COUNSELING AND STUDENT AFFAIRS

DECEMBER 2005 NEWSLETTER

We hope that you had a good semester and will be refreshed and renewed by the upcoming winter break.  We are enjoying another good year this year!  Soon we will engage in spring semester 2006! 

FALL 2005 GRADUATE

Congratulations to Maria Toomey who is graduating on December 16, 2005!

Maria Toomey, Community Counseling, Thesis: “Correlation of Religious and Spiritual Support and Depression and Despair Following Perinatal Loss”

FACULTY UPDATE

Dr. Erwin is writing the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) self-study and coordinating the CNSA program and is Chairperson of the Counseling, Educational Leadership, Foundations, and Field Experiences department. Pat Neuman will teach the spring semester internship classes. She will continue to teach internship classes in the fall 2006 semester. She will officially retire at the end of the 2006-2007 academic year.  Melissa Halter’s leave of absence has been extended through spring 2006 semester. Karen Montgomery will continue to supervise school counseling interns. We also have Dr. Deb Seaburg teaching Career Counseling, Julie Dokken teaching Human Growth and Development, Deb Chambers teaching Group Counseling, Nancy Tisor supervising the school counseling practicum, and Kara Woodbury and Kama Jensen supervising the community counseling practicum (in the Nemzek House).

FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION

Pat Neuman: Telephone: 218-477-2699, Office: 209C Lommen Hall,

    email: neuman@mnstate.edu

Wes Erwin: Telephone: 218-477-2009, Office: 209F Lommen Hall, email:

    erwin@mnstate.edu

Melissa Halter: email: halterme@mnstate.edu

Karen Montgomery: Telephone: 218-477-2127, Office: 209H Lommen Hall,

    email: montgka@mnstate.edu

Deb Seaburg:  seaburg@mnstate.edu

Julie Dokken: 85dokj@state.nd.us

Deb Chambers: counseling@cableone.net

Nancy Tisor: tisorna@fargo.k12.nd.us,

Kara Woodbury: karabliss@msn.com

Kama Jensen: minnkota@pepp.org

ADVISING TIPS FOR Spring 2006

Classes begin Tuesday, January 10, 2006.  Students are encouraged to register in advance.  This can be done via web registration, telephone registration, or at the registrar’s office.  If necessary, it is possible to register in your first class. 

The following classes are open to anyone:

·        CNSA 614 Human Growth and Development

·        CNSA 615 Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling

·        ED 603 Methods of Research

Those students who have successfully completed CNSA 610, CNSA 611, CNSA 620, and who are in the Community Counseling, School Counseling, or Student Affairs College Counseling programs are allowed to take CNSA 691, Counseling Practicum.  See your advisor if you are unsure about when to take Practicum.

CNSA 630, Group Counseling, is available to those who have successfully completed CNSA 620, Counseling Skills I.

CACREP ACCREDITATION

Dr. Erwin and the CNSA graduate assistants are hard at work on the self-study for CACREP. This is a specialized accreditation body that recognizes programs that meet certain criteria deemed important for the preparation of counselors and student affairs professionals. Currently the CNSA Community Counseling and Student Affairs programs are CACREP accredited. We will seek re-accreditation of these programs and seek to have the School Counseling program accredited by CACREP for the first time. The process and tentative timeline is as follows: 1) Write the CNSA self-study and submit it by June 2006, 2) Site visit by 4 program evaluators over 2-3 days in fall 2006, 3) Accreditation decision by January 2007. Please visit the following website for more information about CACREP: http://www.cacrep.org/ Also, this spring semester there will be an “Orientation to CACREP” session for all students. 

SCHOOL COUNSELING FACULTY SEARCH

We are currently in the middle of a search for a new school counseling faculty member. We hope to interview in the next month or two. Students will be invited to several sessions when the candidates are brought to campus. Student feedback will be solicited and is always welcome!

NORTH DAKOTA COUNSELING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

The North Dakota Counseling Association (NDCA) will have its annual conference February 5-7, 2006 in Bismarck, ND. Visit the NDCA website for more information: http://www.edutech.nodak.edu/ndca/

Watch the CNSA listserv for information about other upcoming conferences.

CNSA will have three presentations offered by our graduate students in Community and School Counseling. Please support your fellow students and consider attending this conference.

CNSA LISTSERV INFORMATION

The Counseling and Student Affairs (CNSA) Listserv is an e-mail listserv that allows CNSA students and faculty to send messages to everyone on the listserv using one command.  This is a very efficient and quick way to communicate. 

Information that is sent on the listserv includes items related to the CNSA program such as announcements, faculty meeting minutes, newsletters, conference information, and job and internship opportunities. 

You are responsible for information posted on the listserv that pertains to you. 

If you are not already on the listserv, please join it as soon as possible.  The instructions for joining the listserv are as follows: If you get e-mail at home, you can join from there.  If you do not get e-mail at home, you can get it here on campus.  You will need an e-mail account, which you can get by going to the Computer Help Desk on the Minnesota State University (MSUM) web page at http://www.mnstate.edu/home/.  Once you get the e-mail account, you can send an e-mail from your home computer or from any computer on campus. 

Send the message to: majordomo@mnstate.edu

In the message area type the following message:

subscribe cnsa_students (make sure there is a space after subscribe and an underline between cnsa and students)

After a while you will get a message from the mail server (a computer, not a person) on your e-mail that says you have been added to the listserv. 

We cannot stress enough the importance of getting on this listserv.    If you need additional help, please see your advisor.  You might also want to visit our CNSA website: http://www.mnstate.edu/cnsa/

CPCE – REQUIRED EXAM

The National Board for Certified Counselors has created a test for training programs to assess knowledge acquired in masters training programs.  This test, the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), is part of the CNSA program’s assessment plan.  It is helpful to have information about how our graduates compare to the national sample that takes the exam.

Therefore, again this year the CPCE will be required of all those who take comprehensive exams during the year (Summer 2005, Fall 2005, and Spring 2006).  It will be offered Friday March 31, 2006.

We are very proud of the fact that everyone from our program who has taken this exam has done quite well.  Keep up the great work!

Because the program and the institution think the exam results are important, the institution has agreed to pay the $35 fee that it costs for each person to take the exam.  We schedule the exam on the Friday a week after comps, so that you do not have to prepare twice but are still prepared from studying for comps.  The exam is 160 multiple choice items with 20 items per CACREP area.  If you would like further information, please call Dr. Erwin. We need your assistance as we continue to document the quality of our program.  Thanks.

NCE EXAM OPPORTUNITY

On April 22, 2006 the National Certified Counselor Exam will be offered at MSUM. Students who have graduated fall 2005 or spring 2006 are eligible to take this exam.

Why should you take this exam prior to graduation?

·        There is a lower exam fee if taken while you are a student. The fee is $230.00. (The fee is $265.00 if taken after graduation.)

·        You can become certified more quickly once you graduate.

·        The exam is offered on campus as opposed to traveling a longer distance.

The deadline to submit the registration materials to Karen is December 15, 2005.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS WITH CNSA FACULTY FOR 2006-2007

There may be faculty graduate assistantships (GA) available for the fall 2006 – spring 2007 academic year.  To apply for these assistantships, provide a letter of interest and resume to Dr. Erwin by March 1, 2006.  Information about these GA’s will be circulated via the CNSA listserv spring semester.  There are also other graduate assistantships on campus.  Information about these GA’s will be disseminated via the CNSA listserv as well.

HANDBOOKS

Every student needs to read the handbook, as it is a summary of all of the program’s policies and procedures.  You can access the 2005 handbook via the CNSA webpage: http://www.mnstate.edu/cnsa/

In order to download the Handbook you will need to download a free application of Adobe Acrobat Reader from the following website:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html If you wish a paper copy of the handbook, you may print it from the web.

RESEARCH SEMINAR

The CNSA research seminar has been held weekly this fall.  This is a voluntary meeting to support students with their thesis work.  Everyone is invited to attend no matter where they are in the thesis process.  Research seminar is being held this spring semester from 12:00-1:00p.m. and 4:00-5:00p.m. on Tuesdays.  There will be two sessions of research seminar spring semester as long as there is adequate attendance at these meetings.  We will meet for the first time on January 17, 2006.  The room in which we will meet will be Comstock Memorial Union (CMU) 204 except for January 24 and April 11. The location for the meetings on those days will be announced over the listserv.  Please plan to attend!!

FACULTY MEETINGS

All the faculty meetings are open to students.  Eric Leinen (leinener@mnstate.edu) is the GSO representative who attends these meetings along with the faculty.  Policies related to the program are discussed at these meetings.  Come help us with your ideas.  The faculty meetings are held on Thursdays from 10:00-12:00p.m.

GRADUATE STUDENT ORGANIZATION (GSO)

The GSO is an organization for graduate students in CNSA.  It needs your time and input.  It is also a source for friends, information, and other involvement.  GSO has been active this year planning several events such as a bowling night and comedy club outing, and putting out a fall newsletter.  GSO officers for the 2005-2006 academic year are:

President:  Tara Marquardt marquata@mnstate.edu   (701)866-1322

President:  Jenessa Fillipi kuzniaje@mnstate.edu   (218)287-8287

Secretary:  Amy Halvorson halvorson_amy@hotmail.com  (651)343-1638        

Faculty Rep: Eric Leinen leinener@mnstate.edu  (701) 241-4240

Student Alumni Social – Spring 2006

A student and alumni social is being planned for spring 2006. Karen and the GSO are putting together an opportunity to gather students, alumni, and friends of the CNSA program. Details will be announced. If you are interested in serving on this committee contact Karen.

SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Annual School Counseling Association Conference held in May is highly recommended, as is the Spring Workshop for School Counselors sponsored by the MN Department of Education held in Roseville in March.  School counseling interns are expected to subscribe to the MSCA listserv, which requires joining MSCA.  In North Dakota, school counseling is included in the NDCA conference in February, held in Bismarck.

School Counseling students taking Human Growth and Development need to do their service learning project in the schools after consultation with Dr. Erwin or Karen Montgomery.

ETHICAL REMINDER

All graduate students in Counseling and Student Affairs are bound by the ACA professional code of ethics called the Ethical Standards.  The 2005 ACA Code of Ethics is available now on the ACA Website:  http://www.counseling.org/PDFs/ACA_2005_Ethical_Code10405.pdf 

If you do not have it, download a copy.  Similarly, all courses in counseling are covered by the confidentiality rule.  That means nothing of a personal nature learned by you in a counseling course can be revealed by you outside of the course.  Failure to maintain professional ethical behavior is a cause for dismissal from the program.  Check with the Standards, or the faculty, if you have questions.

PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NEW ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL

Make sure you send an e-mail to give Chika Asai, CNSA Graduate Assistant, brightbluesky5@yahoo.com your new local address and telephone number.

MAXIMUM YEARS TO COMPLETE DEGREE

Please take note of the five-year limit for finishing your degree.  To meet the deadline you must graduate before your first course is 5 years old.  Otherwise, you must retake courses as they go over the 5 year limit.  For instance, if you took your first course in the fall of one year, you need to graduate by the summer 5 years later. 

The same is true for spring semester starts.  If your first course is in the spring you must be through by the fall semester 5 years later.  Please check your transcript to check on these dates.  Add 5 to the year of your first course.

          First Course                      Graduate By

          Fall, 2000                        Summer, 2005

          Fall, 2001                        Summer, 2006

          Fall, 2002                        Summer, 2007

          Fall, 2003                        Summer, 2008

          Fall, 2004                        Summer, 2009

          Fall, 2005                        Summer, 2010

SPRING 2006 CNSA COURSE OFFERINGS (Tentative, Subject to Change)

Check the CNSA listserv for updates on these times, days and rooms.

SUMMER 2005 CNSA COURSE OFFERINGS (Tentative, Subject to Change)

CNSA 681, Advanced Issues Sem: Ethics, 1 credit, Erwin, Lommen 210, Wednesdays, 5-7:30pm, (Class will meet on 6/7, 6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5)(tentative)

CNSA 690, Special Problems in Counseling: Family Counseling and Therapy, 3 credits, Staff, Lommen 210, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-9:50pm,

(Class will meet on 6/6, 6/8, 6/13, 6/15, 6/20, 6/22, 6/27, 6/29, 7/4, 7/6) (tentative)

Ed 602, Statistics – To be announced

Ed 603, Methods of Research - To be announced

Psy 563, Abnormal Psychology - To be announced

FACULTY AVAILABILITY IN THE SUMMER

Some faculty are available on a limited basis, however, some faculty may not be available at all during the summer.  If you will exceed your five-year limit in September, complete all of your work, comps, and two thesis committee meetings BEFORE March or April.  It is important to plan ahead.

 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

The following dates and times have been set up for administering the comprehensive exam for Master of Science degree students.  Graduate students in Counseling and Student Affairs should contact their advisor to let them know when they will be ready to write the exam, as the advisors will be the ones writing the questions.  Please secure an application form from Bev Nokken in Lommen 209.  The application form should be turned in to Dr. Erwin the first week of the semester in which you plan to write.  There is a two-page list of study areas for the comps as well as a sample of the rating form used by faculty when reading comps.  See your Handbook for a copy of these.  A video is available for checkout which covers how to study for comps.  See your advisor to check out the video.  Comprehensive exam dates:

SPRING SEMESTER 2006

                   March 22, 2006          March 23, 2006

10:00-12:00 noon and    10:00-12:00 noon and

          1:00-3:00 pm            1:00-3:00 pm

SUMMER SESSION 2006

June 7, 2006            June 8, 2006

                   10:00-12:00 noon and    10:00-12:00 noon and

                   1:00-3:00 pm            1:00-3:00 pm

DEADLINES FOR MASTER'S DEGREE STUDENTS

ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2005-2006

                                   Fall              Spring            

                                   Semester          Semester                                                        2005              2006                   

Deadline to submit “advisor       Oct 12              March 2

approved draft” to CNSA faculty                

Deadline for distribution of      Oct 26              March 23

“faculty approved draft” to

Outside committee member                       

Deadline for form 3 (last day to  Nov 9               April 6

Apply for oral examination)

Last day for oral exam            Nov 23              April 20

Last day to submit Thesis/        Dec 7               May 4

Project to the library and

Form 4 to Graduate Student Office

Commencement                      Dec 16              May 12

*These deadlines only apply to the Thesis Oral Defense.  The deadline for a thesis proposal is the last official day of classes prior to final exams.  Thesis meetings are not held during final exam week.

NOTE:  Form 4, Recommendation for Graduate Degree, serves as the application for graduation from graduate programs.  Students need only apply to graduate in absentia if they do not plan to attend Commencement ceremonies.  The Form 4, is available on the Graduate Studies website.  The Form 4, with all signatures, must be submitted for final approval at least one week prior to May or August Commencement for the student's transcript to show degree completed in term.  All "I/X/IP" grades need to be cleared by appropriate faculty members with change of grade slips sent to the Registrar's Office by the deadline for degree in term. 

Preliminary graduation notice needs to be submitted to Graduate Studies one month prior to graduation.  This form can be found on the Graduates Studies website: http://www.mnstate.edu/graduate/

Academic garb should be ordered from the MSUM Bookstore not less than eight weeks prior to Commencement.  Hoods should be delivered to the Graduate Office one week before Commencement.