Graduate Programs in Counseling Evaluation Results

2022-2023

Summary of Program Evaluation Results

Graduate faculty members reviewed evaluation data derived from the Annual Learning Assessment for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program – Boiling Springs campus, the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program – Charlotte campus, and the School Counseling Program for the 2022-2023 academic year. Analysis of this data indicates that most students in each program are performing successfully in all curricular areas. Based on students’ demonstration of mastery of content, the overall curricular design of the programs will be maintained, with the exceptions noted below.

While students were ultimately able to perform successfully in their practicum and internship settings, School Counseling Program faculty members continue to see a need for additional practice of counseling skills prior to practicum. The recently approved 60-hour School Counseling Program (discussed below) includes a course designed to address this concern. Implementation of this program began with the fall 2023 cohort.

Changes to the School Counseling Program also necessitated changes to the developmental sequence of courses. One of these changes involved restructuring CEDU 640 (The Counselor as Professional, Practitioner, and Consultant) to function as an introductory course and moving it to the first semester of the program. The first cohort to take the restructured course performed well on the associated SLO, and informal student feedback indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the course structure. The adjustments made to CEDU 640 along with anticipated changes to CEDU 601/602 (Counseling Theories
& Techniques I & II), aim to strengthen students’ understanding of the counseling process and to provide more focused skill practice.

Ongoing Program Modifications

  • Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling Concentration: The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program added a Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling (MCFC) Concentration as an option for students pursuing the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling beginning in the fall 2020 semester. While many students express interest in completing this concentration when they enter the program, few students are completing the requirements for the concentration. Faculty members are using student feedback (both informal and survey data) as they consider alternative means of offering the concentration that might encourage a greater level of participation.
  • Transition to Partially Hybrid Programs: The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program shifted the delivery method for eight courses from fully face-to-face to 50 percent online, with the first hybrid courses offered in the fall 2021 semester. Faculty members are continuing to monitor the effectiveness of this program modification.
  • 60-hour School Counseling Program: The School Counseling Program shifted from 48-hours to 60-hours with the 2023 cohort. In addition to the course work offered in the 48-hour program, students take CEDU 660 (Substance Use Disorder Counseling), CEDU 617 (Counseling in Schools), CEDU 698 (Professional Development of the School Counselor), and an elective. As with the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, the 60-hour School Counseling Program includes eight hybrid courses.

Program Outcome Data for 2022-2023

Performance MetricsClinical Mental Health Counseling Program – Boiling SpringsClinical Mental Health Counseling Program- CharlotteSchool Counseling Program
Total # of Graduates
(2022-2023) 		845
Pass Rate on Licensure Exam (2022-2023) 100%100%100%
Job Placement Rate (2022-2023)100%100%100%
Completion in Expected Timeframe (rate for students who began in
2019/2020*)		57%71%80%
Overall Graduation Rate
(rate for students who began in 2019/2020*)		71%71%100%
Completion in Expected Timeframe (based on average for students beginning
the program between 2015-2019/2020*)		76%84%80%
Overall Graduation Rate
(based on average for students beginning the program between 2015-2019/2020*)		84%90%94%
*The course sequence for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program (CMHC) changed in 2020, shortening the length of time to graduation. Therefore, the percentages reported for the CMHC Program (Boiling Springs and Charlotte campuses) include completion rates for students beginning in both 2019 and 2020. The percentage reported for the School Counseling Program includes only students beginning in 2019.

Based on those students who reported on their post-graduation employment, Gardner-Webb graduates are taking positions in private practices, agencies, psychiatric in-patient facilities, schools, hospice and palliative care, and substance treatment facilities. In addition to the data reported above on the job placement rate of 2022-2023 graduates, responses from a survey of graduates who completed one of our counseling programs between 2018 and 2021 indicated that 100% of graduates who sought employment in the field of counseling were currently employed in the counseling field.

Enrollment by Gender and Ethnicity – Fall 2022

RaceClinical Mental Health CounselingSchool CounselingTotal
Boiling Springs CampusCharlotte CampusBoiling Springs Campus
FemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemaleMale
2 or More Races20011031
Black52103092
Hispanic11000011
White25370130453

Student Learning Outcomes Report for Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
(Boiling Springs Campus)
Academic Year 2022-2023

Student Learning Outcome (SLO)Percentage of Students
Meeting Benchmark Score
CMHC-SLO 1a: Identify and develop professional and ethical behaviors
consistent with those defined and demonstrated within professional
counseling associations (i.e. ACA, AAMFT, ACMHCA, AMCD)		100%
CMHC -SLO 1b: Examine the cultural contexts of relationships, issues, and
trends in a multicultural society and generate therapeutic conceptualizations
and interventions		Measure 1 – 95%
Measure 2 – 100%
CMHC -SLO 1c: Examine the nature and needs of persons at all
developmental levels and generate appropriate therapeutic
conceptualizations and interventions		100%
CMHC -SLO 1d: Evaluate career development and related life factors as part
of clinical assessment of clients’ therapeutic needs		Measure 1 – 100%
Measure 2 – 100%
CMHC -SLO 1e: Evaluate the counseling process for diverse client
populations and demonstrate helping skills needed for successful
professional practice		Measure 1 – 90%
Measure 2 – 90%
CMHC -SLO 1f: Examine and apply theoretical and experiential
understandings of group process as a means of promoting therapeutic change		100%
CMHC -SLO 1g: Examine and apply individual and group approaches to
assessment		100%
CMHC -SLO 1h: Examine and apply research methods, statistical analysis,
needs assessment, and program evaluation		100%
CMHC-SLO 2a: Apply strategies of consultation and collaboration
necessary for building effective working teams of professional colleagues,
family members of clients, and community members to promote the
psychological/emotional/personal/social development of clients		100%
CMHC-SLO 2b: Construct effective and ethical treatment plans to serve the
mental health needs of client populations using appropriate diagnostic
principles and tools while considering multicultural factors.		100%
CMHC-SLO 2c: Assemble research and conclude learned knowledge of
professional elements for clinical mental health counseling to provide
competent and ethical clinical services for diverse client populations and
presenting problems, for self-care, and for client and profession advocacy.		100%
CMHC-SLO 3: Apply professional knowledge, skills, theoretical techniques,
and ethical practices to promote holistic wellbeing for diverse client
populations and presenting problems		100%

Student Learning Outcomes Report for Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
(Charlotte Campus)
Academic Year 2022-2023

Student Learning Outcome (SLO)Percentage of Students
Meeting Benchmark Score
CMHC-SLO 1a: Identify and develop professional and ethical behaviors
consistent with those defined and demonstrated within professional
counseling associations (i.e. ACA, AAMFT, ACMHCA, AMCD)		N/A
CMHC -SLO 1b: Examine the cultural contexts of relationships, issues, and
trends in a multicultural society and generate therapeutic conceptualizations
and interventions		N/A
CMHC -SLO 1c: Examine the nature and needs of persons at all
developmental levels and generate appropriate therapeutic
conceptualizations and interventions		100%
CMHC -SLO 1d: Evaluate career development and related life factors as part
of clinical assessment of clients’ therapeutic needs		Measure 1 – 100%
Measure 2 – 100%
CMHC -SLO 1e: Evaluate the counseling process for diverse client
populations and demonstrate helping skills needed for successful
professional practice		N/A
CMHC -SLO 1f: Examine and apply theoretical and experiential
understandings of group process as a means of promoting therapeutic change		100%
CMHC -SLO 1g: Examine and apply individual and group approaches to
assessment		N/A
CMHC -SLO 1h: Examine and apply research methods, statistical analysis,
needs assessment, and program evaluation		100%
CMHC-SLO 2a: Apply strategies of consultation and collaboration
necessary for building effective working teams of professional colleagues,
family members of clients, and community members to promote the
psychological/emotional/personal/social development of clients		100%
CMHC-SLO 2b: Construct effective and ethical treatment plans to serve the
mental health needs of client populations using appropriate diagnostic
principles and tools while considering multicultural factors.		100%
CMHC-SLO 2c: Assemble research and conclude learned knowledge of
professional elements for clinical mental health counseling to provide
competent and ethical clinical services for diverse client populations and
presenting problems, for self-care, and for client and profession advocacy.		Measure 1 – 100%
Measure 2 – 100%
CMHC-SLO 3: Apply professional knowledge, skills, theoretical techniques,
and ethical practices to promote holistic wellbeing for diverse client
populations and presenting problems		100%

Student Learning Outcomes Report for School Counseling Program
Academic Year 2022-2023

Student Learning Outcome (SLO)Percentage of Students
Meeting Benchmark Score
SC-SLO 1a: Identify and develop professional and ethical behaviors
consistent with those defined and demonstrated within professional
counseling associations (i.e. ACA, AAMFT, ASCA, AMCD)		100%
SC -SLO 1b: Examine the cultural contexts of relationships, issues, and
trends in a multicultural society and generate therapeutic
conceptualizations and interventions		Measure 1 – 100%
Measure 2 – 100%
SC -SLO 1c: Examine the nature and needs of persons at all
developmental levels and generate appropriate therapeutic
conceptualizations and interventions		100%
SC -SLO 1d: Evaluate career development and related life factors as part
of clinical assessment of clients’ therapeutic needs		Measure 1 – 100%
Measure 2 – 100%
SC -SLO 1e: Evaluate the counseling process for diverse client
populations and demonstrate helping skills needed for successful
professional practice		Measure 1 – 100%
Measure 2 – 50%
SC -SLO 1f: Examine and apply theoretical and experiential
understandings of group process as a means of promoting therapeutic
change		100%
SC -SLO 1g: Examine and apply individual and group approaches to
assessment		100%
SC -SLO 1h: Examine and apply research methods, statistical analysis,
needs assessment, and program evaluation		100%
SC-SLO 2a: Demonstrate understanding of the history and development
of the school counseling profession and current models of program
design, including attention to comprehensive career development, schoolbased collaboration and consultation, and P-12 specific assessments		100%
SC-SLO 2b: Demonstrate understanding of the effective and ethical
functioning of school counselors in their varied roles in serving the
academic and mental health needs of students		100%
SC-SLO 2c: Demonstrate understanding of the elements of school
counseling program development that contribute to the effective provision
of competent counseling services to P-12 students		Measure 1 – 100%
Measure 2 – 100%
SC-SLO 3: Demonstrate the professional knowledge, skills, and practices
necessary to promote the academic, career, and personal/social
development of all P-12 students		100%

Survey Responses from Program Graduates,
Site Supervisors, and Employers of Graduates (2018-2021)

GWU Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program graduates:Graduates
Average
Score
(out of 4.00)		Site
Supervisors
Average
Score
(out of 4.00)		Employers
Average
Score
(out of 4.00)
Demonstrate professional and ethical expectations for counselors3.883.803.33
Work respectfully and effectively with clients from various
cultural contexts		4.003.203.67
Provide developmentally appropriate counseling services4.003.603.33
Effectively address the career development needs and related life
factors of clients		3.753.403.50
Evaluate the effectiveness of the counseling services provided and
make adjustments as needed		4.003.603.33
Provide effective group counseling services3.383.403.33
Effectively use counseling related assessment tools and methods3.883.603.50
Effectively use research and program evaluation tools and methods3.753.003.50
Demonstrate effective case conceptualization and diagnostic skills4.003.603.67
Contribute to the effective provision and management of
competent counseling services		4.003.603.33
Demonstrate the professional knowledge, skills, and practices
necessary to promote the academic, career, and personal/social
development of a variety of client populations.		4.003.603.67
GWU School Counseling Program graduates:Graduates
Average
Score
(out of 4.00)		Site
Supervisors
Average
Score
(out of 4.00)		Employers
Average
Score
(out of 4.00)
Demonstrate professional and ethical expectations for counselors 4.00 3.86 3.33
Work respectfully and effectively with clients from various
cultural contexts		3.813.863.67
Provide developmentally appropriate counseling services3.813.863.33
Effectively address the career development needs and related life
factors of clients		3.813.863.50
Evaluate the effectiveness of the counseling services provided and
make adjustments as needed		3.714.003.33
Provide effective group counseling services3.863.713.33
Effectively use counseling related assessment tools and methods3.813.833.50
Effectively use research and program evaluation tools and methods3.763.833.50
Plan and coordinate comprehensive school counseling programs3.953.713.00*
Demonstrate effective consultation and collaboration skills3.863.713.00*
Contribute to the effective provision and management of
competent counseling services within the school environment		3.903.713.00*
Demonstrate professional knowledge, skills, and practices
necessary to promote the academic, career, and personal/social
development of all P-12 students		4.003.713.00*
*These scores are based on a single respondent