The Northern Light

Issue date: 7/25/06 Section: News

When Barbara Hulpert, a graduate student in the College of Education, arranged to start her practicum in fall 2006, she went through the required steps to ensure her placement went smoothly. She submitted the necessary paperwork, including fingerprints and a background check, to the responsible faculty in the department. Hulpert, a student in the counselor education program, was dismayed to learn later that the department had no record of the paperwork she submitted.

"My file has been misplaced, my fingerprints lost, and no arrangements for placement (in a school) have been made," Hulpert said. "The department has tried to correct the problem since May and still have not been able to get things worked out."

Other students who have had problems with the counselor education program said their negative experiences began a little over two months ago, when Linda Berg-Smith, who for several years had been the program's sole full-time faculty member, was suddenly dismissed.

Kristen Balega, also enrolled in the counselor education program, said Berg-Smith was the only point of contact for many students in the program. Balega said academic advising, practicum placement and scheduling assistance were all Berg-Smith's responsibilities.

Robin Moffett, a student in the same program, experienced similar problems. Moffett registered for her practicum this summer, with the understanding that she would be placed in a school for the approaching fall semester. Moffett was notified later that her filed paperwork was nowhere to be found.

"My practicum supervisor was not given any paperwork on me or my practicum assignment," Moffett said. "Beginning Aug. 1 when I report to my practicum site, I may find that I am not approved for this practicum."

Successfully completing practicum is an integral part of receiving a degree in counselor education. According to the College of Education Web site, "a practicum is a required part of this program."

Mary Snyder, dean of the College of Education, said some students' paperwork had not been processed because student files contained a few incomplete or incorrect practicum applications.

Balega said she has experienced scheduling problems when attempting to register for the fall semester because the fall schedule has not been finalized. Many of the courses offered through the program have dates and times labeled "TBA," or to be announced.

Balega is not the only student in the program to encounter scheduling issues. Deidre Watt said she also has been frustrated by the uncertain dates and times on the fall schedule.

"I don't even need to know where the courses are being taught, I just need to know what times they are being offered," Watt said. "I'm a parent; I have a job. I need to be able to plan my class schedule."

In early May, Berg-Smith told Balega her contract had not been renewed. Balega said a few days later, Berg-Smith was gone.

After Berg-Smith's dismissal, students said they began contacting administrators to voice their concerns about the apparent sudden changes to their program and problems students said were due to disorganization and lack of a transition period from one program coordinator to another.

"It wasn't just the dismissal of Linda like, 'Oh, we're upset, we want her back,' it was 'Okay, this has created some problems, what are you doing to fix it? What can you do to fix it?'" Balega asked. "We just started hitting walls."

Snyder said the department did take steps to respond to student concerns. Snyder said she would not comment on the details of the faculty change because they were private personnel matters.

"It's not all students," Snyder said, regarding the expressed concerns. "We have a number of students, probably more than half who don't have a problem with this."

Snyder said there are always changes among faculty in every department, and there is always a period of transition that occurs when a faculty member leaves. She said administrators are doing everything possible to help the program adjust to the faculty change.

"We met with adjunct faculty members about two months ago," Snyder said. "At first, they, as well as students, were concerned. They had some suggestions about what we should be doing. They all, in the end, were committed to making this work."

Many students said they sent e-mails to Snyder addressing their continued frustrations with the program. Most said their e-mails expressed a loss of trust in university administrators, in addition to information regarding more individual struggles.

All students who contacted the dean received the same e-mail, which began "Dear graduate student," and stated that concerns were being taken into consideration by administrators.

Many other students have voiced similar concerns about the counselor education program. One student said they have received little guidance from program administrators in preparing for the comprehensive exam that all students must complete prior to graduation. The student, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she spoke to three people in the department about the exam before anyone offered advice, which the student said did not address her concerns.

"The only info on how to prepare for the comps has come to me in a list of similar questions. I later found out that these are the same questions the department has been sending out for years," the student said. "I take the comps this Saturday and I feel like I am completely unprepared."

In January, a second full-time faculty member, Deb Russ, was hired to replace Berg-Smith. Balega said many students were pleased about the new hire because they felt their program was too large for one full-time faculty member to manage. Many courses in the program are instructed by adjuncts.

According to Carolyn Coe, acting chair of counseling and special education, about 40 students are enrolled in the counseling education program. Coe said the number of faculty members varies with the specific needs of each program.

"I think we have done an excellent job of trying to assist those students with concerns," Coe said. "I think there may be some people out there who don't feel helped, but they are the ones who have not called to ask for that. They have all been provided with our names, numbers and e-mail addresses."

Affected students said they continued to send e-mails, which received follow-up responses that addressed some individual issues.

Balega said she thought e-mail responses were meant to placate students, rather than provide solutions.

"I personally addressed some scheduling concerns," Balega said. "Carolyn (Coe) said, 'It's being worked on.' It's almost August and I still have no idea what classes I might be able to take in the fall."

Students drafted a letter regarding how they thought administrators were being unresponsive to student complaints. Balega said students planned to send the letter to local newspapers to "make people aware of how the university was reacting to students who spoke out on behalf of their program." Some students said they sent a copy of the letter to Snyder and several other administrators.

Snyder agreed to hold a meeting July 18, which was open to all students. Carolyn Coe and Deb Russ were also in attendance to answer students' questions. After the meeting had been scheduled, students chose not to send their letter to community publications.

Both students and community members attended the meeting, voicing concerns about the stability and continued credibility of the counselor education program.

Affected students prepared a list of their concerns regarding the program, among them: Lack of guidance, inaccurate information, disorganization, loss of connection with practicum sites, concerns dismissed, and intimidation and threats of retribution. A list of comments from community members expressing doubt about the continued success of the counseling education program, including a letter from the Anchorage School District's Director of Human Resources, was also presented to attendees.

Some students said answers given during the meeting were not sufficient and did not provide solutions to continuing issues in the program.

"We wanted an adequate response so that we can feel comfortable with our program," Balega said. "The meeting made us even more cautious about what the future holds."

Snyder said she is dedicated to the continued success of the counselor education program.

"This is a program that Alaska needs, that the schools and community need," Snyder said. "We are committed to helping it become stronger, and we will work with students to see if there are any changes that need to be made."

Students have prepared a petition to send to administrators in the College of Education, requesting that Berg-Smith be rehired on at least a part-time, temporary basis to "foster a seamless transition to new leadership." As of publication, 27 people have endorsed the petition.

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