COUNSELING CENTER: Closing the Evaluation Loop

1. Mission Statement

The purpose of the Counseling Center is to provide confidential psychological services in order to help students achieve academic and personal goals. Counseling programs and services are offered to help students live more effective, responsible, and satisfying lives and to contribute to the learning that will enable them to be "citizen leaders who are prepared to make a positive contribution to the common good of society."

A wellness philosophy serves as the foundation for all services and programs.  Wellness helps students be more responsible for their lives and to understand the factors that affect their well-being.  Students are at a greater risk when they meet demands and challenges without informed and reflective decision-making.

The Counseling Center is a member of Longwood's Wellness Team.  Individuals from the Counseling Center, Student Health and Wellness, and Campus Recreation work together to achieve the Wellness Vision as well as the Student Affairs Vision.  The Wellness Team addresses the following wellness dimensions:  emotional, social, physical, intellectual, career, and spiritual.  

2. Program Goals: "Make available an environment for student life outside the classroom that supports the premises and serves the objectives of a learning community" (Strategic Plan).

• Provide quality individual counseling to students who are experiencing personal, social, emotional and/or academic difficulties.
   
• Provide crisis intervention and consultation during emergency situations.
   
• Provide consultation regarding specific student and mental health issues.
   
• Advise (co-sponsor with the Health and Wellness Center) the Peer Helper Program.
   
• Collaborate with campus and community efforts via outreach activities and programs such as Longwood Seminar, Wellness Advocates, RA's, Food For Thought Series, Committees, Alcohol Education Programs, and requested programs.
   
• Offer a 200-hour supervised practicum to master level students in Longwood's Community and College Counseling Program.
   
• Offer a supervised undergraduate internship.
   
• Serve as active members of the Wellness Team.
   
• Pursue professional development through education, consultation, workshops/conferences and in-service programs.

3. Counseling Center's Learning Plan

The goals of the Counseling Center and the Wellness Team are the same as the Student Affairs Learning Plan (Revised August 2004).

4. Assessment/Evaluation Information

   During 2000-2001, the Counseling Center conducted a self-study using the CAS Standards (Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education). The Committee concluded that all components are functioning in a reasonably adequate way. The committee made a number of recommendations in order to enhance our programs.

1. Goals for 2001-2002

As a result of the 2000-2001 CAS Self-Study, the following goals were set:

1. The CAS Committee agreed to function as an Advisory Committee to the Counseling Center during 2001-2002.
    
2. At the Committee's suggestion, the Counseling Center completed a retention study of our 2000-2001 clientele. We completed this study as well as a study of our 2001-2002  clientele.

2000-2001:  The retention rate for our clientele for 2000-2001 was reviewed.  206 students were seen for individual counseling.  190 clients (92.2%) completed the academic year.  The reasons that 16 clients (7.4%) withdrew from Longwood were:

2001-2002:  216 students were seen for individual counseling during 2001-2002 academic year.  194 clients (89.8%) completed the academic year.  The reasons that 22 students (10.2%) withdrew were:

3. The Counseling Center conducted a student needs assessment in the Fall 2001.

Student Needs Survey: Fall, 2001 (Word Format)

A brief survey was administered to 25 sections of the Longwood Seminar.  373 students (123 males, 250 females; respectively, 33.0% and 67.0%) responded.  The results were used to help determine the top 3 priorities of the Wellness Team as well as shape our future programming.

4. The Counseling Center developed scenarios that can be used for programming.

Four scenarios were written (depression, personal relationships, self-esteem, and male depression) to be used in programming.

5. The Counseling Center  worked closer with Academic Affairs. 

The Counseling Center was part of a resource program for SAS (Strengthening Academic Success) Program in the Fall of 2001 and for International Student Orientation.

The Counseling Center staff met with a seminar for student teachers (Dr. Beaudet's seminar) to discuss problems and issues that they will confront in the classroom.

The Counseling Center focused on activities for faculty professional development.

• A guide to help faculty deal with students in distress was created and distributed to faculty members.

• In the Fall of 2002, a three-part Professional Development Series was developed and offered for faculty.  The series addressed burn-out, boundary issues, and self-care.
   
• In the Spring of 2002, the Wellness Team addressed spiritual wellness by capitalizing on Sharon Daloz Parks' visit. There was a Book Club for faculty and staff; the book, Big Questions, Worthy Dreams, was used. On the day of her presentation, Dr. Parks  joined the Book Club for a special discussion.

6. The Counseling Center offered more groups.

   A weekly Depression Support Group was initiated during the Fall of 2001.  The group created a supportive atmosphere in which members share with others facing similar issues and situations.  The group helps members to learn more effective coping strategies, to acquire important information, and to give support to others. 

   38 students (30 females, 8 males) were screened on Depression Screening Day, October 25, 2001.

    

7.  Other Accomplishments

A committee, chaired by the Counseling Center director, was awarded a $5,000 ABC Grant (Operation Undergrad).  The Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police oversees the grant.

A committee, chaired by a Counseling Center director, developed two alcohol education programs to replace OCTAA and ASAP as sanctions.  The programs, entitled First Round and Last Call, were designed to motivate students to constructively change their behavior.  Violators of Longwood's Alcohol and drug policies will take First Round after their first offense and will take Last Call after the second alcohol offense or first drug offense.

During the Fall of 2001, the annual Food For Thought Series (Word Format)  was presented. The evaluation was distributed after each presentation; 85 participants shared thoughts and impressions. The results were tabulated and shared with each presenter. There was a decrease in attendance from previous programs. The content of the programs will be changed in the next series and the series will be offered at dinner rather than lunch.

2.   Wellness Team Goals for 2001-2002.

The Counseling Center is part of the Student Affairs Wellness Team (along with Campus Recreation and the Student Health and Wellness Center).  The National College Health Assessment was administered during the 2001-2002 academic year, and results are posted on Longwood's Assessment Homepage.  The Wellness Team will use the survey results, along with other data, to set priorities for the Wellness Team in 2002-2003.

Results of the National College Health Assessment.
 

3. Goals for the 2002-2003 Academic Year.

1. Wellness Team Goals for 2002-2003

Conceptual Model of the Wellness Team (MS Word)

2. Executive Summary of Progress on the Learning Plan for 2002-2003 (MS Word)
    
3. Learning Plan Outcomes for 2002-2003  (MS Word)

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