| SC Mission & Goals | SC Program Design | SC Characteristics | SC Program Details |
| SC Student Profiles | SC Student Resources | SC Frequently Asked Questions | |
| SC Pictures | SC Application | ||
How to Handle Concerns
In an ecosystem as complex as the School Counseling Program, it is important to understand how to express concerns and resolve problem situations. Opportunities for successful problem resolution will be enhanced when students understand the process and use it in a professionally responsible way, as a means to communicate concerns and to develop solutions for problem situations.
The resolution procedures described here are consistent with the procedures used in professional ethics and with the policies and procedures of the University. The procedures to follow vary with the type of concern; the first step, however, is always the same: Attempt direct resolution. If your attempts at direct resolution fail, follow the next steps as outlined below.
As you consider the steps you may take, remember that resolution does not necessarily mean that you "get what you want." Instead, it may mean that you have a larger understanding of the situation and can resolve to "live with it." That is, resolution may mean that you have changed the way you look at the situation.
Attempt Direct Resolution
Professional ethics and University policies and procedures call for persons with concerns to try to seek resolution with the involved person(s) before taking the matter to another level. Thus, the first step is always to attempt resolution directly with the person(s) involved. This is usually all that is required because problematic situations are often related to misunderstandings, miscommunications, and/or misinformation.
If your attempts to seek direct resolution are unsuccessful, then you may take the second step according to the type of concern as described below.
Unfair Treatment/Grievance
If you feel you have been treated unfairly by faculty or staff members or administrator and your attempts at direct resolution have been unsuccessful . . .
Mediated Resolution
Consult with your advisor (or Program Director if the problem is with your advisor, or the Department Chair if the problem is with your advisor who is the Program Director). Your advisor will guide you in selecting the appropriate course of action which may involve one or more of the following:
a. Mediated attempts at resolution (e.g., a 3-way meeting with you, your advisor, and the other person) and/or
b. Mediation by the Department Chair and/or
c. Review by School Counseling Faculty.
If your attempts with your advisor to obtain resolution have been unsuccessful . . .
Appeal
Consult with your advisor who will guide you in selecting the appropriate course of action which may involve one or more of the following:
a. Review by the School Program Committee including student representatives. (Reviews involving peers require your consent.)
b. Consultation with the University Ombudsman who serves as a mediator, attempts resolutions through existing channels, and provides assistance if a formal grievance process is required. (Formal grievance procedures are detailed in the Graduate Bulletin.)
Instructor/Course Concerns
If you have concerns about an instructor (e.g., style, effectiveness) or course (e.g., requirements, organization), procedures must respect the faculty member's rights as well as provide a forum for expression of your concerns. Such concerns typically fall under "academic freedom or personnel matters" about which students are not guaranteed rights. The only rights you are guaranteed are (1) to be able to effect withdrawal from the class and (2) to provide written quantitative and qualitative evaluations at the end of the class. If that is not the option of choice and if your attempts at direct resolution have been unsuccessful . . .
Mediated Resolution
Consult with the Department Chair who may take one or more of the following actions:
a. Mediated attempts at resolution (e.g., a 3-way meeting with you, the instructor, and the Chair) and/or
b. Chair - Instructor meetings and/or
c. Involve the Personnel Committee through review and/or observation of the instructor.
If these mediated attempts prove unsuccessful and your dissatisfaction is interfering with your performance, you may wish to withdraw from the class. There are no "appeal" procedures. Your written evaluations are considered seriously in the retaining or promotion of faculty.
Course/Program Concerns
Every course required in the Program has a "background and rationale" with specific roles in the context of our curricular framework (see Section I-A). If you have concerns about the "fit" of a course in the School Counseling Program and your attempts at direct resolution with the instructor have been unsuccessful . . .
Expand Your Knowledge Base
Arrange a meeting with your advisor or the Program Director to discuss the history of the required course and the role the course is expected to fulfill in the overall Program. If it is apparent that the current design of the course no longer fits the conceptualized role, your consultant may choose one or more of the following actions:
a. Mediated attempts at resolution (e.g., a 3-way meeting with you, the instructor, and your consultant; a meeting of instructor and consultant without you) and/or
b. Referral to the Program Director for mediated attempts at resolution and/or
c. Review by the School Counseling Faculty.
If your attempts with your consultant to obtain resolution have been unsuccessful . . .
Schools Program Committee
Request that the issue be placed on the agenda for a meeting of the Schools Program Committee. You may effect that request through your advisor, your student representatives, or the Program Director. All agenda items must be submitted to the Program Director at least one week in advance of the meeting. Agenda items are scheduled by priority and as time permits. You will be asked to attend the meeting to express your concerns.
Program Concerns
If you have concerns about the School Counseling Program, there is no one person to attempt direct resolution.
Expand Your Knowledge Base
Arrange a meeting with your advisor or the Program Director to discuss your concern. Many program requirements are designed to fulfill specific requirements of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and/or the American School Counselors Association accreditation standards (see Section XI). It is important to have a holistic understanding of why things are the way they are. If your concerns are not resolved . . .
School Counseling Program Committee
Request that the issue be placed on the agenda for a meeting of the Schools Program Committee. You may effect that request through your advisor, your student representatives, or the School Counseling Program Director. All agenda items must be submitted to the Program Director at least one week in advance of the meeting. Agenda items are scheduled by priority and as time permits. You will be asked to attend the meeting to express your concerns.
Feild Experience/Supervisor Concerns
If you have concerns about your field experience, supervision, or supervisor and your attempts at direct resolution with your supervisor have been unsuccessful . . .
Mediated Resolution
Consult with the instructor of the field experience seminar who will guide you in the appropriate course of action which may involve one or more of the following:
a. Mediated attempts at resolution (e.g., a 3-way meeting with you, your supervisor, and the instructor) and/or
b. Mediation by the Program Director and/or
c. Review by the School Counseling Faculty and/or
d. Consultation by an ethics committee of one of our professional associations (if applicable).
If your attempts with your instructor to obtain resolution have been unsuccessful . . .
Change Field Site/Supervisor
This step is a last resort and is used infrequently. Changing field sites and supervisor must involve the instructor of the course in consultation with the Program Director.
Concerns About Another Student
You are entering a profession which engages in self-monitoring. As a member of the profession, you agree not only to abide by professional ethics but also to accept responsibility for intervening when you think a colleague is engaging in unethical practices or behaviors. This responsibility begins now, in the Program. Your first step, of course, is to attempt direct resolution with your colleague. If those direct attempts are unsuccessful .
Involve Student Committees
Unfortunately, the Schools Student Association has not yet established an Ethics Committee. Should a committee be established, the avenue of choice would be to bring the issue before the SCSA Ethics Committee. Until that time, you may enlist the assistance of either the SCSA Board or the Student Representatives to the Program Committee. The student committee may choose one or more of the following actions:
a. Meet with you to express your concerns and/or
b. Meet with the colleague about whom you have concerns and/or
c. Seek the advice of the SCSA Faculty Advisor or Program Director (without naming you or the party of concern) and/or
d. Seek the advice of an ethics committee of one of the professional associations (without naming you or the party of concern).
Should the student committee share your concerns, and attempts to resolve the situation have failed . . .
Referral
The student committee may refer the situation to one or more of the following bodies: School Counseling Faculty, Schools Committee, or an Ethics Committee of a professional association. At this point, names become known to those bodies.
Other Concerns
While this section has been developed to be as thorough as possible, there may well be types of concerns that we have not covered. If such a concern should arise, the first step, of course, is to attempt direct resolution. If those direct attempts fail, consult with your advisor.
Some problem situations may involve more than one student and/or more than one faculty member, administrator, or staff person. In such cases, the principles and steps above still hold.