University of Nebraska Kearney

Counseling & School Psychology Graduate Program Assessment Plan (Replaced F06) 

Direct Measure

Practicum in Counseling (CSP 885) is required in all programs prior to the internship, near the completion of the program. Each student must demonstrate effective counseling skills with clients before registering for the internship (CSP 892 or CSP 992). Students submit a videotape sample for review by faculty not teaching the class using Evaluation of Therapist Performance, Short Form. In addition, CSP 922, Problem Solving Assessment Practicum is required of all school psychology students. Students demonstrate the required assessment skills/processes and are assessed by the faculty using Case Study Presentation Outline Assessment & Scoring Criteria.

Application for Candidacy

The Counselor Education Committee and School Psychology Committee, made up of faculty members, meet on a regular basis. An on-going agenda item involves discussion and action related to student concerns and concerns about students. A student who wishes to become a candidate for the Master's or Specialist Degree will file an Application for Candidacy with the Graduate Dean. Satisfactory completion of departmental requirements must be fulfilled. A judgment is made by the faculty related to the student's progress in meeting program goals using the Global Rating Form. This includes professional dispositions (collaboration, responsibility and reflective capacity), knowledge and skills. Additionally, the piloted Application for Candidacy uses and expands upon the usage of the Global Rating Form as one component of a comprehensive review including a review of academic progress, professional conduct, global rating, peer ratings, portfolio review, continuing professional development, activities, professional involvement, core competencies and completion of core courses. Candidacy requires: 1. overall status rating of 4 or 5 (1 – 5 scale with 5 being Outstanding); 2. two or more core courses successfully completed; 3. successful completion of CSP 855. 

Internship

All students are required to successfully complete an internship experience which involves direct field experience in a specialized professional work setting under the supervision of a qualified professional and the Department internship coordinator. Multiple evaluators, including the site supervisor assess the students effectiveness in demonstrating competence related to learning objective.

Research

Students in the School Psychology program are required to successfully complete CSP 991 in which they design, carry through and write a scholarly study. Students present the results of their research activities as part of the comprehensive examination process. Multiple evaluators from the faculty are used to assess the results using Assessment Form for Scholarly Study. Other students are invited to attend these presentations. In addition, the following components are required for completion of the scholarly project: 1. two journal-ready manuscripts; 2. completed NASP proposal for conference presentation; 3. either a poster or paper presentation at NASP, state association conference, or UNK Research Symposium. 

Comprehensive Exams

All students are required to successfully complete comprehensive exams during the final semester of their program. The comprehensive exam is based on the learning objectives. Multiple evaluators assess the student using the Case Study in Interventions/Problem Solving, Oral Comprehensive Exam.

National Certification in School Psychology (NCSP)

All school psychology students must take the NCSP examination and provide scores as a graduation requirement. These scores provide specific information related to the effectiveness of the program. The faculty evaluates the results related to student outcomes.

Graduate Assessment

Each student who applies to graduate is assessed by multiple evaluators related to departmental goals using the Global Rating Form.

Indirect Measures

Graduate Follow-Up Survey

Assessment of the Assessment Process

Faculty review and modification of the assessment plan occurs annually.

Revised June 06