A. Advising

Meeting with your Advisor

Your advisor will be a key person as you pursue your academic program at PSU. You should follow the guidance of your advisor regarding how often to meet with them and inform your advisor of your progress. You can schedule a time to meet with your advisor during scheduled office hours by contacting them directly via email.

As you prepare for your first meeting:

-Prepare to clearly articulate your professional goals and any special skills that you may want to develop.

-Tentatively outline your program of study for the Master's and/or licensure programs. Consult the PSU Bulletin for a description of courses offered by all departments and programs in the University. The Fall Schedule of Classes usually has a listing of the term in which each class will be offered during that academic year.

-If applicable, identify courses you want to transfer from another institution into your program of studies at PSU. These must 1) be discussed and approved by your faculty advisor, 2) be formally approved by the University by completing a GO-11 form, and 3) fall within the seven-year limit set by the University for beginning and completion of a degree program.

Depending upon the program to which you have been admitted, there are a number of forms you must complete. Complete whatever forms apply to your program and situation during your first term of enrollment (see Appendix A):

*GO-21 Pre-admission & Transfer Credit Form

*Course Substitution Form: If approved, this form waives a specific requirement, but DOES NOT waive credits. Any required courses for which a waiver is granted must be documented with a waiver form

*TSPC: Track I: Initial license program of study

*TSPC: Track II: Initial license program of studies (Master’s Degree).

Request to Change Advisor within Your Same Program

Should you wish to change advisor within the same program you must:

1. Speak with your current advisor

2. Speak with your desired advisor

3. Complete the Advisor Change Request form (see Appendix A)

4. Send an email to the Department Chair informing him/her of the change.

*Note: Students are not permitted to switch programs after admission into the department

Student / Advisor Relationship

Counselor Education students are required to meet with their advisors at least once per year. Students have the responsibility to make appointments to meet with their advisor.

Counselor Educators strive to develop positive and professional relationships with students; diversity is respected. Counselor Education students should recognize that their relationship with their advisor is not confidential. This relationship is different from that formed between counselor and client. Because Counselor Educators evaluate student academic and clinical progress and the student’s professional development, they cannot be in a counseling relationship with their advisees. Such a relationship would constitute a dual relationship.

Since Counselor Educators have a responsibility to the counseling profession, as well as their academic institution, they have an obligation to confer with colleagues to make decisions concerning students’ academic and clinical performance/progress. Personal information shared by students is not regarded as confidential and may be shared with colleagues if pertinent to the student’s or the program’s professional standing. However, when students share historical personal events and other past personal issues (mostly during class discussions and exercises), these are regarded as reflective of personal insight and growth. Such disclosures are, therefore, treated differently than the sharing of current unresolved and problematic issues and maladaptive behaviors.