staff members should keep abreast of current research, including outcome research.  Counseling staff members should also demonstrate knowledge of technology, leadership, organization development, consultation, and relevant federal, regional, and state/provincial statutes.

In cases where counseling staff members are responsible for the supervision of colleagues or graduate interns, the counseling staff members should have doctoral degrees or hold degrees commensurate with those being supervised.

Counseling staff members should participate in appropriate professional organizations and should have the budgetary support to do so.  Counseling staff members should be encouraged to participate in community activities related to their profession.

Practicum students and interns, as well as paraprofessional assistants, may perform, under supervision, such counseling functions as are appropriate to their preparation and experience.

The level of CS staffing must be established and reviewed regularly with regard to service demands, enrollment, user surveys, diversity of services offered, institutional resources, and other mental health and student services that may be available on the campus and in the local community.

In addition to providing direct services, it is important that staff time be allowed for preparation of interviews and reports, updating institutional information, research, faculty and staff contacts, staff meetings, training and supervision, personal and professional development, consultation, and walk-in and emergency counseling interventions, in accordance with individual staff members’ qualifications and task assignments.  Similarly, teaching, administration, research, and other such responsibilities should be identified as relevant staff functions.

CS must have technical and support staff members adequate to accomplish its mission.  CS staff members must be technologically proficient and qualified to perform their job functions, be knowledgeable of ethical and legal uses of technology, and have access to training.  The level of staffing and workloads must be adequate and appropriate for program and service demands.

Clerical employees who deal directly with students should be carefully selected, since they play an important role in the students’ impressions of the counseling services and often must make some preliminary client-related decisions.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Counseling Services (CS) must have adequate funding to accomplish its mission and goals. Funding priorities must be determined within the context of the stated mission, goals, objectives, and comprehensive analysis of the needs and capabilities of students and the availability of internal or external resources.

CS must demonstrate fiscal responsibility and cost effectiveness consistent with institutional protocols.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Counseling Services (CS) must have adequate, suitably located facilities, adequate technology, and equipment to support its mission and goals efficiently and effectively. Facilities, technology, and equipment must be evaluated regularly and be in compliance with relevant federal, state, provincial, and local requirements to provide for access, health,  safety, and security.

CS must maintain a physical and social environment that facilitates optimal functioning and insures appropriate confidentiality.

CS, when feasible, should be physically separate from administrative offices, campus police, and judicial units.

Individual offices for counseling staff members should be provided and appropriately equipped and soundproof.  The offices should be designed to accommodate the functions performed by counseling staff members.

There should be a reception area that provides a comfortable and private waiting area for clients.

CS should maintain or have ready access to professional resource materials.

In those instances where counseling services include a career development unit, there should be a resource center that holds institutional catalogs and occupation and career information.

An area suitable for individual and group testing procedures should be available.

CS should maintain, or have ready access to, group meeting space.

CS should maintain equipment that is capable of providing modern technical approaches to treatment and record keeping and have access to equipment for research and media presentations.

CS with training components should have adequate facilities for recording, and, where possible, for direct observations.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Counseling Services (CS) staff members must be knowledgeable about and responsive to laws and regulations that relate to their respective responsibilities.  CS staff members must inform users of programs and services and officials, as appropriate, of legal obligations and limitations including constitutional, statutory, regulatory, and case law; mandatory laws and orders emanating from federal, state/provincial and local governments; and the institution’s  policies.

CS staff members must use reasonable and informed practices to limit the liability exposure of the institution, its officers, employees, and agents.  Staff members must be informed about institutional policies regarding personal liability and related insurance coverage options.

The institution must provide access to legal advice for CS staff members as needed to carry out assigned responsibilities.

The institution must inform CS staff and students in a timely and systematic fashion about extraordinary or changing legal obligations and potential liabilities.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Counseling Services (CS) staff members must ensure that services and programs are provided on a fair and equitable basis.  CS facilities, programs and services must be accessible.  Hours of operation and delivery of and access to programs and services must be responsive to the needs of all students and other constituents.  CS must adhere to the spirit and intent of equal opportunity laws.

Policies and practices of CS must not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, sex, national origin, race, religious creed, sexual identity, and/or veteran status.  Exceptions are appropriate only where provided by relevant law and institutional policy.

Consistent with their mission and goals, CS must take affirmative action to remedy significant imbalances in student participation and staffing patterns.

As the demographic profiles of campuses change and new instructional delivery methods are introduced, institutions must recognize the needs of students who participate in distance learning for access to programs and services offered on campus.  Institutions must provide appropriate services in ways that are accessible to distance learners and assist them in identifying and gaining access to other appropriate services in their geographic region.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Counseling Services (CS) must establish, maintain, and promote effective relations with relevant individuals, campus offices, and external agencies.

It is desirable that CS develop close cooperation with campus referral sources and with potential consumers of counseling services consultations.  CS should also work closely with all other segments of the institution whose goal is the promotion of psychological, emotional, and career development.

CS should work closely with the chief student affairs and chief academic affairs administrators to insure the meeting of institutional goals and objectives.

Within the campus community, CS should establish close cooperation with career services, academic advising, special academic support units (e.g., reading and study skills programs, learning assistance programs) and specialized student services (e.g., services for students with disabilities, international and minority students, TRIO programs, women, veterans, returning adult students).

CS should establish relationships with a wide range of student groups (e.g., student government; gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender groups; fraternities and sororities) to promote visibility and serve as a resource to them.

CS should establish and maintain a close working relationship with student health services as counseling staff members are often called upon to refer clients for medical concerns or hospitalization, or to serve as consultants to, or to seek consultation from, health services professionals.

CS should foster relationships with academic units and with campus professionals in admissions, registrar’s office, student activities, athletics, and residence halls, where appropriate.

CS should establish effective relationships with the institutional legal counsel and the legal staff of relevant professional organizations in order to effectively respond to pertinent legal issues and precedents which underlie the delivery components of CS.

Where adequate mental health resources are not available on campus, CS must establish and maintain close working relationships with off-campus community mental health resources.

CS should have procedures for the referral of students who require counseling beyond the scope of institutional CS.

As the demographic makeup of our campuses change and new instructional delivery methods are introduced, institutions should recognize that students who are at a distance from a physical campus may still need access to the range of counseling functions.   Institutions should provide services in ways that are accessible to such learners and assist them in identifying and accessing appropriate services in their own geographic region.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Within the context of each institution's unique mission, diversity enriches the community and enhances the collegiate experience for all; therefore, Counseling Services (CS) must nurture environments where commonalties and differences among people are recognized and honored.

CS must promote educational experiences that are characterized by open and continuous communication that deepens understanding of one's own identity, culture, and heritage, and that of others.  CS must educate and promote respect about commonalties and differences in their historical and cultural contexts.

CS must address the characteristics and needs of a diverse population when establishing and implementing policies and procedures.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

All persons involved in the delivery of Counseling Services (CS) must adhere to the highest principles of ethical behavior.  CS must develop or adopt and implement appropriate statements of ethical practice.  CS must publish these statements and ensure their periodic review by relevant constituencies .

CS staff members must recognize and avoid personal conflict of interest or appearance thereof in their transactions with students and others.  Staff members must strive to ensure the fair, objective, and impartial treatment of all persons with whom they deal.

When handling institutional funds, all CS staff members must ensure that such funds are managed in accordance with established and responsible accounting procedures and the fiscal policies or processes of the institution.

CS staff members must be knowledgeable about and practice ethical behavior in the use of technology.

CS staff members must not participate in nor condone any form of harassment that demeans persons or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive campus environment.

CS staff members must perform their duties within the limits of their training, expertise, and competence.   When these limits are exceeded, individuals in need of further assistance must be referred to persons possessing appropriate qualifications.

CS staff members must use suitable means to confront and otherwise hold accountable other staff members who exhibit unethical behavior.

CS staff members must conform to relevant federal, state/provincial, and local statutes which govern the delivery of counseling and psychological services.

CS staff members must be familiar with and adhere to relevant ethical standards in the field, including those professional procedures for intake, assessment, case notes, termination summaries and the preparation, use, and distribution of psychological tests.

Client status and information disclosed in individual counseling sessions must remain confidential, unless written permission to divulge the information is given by the student. 

Clients must be made aware of issues such as the limits to confidentiality during intake or early in the counseling process so they can participate from a position of informed consent.

Consultation regarding individual students, as requested or needed with faculty and other campus personnel, is offered in the context of preserving the student’s confidential relationship with the counseling services.  Consultation with parents, spouses, and public and private agencies that bear some responsibility for particular students may occur within the bounds of a confidential counseling relationship.

All CS staff members must disclose to appropriate authorities information judged to be of an emergency nature, especially when the safety of the individual or others is involved. 

When the condition of a client is indicative of clear and imminent danger to the client or to others, counseling staff members must take reasonable personal action that may involve informing responsible authorities, and when possible, consulting with other professionals.  In such cases, counseling staff members must be cognizant of pertinent ethical principles, state/provincial or federal statutes, and local mental health guidelines that stipulate the limits of confidentiality.

Information should be released only at the written request or concurrence of a client who has full knowledge of the nature of the information that is being released and of the parties to whom it is released.  Instances of limited confidentiality should be clearly articulated.  The decision to release information without consent should occur only after careful consideration and under the conditions described above.

CS must maintain records in a confidential and secure manner while specifying procedures to monitor access, use, and maintenance of the records. 

CS staff members must ensure that privacy and confidentiality  are maintained with respect to all communications and records to the extent that such records are protected under the law and appropriate statements of ethical practice.  Information contained in students’ education records must not be disclosed without written consent except as allowed by relevant laws and institutional policies.  CS staff members must disclose to appropriate authorities information judged to be of an emergency nature, especially when the safety of the individual or others is involved, or when otherwise required by institutional policy or relevant law.

All CS staff members must be aware of and comply with the provisions contained in the institution's human subjects research policy and in other relevant institutional policies addressing ethical practices and confidentiality of research data concerning individuals.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated

Counseling Services (CS) must conduct regular assessment and evaluations.  CS must employ effective qualitative and quantitative methodologies as appropriate, to determine whether and to what degree the stated mission, goals, and student learning and development outcomes are being met.  The process must employ sufficient and sound assessment measures to ensure comprehensiveness.  Data collected must include responses from students and other affected constituencies.

CS must evaluate periodically how well they complement and enhance the institution’s stated mission and educational effectiveness. 

Results of these evaluations must be used in revising and improving programs and services and in recognizing staff performance.

          ND                           1                              2                              3                                  4                                  NR

    Not Done                 Not Met                Minimally Met               Well Met                       Fully Met                        Not Rated