Section IV
FACULTY AND STAFF
A. The counselor education academic unit must demonstrate that it has faculty resources of appropriate quality and sufficiency to achieve its mission and objectives. The academic unit has an identifiable full-time core faculty responsible for its leadership who:
1. are sufficient in number for their academic and professional responsibilities;
2. number at least three (3) individuals whose academic appointments are to the unit in counselor education; (If one or more of the three (3) academic appointments is not teaching full-time in the academic unit then there must be at least three (3) full time equivalent (FTE) faculty teaching in the academic unit);
3. have earned doctoral degrees in counselor education, preferably from CACREP accredited programs, or doctoral degrees in a closely related field;
4. have relevant preparation and experience in the assigned area of teaching;
5. identify with the counseling profession through memberships and involvement in appropriate professional organizations (i.e., ACA and its divisions, branches, and affiliate organizations) and appropriate certifications (e.g., NCC) and/or licenses (e.g., LPC) pertinent to the profession; and
6. have the authority to determine program curricula within the structure of the institution’s policy.
There are currently three full-time faculty assigned to the Counseling program, Dr. Susan Adams, Dr. Matthew Buckley and Dr. Channon Lytton.As of 8/15/03, Dr. Lytton will be leaving the program and two new faculty will join the program: Dr. Scott Rasmus and Dr. Karan Romaine for a total of four full-time faculty.These faculty are joined by Ms. Donna Starkey, the Counseling Lab Director.
All faculty working with the counseling programs hold advanced degrees in counseling or closely related fields. All full-time faculty teach a full graduate load each semester (9 hours), Ms. Starkey directs the counseling lab operations and supervises Practicum students and counseling interns.
All faculty are active members of ACA, its divisions, branches and affiliate organizations (Please refer to Appendix ??? for faculty vitae). Program faculty hold the following professional credentials:
Susan Adams, LPC (Mississippi), NCC, ACS
Matthew Buckley, LPC (Idaho [inactive] and Mississippi), NCC, ACS
Channon Lytton, LPC (Texas)
Scott Rasmus, LMHC (Florida), LPC (Mississippi [pending]), NCC (pending)
Karan Romaine, LPC (South CarolinaandMississippi [pending]), NCC
Donna Starkey, LPC (Mississippi), NCC, ACS
It is also important to note that Dr. Rasmus and Romaine are in the process of joining ASCA and the Mississippi branch, MSCA as their primary responsibilities will be in the school counseling program.
All faculty (including Ms. Starkey) have authority to determine program policy, and curriculum within the structure of university policy.
B. The academic unit has clearly defined administrative and curricular leadership that is sufficient for its effective operation. A faculty member may hold more than one of the following positions simultaneously.
1. A core faculty member is clearly designated as the academic unit leader for counselor education who
a. is responsible for the coordination of the academic unit,
b. receives inquiries regarding the overall academic unit,
c. is assigned at least 50% to the academic unit,
d. makes recommendations regarding the development of and expenditures from the budget,
e. has release time from faculty member responsibilities to administer the academic unit, and
f. provides or delegates year-round leadership to the operation of the program.
Dr. Matthew Buckley is the designated unit leader for Counselor Education. He also serves as division chair.
Dr. Buckley holds a doctorate in Counselor Education and has been associated with the Counselor Education Program at DeltaStateUniversity for five years. Dr. Buckley is a licensed professional counselor and is a National Certified Counselor and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). He is a member of ACA, MCA, DCA, ASGW, IAMFC, ACES and MACES (See Vita in Appendix ???).
Dr. Buckley is on a twelve month contract and as of spring 2003, will teach a graduate load of six semester hours in the fall and spring semesters and no courses during the summer semester (This change was instituted by the university administration for all division chairs). In addition to the regular teaching assignments, Dr. Buckley participates in faculty supervision of the Counseling Laboratory and Practicum/Internships.
2. One core faculty member is identified as the coordinator for each program for which accreditation is being sought and has
a. a teaching assignment in the program,
b. identified responsibilities as coordinator, and
c. relevant preparation and experience.
Dr. Buckley is designated as the coordinator of the community counseling program and has teaching assignments within the core curriculum and the community counseling program. Dr. Karan Romaine will be trained as the coordinator of the school counseling program (she will start her teaching responsibilities beginning 8/15/03) and will have primary responsibilities in teaching the school counseling courses within the program. Dr. Scott Rasmus will also teach school counseling courses.
Dr. Romaine holds a doctorate in Counselor Education from University of South Carolina with an emphasis in school counseling. She has been a school counselor and a teacher in the public school system for ten years and has expertise in working with children and adolescents and families and in using play therapy (Please refer to the faculty vitae in Appendix ???).
3. A core faculty member is identified as the clinical coordinator for the academic unit and/or program who
a. is responsible for the coordination of all clinical experiences in each counselor education program for which accreditation is sought,
b. is the individual to whom inquiries regarding clinical experiences are referred, and
c. has clearly defined responsibilities as clinical coordinator.
Dr. Buckley is designated as the clinical coordinator for the Counselor Education program and fields all inquiries relating to clinical experiences in the community and school counseling tracks.
4. If the counselor education academic unit operates a clinical facility, there must be a facility director who
a. is responsible for the overall operation of the facility,
b. has identified responsibilities, and
c. works closely with the clinical coordinator.
Donna Starkey is the director of the counseling lab. She is responsible for the daily function of the lab, implementing policies and procedures, scheduling of clients, counseling students and faculty supervisors and community outreach relating to functioning of the lab. She reports directly to and collaborates with the clinical coordinator in all material respects pertaining to lab functioning.
The organizational responsibilities are contained in the following chart for the division and the programs.
Division of Counselor Education and PsychologyMatthew R. Buckley, Chair
Counseling Programs
Matthew R. Buckley, Coordinator and Clinical Coordinator / Psychology Program
Reid Jones, Coordinator
Community Counseling
Matthew R. Buckley, Coordinator / School Counseling
Karan Romaine, Coordinator
Counseling Lab Director
Donna Starkey
C. The counselor education academic unit may employ adjunct and/or affiliate counselor education faculty who
1. hold graduate degrees, preferably from CACREP accredited programs;
2. have relevant preparation and experience in the assigned area of teaching;
3. identify with the counseling profession through memberships in appropriate professional organizations (i.e., ACA and its divisions, branches, and affiliate organizations) and appropriate certifications (e.g., NCC) and/or licenses (e.g., LPC) pertinent to the profession; and
4. understand the mission, goals, and curriculum of the program.
There are three professionals who work as adjunct faculty within the program on less than a 50% level. These faculty are Dr. Richard Houston, who holds a doctorate in Counseling Psychology, who is a counseling Psychologist and Director of the Campus Counseling and Testing Center; Dr. Linda Coleman, who holds a doctorate in Professional Studies and who is a Principal at Pearman Elementary School and Dr. Steve Hughes-Watson, who holds a doctorate in Counselor Education and who serves as Dean of Student Development at Delta State University. As of 7/1/03, Dr. Camille Brantonwill affiliate with and conduct supervision of counseling students on an as-needed basis. She holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology andis a licensed professional counselor in Mississippi and is an NCC. Ms. Arnold has a MED in Counseling and holds the LPC and NCC.
Dr. Houston has taught the CED 603: Psychodiagnositics in Counseling (spring 02 and spring 03) and the CED 620: Advanced Developmental Psychology (fall 01 and fall 02) courses in the Counselor Education Program. He has had extensive clinical experience in inpatient and outpatient settings and whose expertise lies in developmental psychology and assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning.
Dr. Linda Coleman has taught the CED 602: Assessment Techniques in Counselingcourse (fall 02 and spring 03) for the Counselor Education Program. She has extensive experience in working in K-12 school environment as a special education teacher and an administrator and whose expertise lies in assessment and laws and policies regarding education and specifically issues related to inclusion.
Dr. Steve Hughes-Watson has taught the CED 601: Counseling Theories course (fall 02 and spring 03) for the Counselor Education Program. He has extensive experience in student affairs and higher education and administration and whose expertise lies in Reality Therapy.
All adjunct faculty are fully oriented to the mission, goals and objectives of the Counselor Education program.
D. During the three-year period preceding the date of application for program accreditation, core faculty should have engaged in activities of ACA and/or other professional activities including all of the following:
1. development/renewal (e.g., attended appropriate professional meetings, conventions, workshops, seminars);
2. research and scholarly activity; and
3. service (e.g., program presentations, workshops, consultations, speeches, direct service).
The continuing professional development of the counseling faculty is reflected in the Vitae in Appendix ???.
E. Adequate clerical assistance, technical equipment and support, software, and training are available to support faculty activities and the operations of the program and are commensurate with similar graduate programs.
A full time secretary is assigned to the Division of Counselor Education and Psychology. She is assisted by two work studies who support her in the fulfillment of her clerical duties for the Program. Division faculty also have access to at lease two graduate assistants each semester to help them in their professional responsibilities.
F. Program faculty members are assigned to provide classroom and clinical instructional services only in areas for which they have demonstrated knowledge and skills.
DeltaStateUniversity maintains the policy that only those persons having doctoral degrees in appropriate areas may teach Master's level courses. Within the Division, assignments are made on the basis of Program need and faculty expertise.
G. The counselor education academic unit has made systematic and long-term efforts to attract and retain faculty from different ethnic, racial, gender, and personal backgrounds representative of the diversity among people in society.
Currently, among the full-time faculty (including the lab director) who regularly serve in the program there is one male and three females, all of which are Caucasian. As of 8/15/03, with the addition of two new faculty and the leaving of one, there will be two males and three females, all of which are Caucasian. During the faculty job search in fall 2002 and spring 2003, every effort was made to attract diverse ethnic, racial, gender and personal backgrounds. This is an ongoing challenge in recruiting faculty to work and live in the Mississippi Delta.
Every printed document, (for example, Graduate Bulletin, Student Handbook, brochures, and position advertisements), includes a statement of nondiscrimination. DeltaStateUniversity is committed to a policy of equal employment and educational opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, physical or mental handicap, status as to disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran, or age as specified by applicable laws and regulations. This policy of nondiscrimination extends to allprograms and activities supported by the University.
H. Adequate assistance, including technical support and professional development activities, is available for faculty members who are engaged in distance learning.
The Center for Teaching and Learning was developed in response to the ever changing needs of faculty using technology in educating students. Division faculty have access to equipment designed to develop web-based courses, websites, online courses as well as video/DVD copying and editing, distance learning, television studio work and use of “model” classrooms. Faculty also have access to staff who are trained to use this technology and consult with faculty in the design and maintenance of this technology. Examples of faculty use include development of online assignments and tests in CED 618: Ethical and email correspondence in CED 605: Group Counseling.