Text-Only Version

Assessment Plan

1. Mission Statement

Student Affairs:
In support of the mission of the university, the Division of Student Affairs is committed to the personal, social, and intellectual development of students as they live and learn within a diverse community. Programs, services, outreach activities, and facilities enhance the ability of current and prospective students to apply learning outcomes as they develop independent thought, take advantage of community involvement, and understand global responsibility.

Counseling Center:
The Counseling and Psychological Services Center exists to enhance the psychological growth, emotional well being, cognitive development, and learning potential of students in and out of the classroom. This is achieved through promotion, facilitation, provision, and recommendation of mental health services for the University community. A holistic-wellness model, an ecological perspective, and a teamwork orientation provide the foundation for the development and delivery of Center services.
See attached chart on “Mission Statements vs. Counseling Learning Outcome Areas” to relate Western Carolina University, Student Affairs, and Counseling Center mission statement terms to our seven counseling learning outcome areas.

2. Program Outcomes

Counseling Learning Outcome Areas include:

Personal/Psychological Development (3 items)
Psychological/Emotional Well Being (3 items)
Cognitive Development (3 items)
Social/Interpersonal Development (2 items)
Communication Development (2 items)
Values and Diversity Enhancement (3 items)
Learning Process Enhancement (3 items)

See attached chart on “Assessment Models vs. Counseling Learning Outcome Areas” to relate the use of seven nationally recognized assessment models with the development of the seven counseling learning outcome areas.

The selected assessment models include:
Council for Advancement of Standards; Counseling Services; Student Learning and Development (17 outcomes), 1996 (revised in 2002)
WCU General Education (Liberal Studies) Learning Outcomes (7 outcomes)
Principles of Good Practice for Student Affairs, 1996, ACPA and NASPA
Social Change Model of Leadership (7 C’s), 1998 Student Affairs in-service
National Survey of Student Engagement: Educational and Personal Growth (14 outcomes), 2001
College Adjustment Scales (9 scales), 1991, administered at Center 1996-97
OQ-45 (Outcome Questionnaire) (3 scales), 1994, administered at Center 1997-98

Satisfaction Outcomes include:

Counseling Satisfaction (5 items)
Counselor Satisfaction (4 items, plus 1 item on receptionist satisfaction)
Met or exceeded overall expectations (1 item)

Program Outcomes include:

Retention (3 items)
Learning Process (2 items)

3. Assessment Measures

Current Center assessment instruments
“ Counseling Outcome Assessment” (20 learning outcomes; 12 satisfaction, 3 retention, and 3 additional learning outcomes)
Administered once during the middle of each semester to student-clients
Personal Data Form
Given to every student who comes for an intake, emergency, therapeutic consultation, or assessment
Group Evaluation
Administered at the end of some semester-long counseling groups
Outreach/Workshop Evaluations (three forms)
Administered at end of some campus presentations or programs

Staff Assessments
Intern Evaluation of Center
Administered every semester at end of the internship
Evaluation of Interns and Practicum Students
Completed by supervisors at middle and end of each internship
Employee Performance Management Program
Completed by Director during March to July each year
Summary Reports on services
CPS Response to CPS Action Plan
Completed in June of each year
CPS Response to Student Affairs Action Plan
Completed in June of each year
CPS Annual Report and Highlights Summary
Completed in June of each year

4. Assessment Criteria Summary

Counseling Evaluation Criteria Statements
List of criteria statements for the seven learning outcomes, satisfaction, and retention areas (see instruments)
Learning improvements and satisfaction on the Center developed instruments will show a majority of responses “strongly agree” or “agree”, and less than 15% “disagree” or “strongly disagree”, with the individual statements or each of the designated areas

5. Annual Update of Activities

The results of the Counseling Outcome Assessment will be used to plan and document related staff training and/or enhanced services in the areas where students “disagree” with the desired outcomes, potentially including personal/psychological development, psychological/emotional well being, cognitive development, social/interpersonal development, communication development, values and diversity, and the learning process; and satisfaction with the staff, Center, and services

The staff will meet once a year in the summer to go over the evaluation results and address the results of the assessments. Refer to the Student Affairs Division “Assessment Summary Form” for each instrument used to note “Specific Use of Findings in Area(s) and Key Changes Made in Area(s). The Director will be responsible, along with the appropriate senior staff, for implementing the strategies.

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