According to the American Counseling Association (ACA), "Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. Counselors work with clients on strategies to overcome obstacles and personal challenges that they are facing." (http://www.counseling.org/aca-community/learn-about-counseling/what-is-counseling/overview).

• American Counseling Association (ACA)
  ACA Code of Ethics
• Nebraska Counseling Association (NCA)
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
  2016 CACREP Standards
• Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
  ACES Standards for Counseling Supervisors

According to the American School Counselor Association, “Today's school counselors are vital members of the education team. They help all students in the areas of academic achievement, personal/social development and career development, ensuring today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. Learn more about the school counselor's role.” (http://www.schoolcounselor.org/administrators/role-of-the-school-counselor).

• American School Counselor Association (ASCA)
  Ethical Standards for School Counselors
• Nebraska School Counselor Association (NSCA)
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Nebraska Department of Education (NDE)

The Counselor Education Clinical Mental Health program is currently seeking accreditation with CACREP.

Counselor Education actively recruits students from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and cultural influences. Faculty value diversity among its student population and in society at large. This commitment to and appreciation of individual differences can be found in all aspects of our program, including student selection and admissions, faculty hiring, classroom instruction, texts and teaching materials, clinical practice and supervision, departmental administration, day-to-day operations, and policy formation.

Counselor Education views recruiting and retaining a diverse group of students from the western High Plains as a major focus. We define the term diverse group broadly, including ethnic, racial, and cultural identities as well as in personal world views, gender identity, sexual preference, age differences, and the challenges associated with disabilities of various kinds. To attract and support a diverse student population, we have taken several initiatives including but not limited to the following:

• Flexibility
  Our courses are scheduled to meet the needs of a diverse non-traditional student population. Most of our courses are delivered in an online format to provide options for those students who may need to complete their program in stages or on a part-time basis.
• Affordability
  Our tuition is highly competitive with other institutions in Nebraska and is significantly less than many online programs offered by private and for-profit institutions.
• Financial Support
  Our college offers a financial assistance program (FAFSA), which is open to all students without discrimination. Our Counseling Program provides three graduate assistantships that cover tuition and provide a stipend. Assistantships are available for students enrolled in a graduate degree program and designed to provide opportunities for supervised educational experiences at the graduate level.
• Advertising
  Actively advertising that our program has a strong emphasis on diversity. The program website and mission statement highlight diversity.

1. The department will focus on training well-suited candidates from culturally diverse backgrounds, enabling them to cultivate a robust professional counselor identity while demonstrating culturally sensitive knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
2. Utilizing a collaborative pedagogy, the department faculty will integrate CACREP standards and the latest evidence-based and culturally appropriate research into the curriculum.
3. The department will conduct regular program evaluations, incorporating input and suggestions from advisory board meetings, employers, faculty, and current and past students. This information will be assessed annually to enhance program evaluation efforts and will be integrated into the curriculum as deemed suitable.

1. Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice: Develop a professional identity as a counselor, demonstrate an understanding of the counseling profession, and demonstrate a willingness to provide counseling services within the ethical guidelines of the counseling profession.
2. Social and Cultural Diversity: Demonstrate an understanding of the social and cultural influences, the effects of power and privilege, and the impact of acculturative experience on the counseling process.
3. Human Growth and Development: Develop an understanding of developmental aspects of human growth and appreciation for the nature of human development and its integration within the counseling process.
4. Career Development: Develop an understanding of career development and approaches for conceptualizing the interrelationships between work, mental well-being, and other life roles within counseling.
5. Counseling and Helping Relationships: Gain significant knowledge and application of major counseling theories. Identify effective individual counseling techniques that facilitate client growth and the ability to evaluate progress toward treatment goals.
6. Group Counseling and Group Work: Develop experiential and theoretical understandings of group purpose, development, dynamics, counseling theories, group counseling methods and skills, and other group approaches.
7. Assessment and Testing: Gain knowledge and skills in assessment techniques and apply basic concepts to individual and group appraisal.
8. Counseling Research and Program Evaluation: Develop the ability to read, critique, evaluate, and contribute to professional research literature.
9. Clinical Mental Health Program: Identify principles, models, and documentation formats of biopsychosocial case conceptualization and treatment planning.
10. School Counseling Program: Develop a model for implementing a school counseling program.