Master’s of Rehabilitation Counseling – Student Assessment
A continuous improvement process is used in the Master’s of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) at Utah State University (USU). Formative and summative assessments are regularly given to evaluate students’ progress and their development of knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions. The USU MRC program is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as a Rehabilitation Counseling program and the assessment process adheres to the guidelines/expectations of CACREP.
Students are observed and evaluated by faculty and instructors at all times within individual courses and other program-related activities. If any concerns regarding interpersonal and professional behavior are identified, instructors are encouraged to address areas of concern, need, and/or deficits at that time by providing students with feedback and suggestions for improvement. If necessary, instructors will contact the student’s designated faculty advisor for more structured consultation. Course evaluations include formal evaluation through grades and written and verbal feedback on assignments.
Students are also systematically evaluated at designated points during their program of study. The faculty of the MRC program use the following independent sources of information in the student assessment process:
- Direct: Student coursework (homework, exams, projects/written papers, field-based experiences, reports, etc.)
- Indirect: Evaluation and assessment scores from Site Supervisors in Practicum and Internship.
- Summative: Students are required to sit for and pass the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Exam or National Counselor Exam (National Certified Counselor credential). These pass rates help to inform our decision-making processes in regard to curriculum and instructors.
Evaluation of the assessment process is conducted by the USU MRC Assessment Committee (consisting of all program faculty and staff), which meets annually mid-way through the Spring Academic Semester (February) to review all assessment data. Results are also reviewed during the annual fall department meeting (August) and at the Advisory Board meeting (typically November). If outcomes needing improvement are identified during that review, recommendations for improvement will be made by the Committee (and/or course instructors) and that outcome will be reevaluated the following year during the annual review.
Other Sources of Assessment Information:
Course Evaluations: At the end of each course, students are invited to complete course evaluations through the Utah State University Office of Analysis, Assessment, and Accreditation. This process is independent of the USU MRC Program, and all response are anonymous. The evaluations are delivered through online course evaluation platform, which measures a wide variety of student perceptions of the course, instructor, and teaching assistants. Results are compared with department averages, and are used to inform instructional decisions, including course assignments.
Advisory Board: The rehabilitation counseling program has an advisory committee, which convenes at least once a year to provide input on program objectives, activities, program coursework, and rehabilitation counselor training. Program faculty, current and former students, site supervisors, and other community rehabilitation counseling professionals are members of this committee. Feedback from this committee is used to make program revisions.
Alumni, Site Supervisor, & Employer Surveys: Program alumni, site supervisors, and employers are surveyed on an annual basis. Surveys ask for feedback on from the targeted groups regarding their perceptions of the program, the curriculum, and the overall relevancy of the training and preparation provided by the USU MRC program. Graduates are asked to rate the quality of training and support they receive from the program, and site supervisors and employers are asked to rate the quality of preparation our current students and graduates receive before they enter clinical work. The results of these surveys are used to inform curriculum and program decisions to systematically improve the program.
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Exam: The CRC Exam is the gold standard for post-graduate credentialing in rehabilitation counseling. USU MRG graduates have a long history of passing this exam at an exceptional rate. Obtaining national certification as a CRC provides a marketable credential and allows the practitioner to set themselves apart from other counseling professionals. To be eligible for this exam, applicants must have graduated from a rehabilitation counseling or clinical rehabilitation counseling program accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), or meet strict educational guidelines as outlined by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.
The CRC Exam has questions from 12 knowledge domains key to the delivery of rehabilitation counseling and as identified through multiple role and function studies. These domains are (https://crccertification.com/crc-exam-preparation/):
|
Professional Counseling Orientation |
Crisis/Trauma Counseling and Interventions |
Group and Family Counseling |
|
Counseling Theories, Techniques, and Evidence-Based Practice |
Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability |
Assessment, Occupational Analysis, and Service Implementation |
|
Career Development and Job Placement |
Demand-Side Employer Strategies |
Community Resources and Partnerships |
|
Case Management |
Health Care & Disability Management |
Research, Methodology, and Performance Management |
Additional information can be found here: https://crccertification.com/get-certified/
USU MRC Graduate – Pass Rates on the CRC Exam
|
Year |
National Pass Rate |
USU MRC Pass Rate |
|
2021 |
59% |
89% |
|
2020 |
Not available* |
Not available** |
|
2019 |
Not available* |
Not available** |
|
2018 |
58% |
62% |
|
2017 |
72% |
97% |
|
2016 |
69% |
100% |
|
2015 |
72% |
95% |
|
2014 |
73% |
96% |
|
2013 |
74% |
100% |
|
2012 |
66% |
93% |
|
2011 |
70% |
91% |
|
2010 |
69% |
95% |
|
* - CRCC is presently undertaking a revision of their exam, including changing the testing agency. Data were not provided at that time. |
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Use of Evaluation Data to Inform Program Decisions:
In addition to the ongoing evaluation of students which is used to individually address student outcomes and address problems as they arrive, aggregate student data and other sources of assessment data, as described above, is systematically used for curriculum and program improvement. In addition to informal, ongoing discussions related to day-to-day program decisions that take place throughout the year (e.g., student assessments of a particular instructor will inform our decisions about using that instructor in the next semester), a faculty meeting at the end of each academic year is specifically dedicated to reviewing the progress of individual students (both graduating and continuing students) and discussing aggregate student data (i.e. KPIs). Every fall, the USU MRC program has a faculty retreat prior to the start of the school year. At this time, data from Advisory Board feedback, and alumni, supervisor, and employer survey data are reviewed and discussed. At that time, this information will inform decisions about program improvements to be implemented during the coming academic year.
Alumni Survey Results – 2021