The Counseling and Human Services graduate program in the College of Education recently earned full accreditation from CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
“CACREP is the premier accrediting body for the counseling profession,” noted College of Education Dean Joseph Wehrman, Ph.D. “It is an honor to obtain the status of an accredited program as it is an essential component in meeting required standards for licensure in the state of Colorado. The College of Education is proud of the faculty in the Department of Counseling and Human Services. I believe the process of achieving and maintaining this standard reflects our commitment to overall excellence and continuous improvement. As a result of these processes, our current students and alumni can rest assured of the quality of their educational experience.”
Receiving CACREP accreditation asserts that curriculum meets a comprehensive list of educational standard and it allows for easier licensing. Earning this accreditation involves a rigorous review process that examines program aspects such as professor credentials, class ratio, performance indicators, internship requirements and more, and includes interviews with program faculty, alumni and other community members. Full accreditation lasts for eight years and is a testament to the efforts and dedication of the program administration and faculty.
The program is making strides elsewhere too, with renovations made to counseling labs and rooms for students to practice and train in a space that more closely reflects the environment they’ll be in when entering the workforce.
“The clinics are more warm and professional now, and are state-of-the-art counseling clinics for our students to do mock labs and practice sessions before they enter the community,” said Kara Carnes-Holt, Ph.D., Counseling and Human Services Professor and Department Chair.