Student Performance and Dispositions Review (SPDR)

The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) for the School of Counseling meets in May, August, and December for the Student Performance and Dispositions Review. All Richmont students are evaluated during this process, although additional attention is given to students who are currently in the clinical sequence (Helping Relationships, Applied Practicum and Treatment Planning Lab in Counseling, Counseling Practicum, and Counseling Internship I & II).

Faculty and staff may observe a student concern at any time throughout the semester and complete a Student Concern Report. Faculty and staff are encouraged to address the concern with the student before submitting the Student Concern Report. Student Concern Reports should be submitted to the Dean/Asst. Dean of School of Counseling (academic concerns), the Office of Student Affairs (dispositional concerns), and/or the Director/Assistant Directors of Clinical Training (clinical skills concerns). Evaluation of students serves to identify both strengths and deficiencies and to create a development plan, when necessary.

Clinical skills, knowledge and academic performance, self-awareness, and general dispositions are all factors considered in the SPDR. MS students are evaluated in dispositions and academic levels only. Faculty rate students on Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions; staff evaluate dispositions only. Students’ performance is assessed in the classroom and in other settings, both formal and informal, including observations from faculty and staff, the student’s advisor, and clinical supervisors where applicable.
Each semester, faculty and staff rate the students on the categories above. In each of the three categories (knowledge, skills, and dispositions), students will receive feedback from the faculty at one of the following levels:

Special Commendation
Meets Expectations
Level 1 – Meeting Expectations with Slight Concerns
Level 2 – Meeting Expectations with Moderate Concerns
Level 3 – Not Meeting Expectations with Significant Concerns

If a faculty or staff member reports a slight or moderate concern (rating of 1 or 2), they are asked to provide specific behavioral instances or patterns of student behavior that warrant their concern. If faculty reports a significant concern about a student (rating of 3), they complete a Student Concern Report to provide more detailed information.

Each semester, the ratings and comments provided by faculty and staff for each student are reviewed by the SPDR Committee and a determination is made as to those students whose status warrants further review by the faculty (Academic Affairs Committee: AAC). The SPDR Committee includes representatives from Clinical Training, Student Affairs, and Academic Affairs. The choice to further evaluate a student of concern is based upon, but not limited to, evaluations from the Clinical Training Committee regarding the student’s clinical performance, observations of the student’s advisor, and feedback from faculty and site supervisors where applicable, and whether or not the problematic behavior is an observed pattern. Clinical performance, academic performance, self-awareness, and general professional dispositions are all factors considered in the Student Performance and Dispositions Review.

Students in the clinical training courses (CED6113: Helping Relationships, CED6913: Applied Practicum and Treatment Planning Lab, CED6922: Practicum, CED7932: Internship I, or CED7942: Internship II) are given special attention during the feedback review. If the AAC feedback raises moderate or significant concerns of a clinical nature, the committee may recommend that the student be delayed from advancing in the clinical sequence regardless of their grade in their current clinical course. In situations of grave concern, such as, but not limited to, major ethical violations, the committee may recommend that the student be dismissed from the program.

Each semester, the Academic Affairs Committee reviews and discusses the SPDR Committee recommendations and decides on any necessary action plan for each student. The AAC has four options regarding a decision to approve the student for continuation in the program:

1. Approval for Continuance: If the AAC approves the student for continuance, the student receives this notice on their Student Performance Review Feedback Form. The form indicates they are either meeting or exceeding expectations in all areas. Student Performance Review Feedback Forms are uploaded into the students online academic file and students are emailed notice when they are online for review. Should a student have questions, they are encouraged to contact their advisor.
2. Dismissal: If the AAC determines that there is a problem that warrants dismissal, the AAC will issue a letter of dismissal to the student. The student’s advisor will schedule a meeting to discuss this dismissal with the student following the AAC meeting. This meeting will be conducted by the student’s advisor and will include the Dean/Assistant Dean of the School of Counseling and the student.
3. Advisor Follow-Up: If the AAC determines there is a mild or moderate concern with a student, the committee will recommend that the student’s advisor meet with the student to discuss the observed concern. A concern is categorized as “mild” or “moderate” based on the current semester ratings and cumulative ratings for the student. The advisor and student will set up an informal plan to address the concern and check back as needed. The emerging concern will be noted on the student’s Student Performance Review Feedback Form.
4. Remediation: If the AAC determines that there is a significant concern in a given semester, or a consistent pattern of concerns over time, which are not sufficient to warrant dismissal, a Student Development Plan may be created. A concern is categorized as “significant” based on the current semester and cumulative ratings for the student. In instances of significant clinical concern, the student development plan will be written by the Director/Assistant Directors of Clinical Training, or an appropriate designee. In instances of significant dispositional concerns, the Office of Student Affairs or an appropriate designee will write the Student Development Plan. In instances of significant academic concerns, the Dean/Asst. Dean of School of Counseling or an appropriate designee will write the plan. For students with a significant concern, a dean and the student’s advisor will meet with the student to communicate the concern and proposed Student Development Plan. The concern will be noted on the student’s Student Performance Review Feedback Form and included in their online academic file, along with a copy of the Student Development Plan. (If the significant concern is a clinical one, copies of all forms will also be kept in the student’s clinical file.)