Faculty and Staff

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U. The academic unit has made systematic efforts to recruit, employ, and retain a diverse faculty.

RESPONSE:EKU has an official hiring policy noted in its Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Statement that this university does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, veteran status or genetic information. (http://www.president.eku.edu/equalop/statement/)  In addition to this university-wide philosophy, the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology is especially cognizant of the value of diversity and houses one of the most diversified groups of faculty on campus. Members in the department hail from various geographical regions, come from various ethnic and racial backgrounds, are gifted with diverse abilities, and reflect diversity in terms of sexual orientation.   Additional information on recruitment and retention of diverse faculty is also included in I.J.  In particular the section copied below addresses one method used by the university to attract and retain diverse faculty: We recognized that one key to the success of recruiting and retaining diverse students is maintaining a diverse faculty.  Our tenure track faculty includes individuals with physical disabilities, differences in sexual orientation, and racial and ethnic differences.  The university supports racial minorities (specifically African American) with a faculty incentive program that provides $15,000 the first year, $10,000 the second and $5000 the third year to be split between the department and the faculty member.  The faculty portion is to be used by that faculty member to enhance their development and opportunities to become tenured and otherwise successful in their positions.  The department portion is to be used to enhance all faculty’s opportunity to experience and improve their diversity knowledge.  http://www.diversity.eku.edu/web10/programs.php

V. The teaching loads of program faculty members are consistent with those of the institution’s other graduate level units that require intensive supervision as an integral part of professional preparation, and incorporate time for supervising student research using formulae consistent with institutional policies and practices.

RESPONSE:Teaching loads do vary across the University for Graduate Faculty.  The normal load across the university is a 12/12 load but the College of Education has adopted a policy that teaching load for graduate faculty (non doctoral level) will be 9/9.  This load is equal to or less that other graduates programs across the university.  This is specified in the Reassignment of Faculty Load for Activities Other Than Teaching document.  Additionally this document describes other reassignment of load parameters that are applied equally across all programs within the College. 

W. The academic unit has faculty resources of appropriate quality and sufficiency to achieve its mission and objectives. The academic unit has an identifiable core faculty who meet the following requirements:

1. Number at least three persons whose full-time academic appointments are in counselor education.

RESPONSE:There are eight (8) full-time core faculty in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology. One additional faculty is reassigned to the Dean’s office as Associate Dean for the College but does continue on as a member of the department. (http://coecounseling.eku.edu/people)

2. Have earned doctoral degrees in counselor education and supervision, preferably from a CACREP-accredited program, or have been employed as full-time faculty members in a counselor education program for a minimum of one full academic year before July, 1, 2013.

RESPONSE:Each faculty member is either a graduate of a CACREP accredited program or has taught in a CACREP accredited program for longer than one full academic year.  Core faculty in the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department have been at EKU teaching in CACREP approved programs for a minimum of 1 full year.  Faculty Vitas

3. Have relevant preparation and experience in the assigned program area.

RESPONSE:The Department’s faculty has a variety of professional experiences as mental health practitioners, school counselors and counselor educators. Faculty Vitas

4. Identify with the counseling professional through membership in professional organizations (i.e., ACA and/or its divisions), and through appropriate certifications and/or licenses pertinent to the profession. 

RESPONSE:Each faculty member is clearly identified as a counseling professional and is involved with national, regional, and/or state organizations that support the mission of the American Counseling Association. All faculty members can demonstrate a history of participation in professional conferences, research and scholarly publication, and a variety of presentations and workshops. Faculty Vitas

5. Engage in activities of the counseling profession and its professional organizations, including all of the following:

a. Development/renewal (e.g., appropriate professional meetings, conventions, workshops, seminars);

RESPONSE:All faculty members can demonstrate a history of participation in professional conferences, research and scholarly publication, and a variety of presentations and workshops. Faculty Vitas

b. Research and scholarly activity; and

RESPONSE:All faculty members can demonstrate a history of participation in professional conferences, research and scholarly publication, and a variety of presentations and workshops. Faculty Vitas

c. Service and advocacy (e.g., program presentations, workshops, consultations, speeches, direct service).

RESPONSE:Service is a part of the requirements for promotion and tenure within the College and University and all faculty have made commitments to different aspects of service to the department, university, profession and communities.  Faculty Vitas

RESPONSE:There are eight (8) full-time core faculty in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology. One additional faculty is reassigned to the Dean’s office as Associate Dean for the College but does continue on as a member of the department.  Each faculty member is either a graduate of a CACREP accredited program or has taught in a CACREP accredited program for longer than one full academic year. The Department’s faculty has a variety of professional experiences as mental health practitioners, school counselors and counselor educators. Each faculty member is clearly identified as a counseling professional and is involved with national, regional, and/or state organizations that support the mission of the American Counseling Association. All faculty members can demonstrate a history of participation in professional conferences, research and scholarly publication, and a variety of presentations and workshops. Each of these areas is clearly documented in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology faculty members’ curriculum vitae.  Service is a part of the requirements for promotion and tenure within the College and University and all faculty have made commitments to different aspects of service to the department, university, profession and communities.  Faculty Vitas

6. Have the authority to determine program curricula within the structure of the institution’s policies and to establish the operational policies and procedures of the program.

RESPONSE:The Counseling and Educational Psychology Department is one of five departments in the College of Education.  It has a Chair that is a member of the college leadership team and has a faculty member that is a representative to the faculty senate.  Recommendations on curricular or other program matters reside within the Department and have a clearly defined procedural path for approval as specified by both College and University policies.

X. The academic unit has clearly defined administrative and curricular leadership that is sufficient for its effective operation. A faculty member may hold more than one of the following positions:

1. A faculty member is clearly designated as the academic unit leader for counselor education who

a. is responsible for the coordination of the counseling program(s);

RESPONSE:The School and Mental Health Counseling Programs are housed in the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department of the College of Education.  This Department is lead by a Chair who is a 12 month faculty administrator.  This person is responsible for leading the faculty of the department in the administration of the program.  The department was led by co-interim chairs for the Spring 2011 semester but the permanent chair was hired and will begin serving in July 1 of 2011.  Dr. Larry Sexton will fill this role and has previous experience in this role having served as the chair of this program several years ago, then serving as Associate Dean and Interim Dean of the College.  He then went to Northern Kentucky where he has served as a Department Chair for the last year. 

b. receives inquiries regarding the overall academic unit;

RESPONSE:The Department Chair is the person responsible for handling inquiries about the program and is assisted in this by all faculty.  The Chair is responsible for managing the website and keeping the information up to date and for making sure all faculty are up to date on relevant information about the program. 

 c. makes recommendations regarding the development of and expenditures fromthe budget;

RESPONSE:The Department Chair is a member of the College Leadership team and participates with all other chairs and director s of the college in the development of the college budget.  They receive a budget update each month and work with the college budget manager to resolve any issues that arise. 

 d. provides or delegates year-round leadership to the operation of the program(s); and

RESPONSE:The Department Chair oversees all delegation of duties and responsibilities within the department.  They work with the faculty to assure that assigned tasks are appropriate for the person they are assigned to and that the responsibilities are carried out. 

e. has release time from faculty member responsibilities to administer theacademic unit

RESPONSE:The Department Chair is required to teach 3 courses (9 hours) per year as opposed to a regular graduate faculty member who must teach 3 courses (9 hours) per semester load.  The reassigned time is for their role and responsibilities as chair and they manage when they teach their load throughout the calendar year. 

2. A faculty member or administrator is identified as the practicum and internship coordinator for the academic unit and/or program who

a. is responsible for the coordination of all practicum and internship experiences in each counselor education program for which accreditation is sought;

RESPONSE:Dr. Carol A. Sommer is the Clinical Coordinator for the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology as of Fall 2010 and is responsible for these duties for the School and Mental Health Programs.  Dr. Sommer currently reviews and coordinates practicum and internship applications, handles questions about clinical experiences from both students and site liaisons, and has clearly defined responsibilities as detailed in the Department’s Practicum and Internship Handbook.

b. is the person to whom inquiries regarding practicum and internship experiences are referred, and

RESPONSE:Dr. Carol A. Sommer is the Clinical Coordinator for the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology as of Fall 2010 and is responsible for these duties for the School and Mental Health Programs.  Dr. Sommer currently reviews and coordinates practicum and internship applications, handles questions about clinical experiences from both students and site liaisons, and has clearly defined responsibilities as detailed in the Department’s Practicum and Internship Handbook

c. has clearly defined responsibilities.

RESPONSE:Dr. Carol A. Sommer is the Clinical Coordinator for the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology as of Fall 2010 and is responsible for these duties for the School and Mental Health Programs.  Dr. Sommer currently reviews and coordinates practicum and internship applications, handles questions about clinical experiences from both students and site liaisons, and has clearly defined responsibilities as detailed in the Department’s Practicum and Internship Handbook

RESPONSE:The School and Mental Health Counseling Programs are housed in the Counseling and Educational Psychology Department of the College of Education.  This Department is lead by a Chair who is a 12 month faculty administrator.  This person is responsible for leading the faculty of the department in the administration of the program, for receiving inquiries about the academic unit, makes recommendations regarding the development of and expenditures fromthe budget and for delegation of leadership roles and responsibilities within the department.  The Chair is supported in these roles with a reduced teaching load equal to half load for the 9 month academic year and no teaching requirement beyond that in summer school. The department was led by co-interim chairs for the spring 2011 semester but the permanent chair was hired and will begin serving in July 1 of 2011.  Dr. Larry Sexton will fill this role and has previous experience in this role having served as the chair of this program several years ago, then serving as Associate Dean and Interim Dean of the College.  He then went to Northern Kentucky where he has served as a Department Chair for the last year. 

Dr. Carol A. Sommer is the Clinical Coordinator for the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology as of Fall 2010. Prior to this, Dr. Bianca Puglia served in this position. Dr. Sommer currently reviews and coordinates practicum and internship applications, handles questions about clinical experiences from both students and site liaisons, and has clearly defined responsibilities as detailed in the Department’s Practicum and Internship Handbook.

Y. The academic unit may employ noncore faculty (e.g., adjunct, affiliate, clinical) who support the mission, goals, and curriculum of the program and meet the following requirements:

1. Hold graduate degrees, preferably in counselor education from a CACREP-accredited program.

RESPONSE:Although none of the affiliate or adjunct faculty we have listed in the table below are graduates of CACREP accredited programs, they all have appropriate credentials and degrees to teach in their area.  The department uses affiliate and adjunct faculty less than is limited by CACREP as stated above in M where it is noted that in no semester are more than 37% of the program taught by adjunct or affiliate faculty.  Only 3 of these faculty have less than an earned doctorate but all have coursework above a masters and specific exceptional credentials for the courses they taught.  For example, Timothy Robertson has many graduate credit hours above his masters and has been an adjunct faculty member for several universities in the counseling area.  He has been heavily involved in the Kentucky Counseling Association and was instrumental in the writing of the Kentucky Licensure law for counseling.  He currently serves on the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors as its chair. 

2. Have relevant preparation and experience in the assigned area of teaching.

RESPONSE:Each affiliate or adjunct faculty member selected was selected for their relevant experiences in the area they were to teach.  For example, Dr. Laurence Crouch has been the administrator over the University of Kentucky Career Counseling Center for over 20 years.  Eef Fontanez is a School Counselor in the region who has developed and delivered one of the only ASCA Model School Guidance Programs in the state of Kentucky.  Timothy Robertson has worked as a practicing therapist in numerous mental health settings.  Each of the Affiliates also have specific training and experience to teach in the areas they have been assigned.  For example, Dr. Paul Ericson is the Director of Research for the College of Education and teaches Educational Research for us. 

3. Identify with the counseling profession through memberships in professional organizations, appropriate certifications, and/or licenses pertinent to the profession.

RESPONSE:Dr. Jerry Sklare, Dr. Laurence Crouch and Timothy Robertson are all Licensed Professional Counselors in Kentucky and Gene Wright and Eef Fontanez are both a Certified School Guidance Counselor.  These hyperlinks take you to the website where these credentials can be verified.  Many of the affiliate and adjunct faculty listed in the table below are members of KCA and have had or have various leadership roles in that professional association.  Beyond this,affiliate and adjunct faculty have credentials and memberships appropriate for the course they have taught within the program.   These individuals VITAs are linked here for your review.

RESPONSE:

Z. Clerical assistance is available to support faculty/program activities and is commensurate with that provided for similar graduate programs

RESPONSE: The department has one full time Administrative Assistant and at least one student worker as well as access to additional clerical support through the dean’s office as needed.  This is the same as is provided to other departments within the college and across the university.