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Graduate Programs Retention Policy
Department of Psychology and Counseling
The university faculty has the duty and responsibility to provide the public with ethical and competent practitioners. To achieve these goals, the university adopts selective admissions, retention, and graduation policies. The delivery of psychological and counseling services, especially of a clinical nature, in schools, mental health settings, and organizations requires the practitioner to meet both academic and professional standards of competence. Accordingly, the faculty of the Department of Psychology and Counseling has adopted the following requirements that candidates must follow in order to graduate from one of the department’s graduate programs. These requirements include that candidates must demonstrate professionally appropriate behavior and may be terminated for academic and non-academic reasons.
Academic Progress
Academic progress is determined by grades earned in the program of study for which the candidate is currently enrolled, as well as performance on comprehensive examinations as required by the specific program. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward a graduate degree offered by the Department of Psychology and Counseling. Candidates will be dismissed from the program if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points. A grade of “C,” while credited toward the degree, will result in one deficiency point. A grade of “D” is two deficiency points; a grade of “F” or “WF” or “U” is three deficiency points. Candidates must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the departmental program of study to graduate. If a candidate wishes to withdraw from a class with a grade of “WP,” it is the candidate’s responsibility to initiate and complete the withdrawal process prior to the midterm deadline. “WP” grades do not affect academic deficiency points or grade point average.
The Graduate School of Valdosta State University stipulates that all coursework must be completed within a seven-year period. Under extenuating circumstances, a one-time extension may be granted by the Dean of the Graduate School. Procedures for such appeals are described in the Graduate Catalog.
Comprehensive Examinations
A candidate must successfully pass comprehensive examinations after having taken the appropriate coursework in order to continue course work or practicum/internships requirements. If a candidate fails the comprehensive examinations, the candidate, the advisor, and the program coordinator will meet to discuss the candidate’s performance. Following a second failed attempt to pass comprehensive examinations, the program faculty will review the candidate’s file to determine whether the candidate will be given a third opportunity to pass the examination and how remediation may assist the candidate in passing, or may recommend that the candidate be withdrawn from the program. Remediation activities may include retaking coursework in which the candidate has demonstrated significant deficiencies on the examinations. If the candidate refuses to undergo remediation as recommended by the faculty, the program faculty may recommend the candidate be removed from the program. The candidate may appeal all decisions as set forth in the Graduate Handbook.
Professional/Personal Standards of Competence
Commensurate with current legal requirements and professional standards and practices, individuals providing psychological and counseling services must exhibit appropriate personal and professional adjustment and dispositions, as they relate to their professional competence (e.g., American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct; American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and Standard of Practice; Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs, and National Association of School Psychologists approval standards). Based on the professional evaluations of the program’s faculty, candidates who do not exhibit consistent patterns of such adjustment and dispositions will be advised to take remedial actions, particularly if professional performance becomes impaired. If not remediated, they will not be recommended for graduation and/or licensure/certification.
Any faculty member with concerns about a candidate’s personal and professional adjustment should first discuss such concerns informally with the candidate. The faculty member should document details of any such informal contact. Should concerns warrant a more formal review, the faculty member may initiate a review by submitting a written letter to the candidate’s advisor, the program coordinator, and the department head. The initiating faculty member will bring his/her concerns to the meeting with the advisor, program coordinator, and department head. If the resolution of such a meeting warrants continued action, the department head will issue an informative letter to the candidate that will include a copy of the letter written by the initiating faculty member, in order to inform the candidate that such a review process is being initiated. The candidate shall be permitted an opportunity to meet with the program faculty. The faculty will decide upon the course of action best suited for the individual candidate’s case, potentially including but not limited to: no action, remediation, or dismissal from the program. The candidate will be given at least one opportunity to remediate any faculty concerns prior to dismissal from the program. One term following any recommendation and/or remediation, the faculty will meet again with the candidate to discuss the effects of remediation and again review the candidate’s progress. Faculty will assist any candidate dismissed from the program in transitioning out of the program, and if possible, into a more appropriate area of study.
Specific areas warranting such a review include but are not limited to: professional ethical concerns, professional deportment, academic misconduct, and personal adjustment and disposition issues, such as emotional and psychological disturbance that interfere with the ability to competently perform professional duties, impairment of professional skills due to personal difficulties, culturally insensitive, or harassing behavior.
Appeals
Candidates may accept or reject any remediation suggestions, with consequences spelled out in the written summary given to the candidate. Candidates should respond in writing within 14 days following receipt of the written summary of faculty recommendations. Candidates may appeal the decision of remediation or dismissal for academic reasons, repeated failure of comprehensive examinations, or professional/personal standards of competence, by submitting a written request for appeal to the head of the department. Such a request for appeal should include copies of all relevant written correspondence exchanged during this process. It is the responsibility of the department head to present the request for appeal to the appropriate administrative personnel for review. The procedure is described in the VSU Graduate Catalog.
| Mailing Address:
Dept. of Psychology & Counseling |
Physical Address:
901 N Patterson St |
Contact:
Dr. Bob Bauer, Department Chair
Phone: 229-333-5930
Email: PsycCoun@valdosta.edu