September 8, 2008 (Vol. 8, No. 2)

Counselor Education Graduate Program Becomes First in CUNY to Receive CACREP Accreditation

(l.-r.) Former Acting Dean of Education Susan Polirstok, site visitor Dr. Joseph Maola (Duquesne University), Department Chair Faith Deveaux, and site visitors Dr. Kathy Evans (University of South Carolina) and Dr. Mercedes ter Maat (Nova Southeaster University).

Lehman College's counselor education graduate program has achieved a milestone after nearly a decade of hard work. The program is the first in the City University of New York—and only the seventh in New York State—to receive the coveted accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

According to Dr. Faith Deveaux, who coordinates Lehman's program, CACREP's recognition means that the program has met strict standards for program development and achieved a level of excellence in preparing students to become professional school counselors. CACREP is an independent agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to accredit master's degree programs in a number of counseling disciplines.

Lehman's counselor education/school counseling curriculum was modeled using themes developed in partnership with the Education Trust's National Center for Transforming School Counseling. The program focuses on closing achievement and opportunity gaps, preparing students for career and college readiness, and high-level preparation for all K-12 students.

Today, graduates of the program occupy school counseling positions in New York's five boroughs, as well as in Westchester and Rockland Counties. Of the graduates of the Class of 2008, over 90 percent are now full-time school counselor positions in the metropolitan area.

"The faculty, candidates, alumni, and all those who have collaborated with us," said Dr. Deveaux, "have helped us to achieve this high standard of excellence. They, and Lehman College, recognize the importance of well-educated professional school counselors in promoting academic, career, and personal and social competencies for all K-12 students."

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