The Myth of the "Dual Concentration"

If you are a School Counseling or College Student Development (CSD) concentration student, you may have heard other students or faculty refer to a "dual concentration." Let me set the record straight that this is a myth and provide clarification.

1. CSL students graduate with a degree in one concentration area; Community, School or CSD.

2. School and CSD concentration students may opt to add several of the Community courses to their overall program plan so that they are eligible to sit for the Illinois Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) exam after graduation. These courses appear on your final transcript which is needed to apply to take the exam and thus the LPC credential application.

3. Many of our non-Community counseling students take these additional courses because it opens the doors to other employment settings and puts them on the path to private practice if that is something they wish to do later on. Additionally, taking these courses gives you valuable knowledge and skills in areas that truly apply in any counseling setting.

4. Taking these courses post-graduation is much more difficult because you will be competing for spots with degree-seeking students so you are encouraged to consider taking them as part of your program plan. Most non-Community counseling students add these courses during their last year while in practicum and internship since they are not prerequisites.

5. The courses are:

• CSL 466: Assessment and Treatment of Chemical Dependency
• CSL 556: Couples and Family Counseling
• CSL 489: Psychopathology (additional for CSD, already a prereq. for School)

Update for School Counseling Students (Non-Intern Level)

School Counseling Students,

For those of you who have not yet passed the TAP (formerly the Basic Skills test) and want to be admitted into advanced standing as a school counseling student (and therefore register for school counseling courses), you can complete and submit the Advanced Standing Exception Request Form attached. You can also find this here: http://education.depaul.edu/CurrentStudents/Policies_Handbooks/Forms_Library.asp (scroll down to Advanced Standing). If granted, this will permit you to register for school counseling courses this winter.

Please contact Dr. Mason or Dr. Ockerman to rework your program plan if you registered for non-school counseling courses and want to take a school counseling course this winter. We are happy to work with you to help you progress in the program.

IMPORTANT Clarification for Enrolling in School Counseling Specific Courses!

Dr. Mason has been working with the Academic Advising to address issues related to Winter registation for School Counseling specific courses and the new TAP requirements, which goes into effect in Feb. 2013. Here is what you need to know if you are currently taking School Counseling courses or about to begin:

1. Students who have met the TAP requirement should NOT experience blocks when trying to register for School Counseling specific courses. If you do receive a block, please complete the Advising Request Form so that we can resolve the issue.

2. Students who have already taken School Counseling courses or are CURRENTLY in School Counseling courses, you are already identified and should NOT receive a block when trying to register for Winter for courses CSL 522, CLS 475 or CSL 523. If you do receive a block, please complete the Advising Request Form so that we can resolve the issue.

3. Students who have met all of the core counseling course requirements and are planning to BEGIN taking School counseling courses in the Winter WILL likely receive a block when trying to register for courses CSL 521, CSL 475 or CSL 523. If you do receive a block, please complete the Advising Request Form so that we can resolve the issue.

3. Students who have chosen the School Counseling concentration but are early in the program and still taking core courses should not be be blocked from any other core courses and should be able to register as usual. If you do receive a block, please complete the Advising Request Form so that we can resolve the issue. You are advised to take the TAP test soon so that you do not experience blocks when you get to the point of taking School Counseling courses.

Registration Reminders for Winter Quarter

As you prepare to register, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Register on time at your appointed time.

2. Should you run into registration issues (blocks, holds, inability to enroll or get on a waiting list, etc.) use the Advising Request Form (embedded below) so that faculty know what your needs are and have them documented. This is the PRIMARY channel for communicating your registration issues. Emailing or calling individual faculty, CPS office staff, or COE academic advising is NOT recommended. Dr. Mason will follow up on all issues documented through the Advising Request Form.

3. Remember that program plans can, and often do change. You want to graduate on time and we want you to graduate on time. Create your program plan, revisit it each quarter, adjust as necessary, and know that unforeseen circumstances can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

TAP test requirements for School Counseling students

THIS EMAIL WAS SENT TO ALL IDENTIFIED SCHOOL COUNSELING STUDENTS ON SEPT 27, 2012 AT 5:11PM BY NANCY HASHIMOTO IN THE COE ACADEMIC ADVISING OFFICE

Dear School Counseling students,

Please read the following information carefully!

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires individuals to pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) test in order to obtain an Illinois educator certificate/license.  The TAP is scored as four independent subtests.  To pass the TAP, you must achieve a scaled subtest score of 240 or higher on each of the subtests:  Reading Comprehension, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Writing.  If any of your subtest scores do not meet or exceed a scaled score of 240 or higher, you will not pass the TAP until you receive a passing score on each of the four subtests.

Beginning February 1, 2013, no one may be admitted to a school service personnel preparation program unless he/she has passed the TAP (or met the ACT plus Writing or the SAT requirements). 

In order to remain in compliance with the State’s new rules, DePaul’s School Counseling program will now require its students to provide proof of passing the TAP test before they are allowed to enroll in advanced standing courses.  The advanced standing courses are:

·         CSL 475

·         CSL 514

·         CSL 519

·         CSL 520

·         CSL 521

·         CSL 522

·         CSL 523

Students who do not provide proof of passing the TAP test will be blocked from enrolling in these courses and will not progress in the school counseling program until the TAP requirement is met.

So, what do you need to do to make sure you can continue in the program without any delays?

1.       Sign up for the TAP test

·         Locate a testing center and date for the TAP test through the Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS):  http://www.icts.nesinc.com/index.asp

                  ·         Be sure to indicate that you want your scores sent to DePaul.

2.       Prepare for the TAP test

·         Visit the Academic Success Center (ASC) for free tutoring services, study guides, and workshops:  http://education.depaul.edu/CurrentStudents/AcademicSuccessCenter/index.asp

Helpful (and important) information to know:

Effective January 12, 2010, no individual may attempt to pass the same test more than five times in any combination of the two formats (computer-based or paper-based testing). You may attempt to take the same test five times. If you have attempted the same test five times and do not pass, you will not be allowed to register to take the same test again.

·          

·     Effective July 1, 2012, Illinois certification tests are valid for 5-years.  The 5-year timeline is determined by the date the test was passed and the date that the fees are processed for the requested certificate or endorsement.

·          

·     Individuals currently admitted and enrolled in a school service personnel program must pass the TAP in order to be entitled. 

·       

What if you have already passed the TAP or Basic Skills test?

·     If an individual passed the TAP for an Illinois teaching certificate and holds a teaching certificate, he/she does not need to retake the TAP in order to be admitted to the school service personnel program or take advanced standing courses.  If DePaul has verified or received your scores, you’ll see the information in 2 different locations:

1.       Degree Progress Report.  To access this report, go to Campus Connection and select “Degree Progress” from the main page in the “Student Reminders” box.  Then run the report and in the right column you’ll see an indication if the test has been passed or not.

2.       EdTrack.  Go to https://www.soedepaul.org/EdTrack/Programs/LogOn.htm.  After logging in, go to “Tests, Endorsements, Certifications, Entitlements”.  You’ll then see a listing of all the certification tests DePaul has on record for you.

If you have passed the test and you do not see your results listed, please submit your score report to Sandra Tanksley.  They can be emailed to stanksle@depaul.edu, dropped off to SAC 481, or faxed to 773-325-7713. 

  

Questions?  Contact your Faculty Advisor or Nancy Hashimoto

Professional Practice Orientation Coming Up Oct 13th!

CSL students please mark your calendars and plan to attend the CSL Professional Practice Orientation on Sat., Oct. 13th from 10am – 12pm in SAC 154.  

If you have not already done so, please register for this MANDATORY Orientation with Julie Harris at jharri20@depaul.edu this week.  To register, you must provide Julie with the following information:

• DePaul ID number

• Expected start quarter/year of practicum/internship

• Program concentration

During this orientation, Dr. Tovar-Murray, the Professional Practice advisor, will present all the information you need about finding and securing your internship site. In preparation you may also want to review the Phase 2: Professional Practice tab of the Counseling Student Handbook.

Fall Open Advising/Networking Sessions Coming Up!

If you have advising questions plan to come to one of these open advising sessions to get your questions answered and to network with other CSL students and faculty. No registration is required, just show up!

Thursday, September 27th, 4-5pm, Student Center 313

Tuesday, October 9th, 4-5pm, Student Center 313

All CSL students are welcome and all questions are game! Including but not limited to the following:

1. What classes do I take next quarter?
2. Should I change concentrations?
3. What kind of credentials should my internship supervisor have?
4. What's a hybrid course like?

Our newest faculty member, Dr. Philip Gnilka will be introduced and DSCO, the DePaul Student Counseling Organization will also be on hand.

See you then!

E-Portfolio is BACK!

E-portfolio is an initiative within the COE to provide students with a free tool for them to document their progress and work in their programs, as well as once they are in the field; part resume, part scrapbook, part journal. The following orientation is offered for any student who is interested in learning more about e-portfolios and you are welcome to attend all or some of the orientation depending upon your class schedule.

E-portfolio is open to any CSL student, new or returning. Students with e-portfolios will have access to their accounts after leaving DePaul. E-portfolio is not currently tied to grades in any CSL courses but in some cases may be utilized as a format for assignments with the approval of the instructor. If you are interested in being a part of the CSL e-portfolio group, please email Dr. Mason at emason5@depaul.edu and plan to attend this orientation.

Previously interested students should also email Dr. Mason to confirm continued interest.

CSLNews: Welcome to a New Academic Year!

Welcome to the 2012-2013 Academic Year! This communication will highlight some important information for ALL CSL students, new and returning. Concentration-specific communications are forthcoming.

1. Updated Advising Model: Advising in CSL is done by program faculty and not done through the COE Academic Advising office. Familiarize yourself with our advising model by reading the following previous post on this topic. This updated model includes an electronic form for all students to complete when they have course registration problems, questions about long range career planning, internship, etc. ALL advising concerns and requests should be documented in this form so that we can track your needs and respond to them in the best possible way.

2. New CSLNews Communications: CSLNews has traditionally gone out by email several times each quarter. While we will continue to use email for the Fall quarter, we are asking ALL students to transition to keeping up to date with CSLNews via some new means: Facebook and/or Twitter. These two accounts are linked together so you will see consistent information on both. Why the change? Keeping up with students' emails has proved challenging over the years as students transition into and out of the program. By getting CSLNews on Facebook and/or Twitter, we are putting the responsibility on you as students to make sure you are up to date, PLUS you will get more information more frequently, more efficiently and be able to continue getting CSLNews info as an alum if you so choose. We have added student "content managers" for each concentration so not only will you get info from faculty but you can also get info from peers about events, trainings, etc.. We hope it will also be a place that CSL alums will share information about job opportunities! Start by liking the FB page or following on Twitter TODAY.

3. New Student Handbook: As a means of communicating to all students about the various phases and elements of the CSL program, we have compiled the CSL Student Handbook. This handbook is for ALL students and is in an online platform called LiveBinders so that it can be easily updated.

4. New Faculty and Students! A big warm welcome to all of our new students starting in the CSL program this quarter! Make sure to ask your faculty and peers for help as you transition to graduate school. And plan to attend the open advising/networking sessions coming up on Sept. 27th and/or Oct. 9th. Stay tuned to CSLNews for more information about these in the near future.

We are excited to welcome Dr. Philip Gnilka to CSL. Please show him how great DePaul is and how wonderful CSL students are! Dr. Gnilka comes to us from Kent State Univeristy in Ohio where he was an Assistant Professor for the last two years. He is originally from North Carolina and received his Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Georgia State University. He had a previous career on Wallstreet and has worked as a counselor in a variety of community-based settings. He will be teaching our Testing and Appraisal (461) and Psychopathology (489) courses. Welcome to Chicago and to DePaul, Dr. Gnilka!

We also have some new adjunct professors joining us: Laura Hosto (451) Jessica Coors (458), Marv Leavitt (514), Melissa O'Neill (CC internship supervisor), Dustin Seeman (SC internship supervisor), Monique Billings (SC internship supervisor) and Sandra Gilbert (SC internship supervisor).

5. Faculty on Leave: Drs. Whitney (CSD) and Novakovic (SC) are both on research leave this quarter so you will not see them on campus. We will welcome them back at the start of the Winter quarter. You may find they are not responding to emails for this reason so please contact other faculty if you need help during the Fall.

Tour of the CSL Student Handbook

One of the ways the CSL program is trying to improve communications with our students is through the Student Handbook, which is online using a tool called LiveBinders. This handbook contains the most relevant information about the CSL program so that you can know what to expect and where to find answers to your questions. Over time there will be updates made to the handbook to ensure that it stays current. Below you can watch a 13 minute screencast "tour" of the handbook narrated by Dr. Mason.

Please make sure to bookmark the handbook for frequent reference!

Advice for New Graduate Students

Starting in the CSL program should bring about a variety of emotions, everything from fear to excitement. Starting off strong will pay off in the long run. There are a number of good articles from About.com on tips for graduate students so click the link and start reading. Basic tips include:

• Getting supplies and books 
• Determining how you will organize your materials and take notes
• Putting important dates on your calendar
• Planning out your program of study
• Know your academic weak spots and plan to ask for help

In addition, there are some other things to keep in mind that are specifically being in a Counseling program. Graduate school is a time of intense personal and professional growth.  We are training you for the field which requires much more than just being able to manage the academic piece of the program. I like to call these the "Top 10" and faculty will make a point to revisit these in the courses they teach.


1. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
2. Open yourself up to multiple perspectives and worldviews.
2. Improve your communication skills; listening, writing and speaking.
4. Seek learning everywhere.
5. Network and get involved in the profession.
6. Don't expect perfection but do expect professionalism.
7. Be flexible when things don't go as planned.
8. Know your resources, how and when to use them.
9. Connect what you learn to other life experiences.
10.Engage in ongoing self-reflection.

Current and former CSL students, PLEASE feel free to leave your own advice for new CSL students here too!

New CSL Advising Model

Whether you are returning for another year in the program or a brand new student, you need to know about our new model for advising students. This new model is built upon the phases of the program and the types of issues that our students typically encounter. This model gives you more potential face to face contact with multiple faculty as well as networking time with other students in the program. Benefits such as these were not possible with our previous model and we hope that students will feel better informed and supported.

Quarterly Open Advising Sessions: During the 4th and 6th weeks of each quarter, we will hold an open advising session from 4:00-5:00pm which is available to all CSL students. These sessions will include a short presentation on a topic of interest to students followed by time for students to ask their advising questions and network with other students. Faculty will be on hand to assist with questions. Watch CSLNews for details on these sessions.

Advising Request Form: This form should be filled out for any advising need regardless of concentration or phase in the program. The short form can be found in multiple places, including in our CSL Student Handbook and on the CSLNews Blog, and helps the faculty document students' needs and address them in the most efficient and effective way. Responses to requests can typically be expected in 2-3 days via email.

Students often have advising needs that fall into several different categories and you'll notice that these categories are integrated into the advising request form. Here are the categories of needs:

Tier 1/Registration and Course Planning: These include logistical issues such as being blocked from a course or having difficulty with course sequencing.

Tier 2/Advanced Advising: These include issues for which you may need an extended conversation with faculty such as long range career planning or if you are considering a concentration change.

Tier 3/Practicum and Internship: These needs are specific to students in the practicum and internship phase only and include issues such as difficulty getting hours needed or site concerns.

Reminders for 2012-2013 CSL Interns

Who's ready for internship?!?! We look forward to seeing all CC, CSD and SC students who are starting internship this year on Wed. August 29th from 5:30-7:30pm in SAC 254 for the internship kickoff!

During the kickoff CSL faculty will present information for all interns and then there will be time in concentrations as well as time to meet your DePaul supervisor.

Here are a few things going into the kickoff:

• A few sections are still being finalized to best accommodate students' and supervisors' schedules. If you have questions or concerns, contact. Dr. Tovar-Murray. 

• Name change! What has been previously called the "clinical phase" is now called "professional practice" so you will likely see this new language around in the Fall. This is to be more inclusive of all concentrations, and to be more consistent with other counseling programs and accrediting bodies. Dr. Tovar-Murray is the Professional Practice Advisor and is the point of contact for all interns for issues beyond those which can be handled by you and your site supervisor or DePaul supervisor.

• For those who have already been working at your sites, only 10 hours of any indirect service already performed at your site may count towards practicum hours. Indirect hours may not include direct contact with clients or students and consists of hours such as professional development, program planning, training, attendance at events, etc.

• Get organized! You will be keeping track of your hours on site as well as many documents (permissions to tape, consents, notes, case study write-ups, goals, reports, etc.) so figure out the system that works best for you now.

See you on the 29th!

Welcome NEW students to CSL!

We hope you are getting excited about starting in the program and we are certainly excited to have you join us! Here are a couple of dates to put on your calendar and tips to help you get started:

Grad programs orientation: Tues, Sept 4th, 6:00pm, McGowan North (this orientation is optional but recommended if you haven't attended an orientation yet).

Fall Open Advising Sessions: Tues, Sept 25th, 4:00-5:00pm AND Thurs, Sept 27th, 4:00-5:00pm, Location TBA (these sessions are open for any CSL student who has an advising question, a short presentation will be made and then faculty will be on hand to assist students.

CSLNews: If you haven’t joined CSLNews yet, please do so you will always be in the know about what is going on in the program. Sign up for CSLNews, our regular program newsletter. Send an email to cslnews@depaul.edu with "subscribe" in the subject line. You can also find CSLNews on Facebook, Twitter or sign up for emails from our blog!

DePaul ID: Make sure to get your ID so you are officially a Blue Demon! Lincoln Park Student Center, Room 109.

Financial: These and other "business" related questions are best answered by DePaul Central. You can contact them via email, phone, IM or visit them on the 1st floor of Schmitt by the Bean coffee shop.

Parking/Transportation: Need to get a parking pass? All parking passes must be purchased online through CampusConnect. Prefer the CTA? Get the details on the U-Pass.

Books: You can find the listing for your course materials on the DePaul Bookstore website. You'll need to set up a login and then you can locate courses by department (we are CSL) and number. 

Syllabi: Most instructors will provide you with the syllabus for the course on the first night of class so plan to wait : )

Campus Map: Help! Where do I go for class?! Most class locations are not posted until a day or two before the quarter starts. It's common to get turned around or lost on the first day of class so familiarize yourself ahead of time with the LPC map. You'll most likely have your classes in the Schmitt Academic Center (SAC) or in Levan or O'Connell which are actually wings attached to Schmitt on the Kenmore side.

Enjoy the time before you graduate school adventure begins!

ICA Scholarships Available for Professional Development and Research

The ICA Foundation offers two awards each year:

The Merlin W. Schulz Professional Development Grant is to support an individual’s attendance at a professional conference or to allow for participation in enrichment workshops.

The Foundation will be awarding up to a maximum of $1000 for the Schulz Professional Development Grant in 2012. 

The second grant, the Melanie E. Rawlins Research Grant, is awarded to support research in the counseling field. This year a maximum of two grants will be given in the amount of $1000 each.

Applications for the Schulz and Rawlins Grants were in the last edition of Contact and can also be found on the ICA website.

The submission deadline for both grants is September 1, 2012

The Illinois Counseling Association Foundation (ICAF) was established to “enhance individual human development by conducting and fostering programs of education and research in the field of counseling." For the last four years ICAF has been providing funding for professional development, research, and the promotion of counseling and the Illinois Counseling Association. As a foundation, the ICAF is a non-profit organization with the purpose of providing funding to support counseling endeavors in Illinois. For those interested in contributing to the Foundation, information can be found on the ICA website www.ilcounseling.org look under the Foundation menu in the left hand navigation menu.

Tutoring Opportunities

Hubbard High School Avid Tutors 
Hubbard High School is currently seeking two AVID tutors. These tutors would work two days a week, Tuesday and Thursday from about 8am- 3pm and would help AVID teachers lead tutorial groups with students. This position is ideal for a student or recent grad looking for experience in education. No teaching certificate is required for this position, however, they are interested in candidates who are working toward a degree in education or school counseling. If interested, please email your resume to Amanda Targgart at atarggart@gmail.com.

Tutoring at Morrill Math and Science School
Morrill Math & Science School is seeking qualified college students interested in helping Chicago Public School students achieve their academic potential. Tutors teach math or reading fundamentals depending on their expertise. The tutoring of students will be on a one-to-one basis or in a small group setting of 2-4 students. Students range from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Please see the flyer on our website for more information.

Enterprising Kids Now Hiring After-School Instructors
Please see the flyer on our website with more information on the job description.

Full-time Aide for a toddler classroom.  Must have proof of graduating high school. Experience working young children a plus.  Excellent benefits.  Spanish speaker a plus. Please email resume to careers@lakeshoreschoolschicago.com

Part-time Aide for an infant classroom.  Must have proof of graduating high school. Experience working young children a plus.  Please email resume to careers@lakeshoreschoolschicago.com

Greenview Campus

Full-time Assistant Teacher for a preschool classroom.  Must have 30 hours of college credit.  Experience working with children a plus.  Excellent benefits.  Please email resume and transcript demonstrating required college hours to careers@lakeshoreschoolschicago.com

Job Posting with Youth Guidance

Not sure how they are defining "intern" but those who are considering this opportunity should inquire further. Current program students who are looking for work may be ideal.

Youth Guidance is trying to hire an intern to support the Be A Man (BAM) programming at our schools.  Do you have any ideas for places where we can source interns? In particular, they are looking for someone who is trying to get their Bachelors or Masters in counseling/social work.  Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Contact Info:

Clayton J. Virgil

Chicago Public Schools | PASS Program

cjvirgil@cps.edu | 773.553.2458 | 773.255.6490

Welcome to the new DePaulCSLNews Blog!

Welcome to the new DePaulCSLNews Blog! In previous years our program has worked to provide students regular information that is relevant to them:

• changes in course offerings
• volunteer opportunities
• job openings
• deadlines for practicum and internship
• testing requirements and info
• etc.

We continue to share this information with current students as well as alumni. In the past CSLNews has been done via email making it difficult to keep up with the turnover of students and changes in email addresses. While we'll still be sending the old CLSNews via email for a while, we aim to transition to this blog for CSLNews in the future so follow it or subscribe to its posts. All current students are required to follow CSLNews in some format so that they have the most up to date information.