Counseling and Educational Development

Our students are strongly encouraged to participate in professional organizations, make presentations at professional meetings, and collaborate on manuscripts or original research projects. Opportunities for professional involvement include an active student organization in the Department as well as state and national counseling organizations. A number of students, at both the master's-level and the doctoral levels, serve on committees, hold elected positions, or have other leadership responsibilities within professional organizations at the state and national levels.

Our very active student organization is the Upsilon Nu Chi Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, the international honor society of counseling professionals and professionals-in-training. Chi Simga Iota and our local chapter are dedicated to excellence in scholarship, research, and clinical practice. The purpose of Chi Sigma Iota is to promote and recognize exemplary attainment in the study and practice of counseling. Students who are enrolled in their second full term of a counseling program leading to a graduate degree, with a GPA of 3.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale), are eligible for membership.

Our students are involved in Upsilon Nu Chi as elected officers, committee chairs, or members of committees. A variety of activities are sponsored by our CSI Chapter, and all students are invited to participate. Professional development activities include workshops, guest speakers, an extensive mentoring program for new students, and a forum for shared experiences. Social activities include a holiday party, fall and spring picnics, and other opportunities to socialize with faculty, peers, family members, and friends. The annual talent show is a night of fun and surprises. Fundraising activities support students' travel to attend or present at professional conferences.

In addition, a number of our students are involved in a variety of volunteer activities, including working crisis lines, serving as a mentor for an at-risk student in a local school, and offering conflict resolution training for disadvantaged children in an afterschool program.

Each year, an annual report of student activities and accomplishments is compiled. Consistently, the report offers an impressive list of publications, presentations, leadership positions, volunteer activities, and other professional activities. The report, which includes first-year and advanced students, at the master's and doctoral level, is evidence of the professional commitment and accomplishments of the counseling students at UNCG.

Beth Waterson

MS, EdS, NCC (2005)

Assistant Director of Orientation, UNCG