Counseling Center

What is the program’s mission statement or statement of purpose? Why does the program exist?

The Counseling Center’s mission is to enhance psychological/emotional health and promote the overall wellness of the campus student community through education, outreach, counseling services, consultation, and crisis services. The Counseling Center exists to assist students with psychological and emotional health concerns and to promote student success, wellness, and retention.  The Counseling Center exists to assist in the retention of students who may have an interference in their academic success due to emotional/developmental/psychological reasons and to assist in their personal growth.  The Center also exists to provide the encouragement and educational support of an overall wellness and civility on campus. 

How does the program mission align with the university mission?

In keeping with EIU’s mission statement, the Counseling Center helps ensure that education is accessible to students by offering services that help improve and maintain well-being so that students with a wide range of mental health and/or personal concerns can remain at EIU and be successful in their academic endeavors. Further, the Counseling Center promotes diversity and inclusion in a number of ways, such as outreach programming such as the Civility Campaign that the Center coordinates and the high service delivery to students with various diverse backgrounds. Additionally, the Counseling Center helps students in the areas of refining abilities to reason, communicating clearly, and becoming responsible citizens and leaders through its individual counseling, group counseling, psychoeducational programming (i.e. alcohol and marijuana programming, anger management programming), outreach efforts, and Civility Campaign. 

Whom does the program serve?

The Counseling Center serves EIU students by providing individual counseling, group counseling, emergency services, consultation, psychoeducational programming, and outreach. The entire EIU campus community (i.e., students, faculty, and staff) is also served by the Counseling Center through its consultation and outreach services.  The Counseling Center has provided specialized training/outreach on various mental health/wellness topics that are open to the campus and community.  The Center also provides consultation services to external entities such as, parents.

What are the services provided? How do these services align with the university mission and program mission?

The Counseling Center provides individual counseling, group counseling, emergency services, consultation, psychoeducational programming,training and outreach to EIU students. The Counseling Center also offers consultation and outreach to EIU faculty and staff. These services align with the EIU mission by ensuring accessibility of higher education to students with mental health and academic related concerns, promoting diversity and inclusion through counseling and outreach, and by assisting students in their reasoning abilities and communication styles through counseling services. The Counseling Center’s services are in keeping with a student-centered campus culture and assist students in becoming responsible citizens and leaders. These services are also in keeping with the Counseling Center’s mission to enhance psychological/emotional health and promote overall wellness of the campus student community

Describe the program’s origins (e.g. year established, purpose, expectations).

The Counseling Center was established in 1964 and housed in the area of Academic Affairs.  The staff mostly consisted of part time faculty members providing individual counseling to students with a primary focus of developmental issues and provision of limited outreach.  In 1995, the Center's reporting was moved to Student Affairs.  The staff had already begun to move to full time staff positions that were classified as Academic Support Professionals.  The purpose of the Center was and is to promote the overall wellness of the campus student community and enhance the psychological and emotional health of students through its services. Expectations of the Center include offering superior free, voluntary, confidential counseling services to EIU students. There is an expectation that Counseling Center staff assists students in their pursuit of personal and academic growth, helps students gain a better understanding and appreciation of themselves, and supports students as they make important decisions about their lives.

How has the unit changed or adapted over time?

The most significant change that has occurred over time at the Counseling Center has been service delivery related.  The number of students engaging in counseling has greatly increased and the focus on treatment has a considerably less developmental aspect, but more significantly distressed/mental health focus.  The increase in need for emergency services for students in crises has greatly increased as well as, providing case management for students identifying with disabilities and/or chronic mental illness.  The Center has also significantly changed with a strong focus on outreach and training.  The Center's current belief is the need to balance out serving the campus community in distress while assisting those who could benefit from encouragement and skills training on overall wellness and personal growth.  The Center has also changed very significantly in reaching out to underserved student populations, such as minority students, and engaging them in Center services at far higher numbers than the national average.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the program’s history and relevance to university mission.

The Counseling Center has changed over time by adding additional staff, graduate assistants, and master’s level interns. The Center also has a website with resources available to students, including psychoeducational information and assessments. The Center has more space available than in the past and is now located in the Human Services Building.   The use of social media and technology has also greatly increased than previously.  The Center maintains an effective and resource filled website as well as the development of the Sexual Assault/Interpersonal Violence website and on line training.

Provide data, if available, on the numbers of students, faculty, staff, or others served by the program during the past four years. If no data are available, please estimate the numbers served annually.

Does the program offer any co-curricular opportunities for students (e.g., internships, RSO support, service-learning activities)? Please describe.

The Center offers a masters level internship for Clinical Psychology and Counseling and Student Development  second year students.  Internship Student Data  FY11( 3 ), FY12 ( 4 ), FY 13 ( 2 ).   Staff have provided support to RSO's as well.  The Director had previously been the Chapter Advisor for seven years for a fraternity.  Current and past Assistant Director has provided support for Pride.  The Center has also provided service-learning opportunities through various means.  The Civility Campaign formally organizes opportunities service-learning opportunities such as, 30 acts of kindness in 30 days competition, PSA's on bystander intervention by students, and various community outreach (emergency food bank, international student winter package).  The CRAWL program (substance abuse intervention 8 week program) and our anger management program mandates a service-learning component with the collaboration of the department of Community Services.   

Does the program contribute to the delivery of academic programs (e.g., providing professional expertise, serving as adjunct faculty)? Please describe.

Staff have served as adjunct faculty in the Department of Counseling and Student Development.  Various staff have also participated as Instructors for the University Foundations course throughout the years.  Currently four counselors are instructors.  The Center often provide consultation and training on assisting students in distress to faculty.  Various mental health/wellness topics are all provided through outreach/training to various classes.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the internal demand for the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., curriculum changes made by another program) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

Is the program accredited or approved by a recognized external agency or otherwise certified to meet established professional standards? Provide an executive summary of and link to the program’s most recent accreditation or certification report, if available.

The Counseling Center is fully accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc.  The most recent reaccreditation report in October 2013 indicated that the Center had met the criteria for full reaccreditation.  The IACS Board of reaccreditation indicated that the Center  offers an effective and comprehensive program of services that makes a vital contribution to the quality of student and campus life.  In it's review, the Board was appreciative of the Center's strong clinical services, the level of respect held for the Center in the campus community, the outreach programming, minimal staff turnover, and a respectable training program.

Is the program required to meet any regulatory or legal requirements? Is the program subject to any special auditing requirements?

The Counseling Center is required to meet the legal requirements of FERPA, HIPPA and the Illinois Mental Health and Disabilities Act.  The Sexual Assault Task Force lead by the Center is subject to special auditing requirements.

What are the most important outreach or public service activities supported by the program?

The Center's Civility campaign is a global effort for impacting a more respectful, responsible, accountable and kind campus culture that includes the community.  All of the events of the Civility campaign are open to the community as well.  The importance of the Center being a source of assisting students in distress has a positive impact in the campus and local community. (ie. threat assessment,et.)

How do the local community and the region benefit from the program?

The local community and region benefit from the Counseling Center by the impact the Center has on overall wellness through the extensive outreach to all and assisting in attempting to address any concerns of safety to campus/community/student. 

If needed, provide supplemental comments or data sources to help the reader understand the external demand for the program.

It is difficult to assess the full impact on both the campus and local community because it is less common when you hear about the success of what the Center does.  If there are minimal concerns to the campus or community related to distressed students, the Center is functioning in a positive role that impacts all.

What are the two or three more important measureable outcomes tracked to assess program quality? Does the program conduct an outcomes assessment, and if so, what has been the impact?

One of the main ways that the Counseling Center assesses quality of services is by tracking the level of improvement in students’ presenting concerns. The Counseling Center conducts client satisfaction surveys at the end of each Fall and Spring semester. These surveys are used to gather data about students’ perceptions of their ability to succeed due to counseling services, their level of satisfaction with the counseling services they had, to what extent they have seen improvement in their presenting concern, and their sense that they will remain in school due to counseling services (i.e., retention).  Annually, students rank in the 90th percentile of believing the services of the Counseling Center has assisted in their retention of school. The survey also gathers data related to the timeliness of services, the atmosphere of the Center, whether students would recommend the Center to their friends, and any suggestions for improvement. Additionally, the Counseling Center assesses the quality of its outreach services by tracking changes in attitudes and behaviors for students participating in these services. For example, the programming we provide on alcohol and marijuana use is 8 weeks long, and students complete pre- and post-class surveys that assess the students’ knowledge and rate of use. The results from before the students began the class are then compared to the results from after the students have completed the class. The client satisfaction surveys for clinical services and pre-/post- testing for outreach programs has allowed us to continue the work that we do well and address areas that can be improved upon.

What are the two or three most effective best practices that the program has implemented? What benefits have been gained from implementing these best practices?

One of the best practice the Counseling Center has implemented has been providing round the clock emergency services.  Research has indicated that campuses that provide 24/7 on call services have less mental health related crises continuing on campus and a sense of a supportive environment on campus.  Part of that practice includes the need for staff to be highly skilled in threat of self and others clinical assessment.  The Counseling Center also uses various best practices in its outreach and training.  The three main focuses are a comprehensive wellness approach, social norming and social justice.  These are exemplified in our outreach (Civility, No More Secrets) as well as our special programs such as CRAWL, Anger Management, Eating Disorder Treatment Team, Mood Disorder Treatment Team, Disability Treatment Team.  Lastly, the Center utilizes the best practice of balancing confidentiality, collaboration, student rights and campus safety wellness on higher level of distress/threat students.

What external recognitions (e.g., awards, accommodations, professional certifications, references in trade publications) have the program and its staff received in the past three years?

N/A

Is the program active with any regional, national, or international professional organizations?

AUCCD, APA, ACA, Illinois Directors

Note any presentations, publications, or offices held in the last three years.

American College Counseling Association Conference (Fall 2012 and Fall 2013) --- "Developing and Growing a Group Counseling Program on a College Campus

 NASPA Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, Presented CRAWL Program--Innovative Intervention Programs in Substance Abuse

Association of University Counseling Centers Directors, Innovative and Effective Practices in Suicide Prevention (Fall 2011/2012).

American Association of Suicidology, Innovative and Effective Practices in Suicide Prevention on a College Campus, Spring, 2011.

If needed, provide supplemental comments or data sources to help the reader understand the quality of program outcomes.

Note any special benefits (e.g., personnel support, equipment, permanent improvements) that the program has received in the past three years from its grants and other sponsored programs.

The Center has not benefited by any special benefits in the past three years.  We have been the recipient of grants in the past, however, all current eligible grants necessitate matching, sustainable funds that the University indicates it cannot commit.

How does the program benefit from donor gifts (e.g., scholarships, endowed chairs)? Does donor support provide a significant percentage of the program’s overall funding?

The Counseling Center has had one donor support in the past seventeen years awareness which is the Rainbow of Hope Foundation which a small amount of money allocated for suicide prevention.  The money has not been used as of yet due to the small amount and inability to fund any project on such.

List two or three key relationships that the program maintains with external constituencies (e.g., community colleges, other universities, government bodies). How do these relationships advance the university mission or otherwise benefit the university?

The Counseling Center participates in the Regional Counseling Center Association.  This is beneficial to the Center for sharing resources.  It is beneficial to the University as the EIU Counseling Center has often been the source of support in developing programming and training for other regional higher education institutions specifically on its "Distressed Student Handbook", the CRAWL program, the Sexual Assault and Interpersonal Violence on line training and website, the No More Secrets campaign and Suicide Prevention.  The Director has continued to work with two Universities in New Zealand in consultation for development of their suicide prevention outreach, programs and policies. 

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the resources generated by the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., revenue pass-throughs) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

Provide an executive summary of and link to any metrics or benchmarks that the program tracks to measure productivity.

The Counseling Center utilizes the AUCCD's survey of University Counseling Centers that is completed yearly.  The Center participates in the survey and is provided qualitative and quantitative benchmark information.  (www.auccd.org, Bob Gallagher survey).  The Counseling Center is also accredited by the International Association of Counseling Centers that require yearly reports for review for reaccreditation.  The Center recently received full reaccreditation, which is exceptional standing, after an seven year paper review.  www.iacs.org

What initiatives has the program implemented to enhance staff productivity (e.g., access to training, workflow improvements)? Briefly describe the costs and benefits of these initiatives.

The Center has implemented an individual electronic medical record system.  This has greatly impact the effectiveness of appropriate record maintenance and created a simplistic work flow process that has greatly eliminated work for staff.  this has been at no cost to the Center due to a means of piggy backing on Health Services established program while being able to remain autonomous and confidential at no additional costs.  The Center has also implemented an on call cell phone process.  Emergency students and/or emergency consulters may now call the cell phone directly for after hours crises.  The crisis cell number is publicized across campus.  The Counseling Center staff are also encouraged and provided support to attend one national conference a year and are open to regional trainings and on line trainings throughout the year.  The various national conferences attended in the past three years by staff included American Counseling Association, AUCCD annual conference, Anxiety Disorders of America, American Suicidology, NASPA.  The Office Manager is also encouraged to attend on campus trainings which have included budget, travel and record retention workshops.   

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the productivity of the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., accreditation requirements, curricular changes, program restructuring) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the costs associated with the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., expenditures made centrally or externally, expenditures made on behalf of other units) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

The surplus of Org 242001 has provided financial support to VPSA for alcohol edu costs.

How does the program seek to distinguish itself from similar programs at other institutions?

The Counseling Center distinguishes itself from other counseling centers by the extensive service delivery the Center does for a campus our size.  The Center sees more students for counseling than most institutions our size.  We also provide more extensive specialized programming through our group programming and our Treatment Team approaches.  The Counseling Center prevention programming has significantly distinguished itself among other institutions.  The country of New Zealand's Institutions of Higher Education have been utilizing the Center's approach to Suicide Prevention after a on site consultation seven years ago and continued consultation.  Our outreach programming is also distinguishable from the innovative nature of it ranging from a therapy dog, movies on the quad with discussion and dance troupes performing for supportive of sexual assault prevention.  The Center has also maintained up to date on new laws, changing best practices and new government encouragements, such as, the VAWA on line training and web page. 

1. The EIU Counseling Center distinguishes itself from similar counseling centers at other universities by offering after-hours and weekend crisis services and coordinating a campus-wide outreach effort aimed at promoting civility on campus (i.e., the Civility Campaign). Many university counseling centers do not offer after-hours crisis services provided by their counselors, and the Civility Campaign is also a service not offered at every university. Further, the EIU Counseling Center has a staff member for which part of their duties are specifically dedicated to assisting student survivors of sexual assault and interpersonal violence by offering counseling, advocacy, and consultation about available resources and reporting options. This is also not common for most university counseling centers.

Note any unique and/or essential contributions that the program makes to the university.

The  Counseling Center contributes uniquely to the University due to the very specialized services provided to the student body through counseling, programming, consultation, crises and training.  There are a significant number of significant student/campus crises happen on campus and  the Center accepts a responsibility of providing expertise in addressing these crises with positive resolutions.

Provide any program-specific metrics that help to document program contributions or program quality. Examples of some commonly used program-specific metrics may be found here.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the program impact on the university mission.

Provide a link to or listing of the program’s goals and/or strategic plan.

1. Vision

The Counseling Center aspires to American Psychological Association and International Association of Counseling Centers standards of excellence in practice for its provision of student psychological services and standards for clinical supervision of professionals in training.

  Goals

• Provide the highest quality of psychological services to the student body to meet the ever changing needs of a diverse student body.
• Enhance student retention and academic performance through provision of clinical services
• Provide innovative and/or empirically supported mental health topic prevention efforts on campus
• Assist students with similar/diverse concerns through group therapy, programming and outreach
• Assist students in crisis and to appropriately intervene in potentially life threatening situations
• Provide crisis intervention and post –intervention for campus crises/disasters
• Respond to the unique needs of special populations such as, students with disabilities, ethnic minorities, student athletes, international students, LGBQT students, Greek affiliated students and non-traditional students.
• Provide multicultural sensitive and celebratory services and programming
• Demonstrate leadership in the promotion of wellness and civility on campus
• Provide quality training to professionals in training
• Expand collaborative and consultant relationships with entities both on campus and off campus
• Pursue a formal assessment process for evaluation of service delivery

What role will the program have in the implementation of the university’s strategic plan (provide link to strategic plan)?

The Counseling Center is a unique program in which there are unique skills in which it provides campus.  Any campus will continue to have students in distress and if national trends continue, the Center services will continue to be in higher demand.  The Center assists greatly in assisting a specific student to be retained at the University.  It also assists the University in providing the necessary expertise and practice in addressing the ever evolving concerns for campus and individuals safety.  

In the next two or three years, what best practices, improvements in operations, or other opportunities to advance the university’s mission are likely to be implemented?

The Center will work to be a part of the process of inclusion with our diverse student body.  It will also work to effect a campus culture change through its Civility campaign.  The staff of the Center will continue to pursue training to be appropriately skilled to address the diversity and increasing severity of issues that students experience while on our campus.  The Center will also implement a best practices of Bystander Intervention prevention programming that will benefit numerous areas of mental health prevention. 

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand future opportunities for the program.