Interpretation of Standard I.P

In light of the recent court cases involving CACREP accredited programs, the Board of Directors clarified its position with the following guiding statement related to Standard I.P

 

Standard I.P:

The program faculty conducts a systematic developmental assessment of each student’s progress throughout the program, including consideration of the student’s academic performance, professional development, and personal development. Consistent with established institutional due process policy and the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) code of ethics and other relevant codes of ethics and standards of practice, if evaluations indicate that a student is not appropriate for the program, faculty members help facilitate the student’s transition out of the program and, if possible, into a more appropriate area of study.

 

The CACREP Board’s Guiding Statement:

Standard I.P. applies to students enrolled in the counseling program(s). The intent of Standard I.P. is that programs adopt and adhere to the current American Counseling Association’s (ACA) Code of Ethics. The counseling program(s) must provide the knowledge and skills that enable students to fully comply with the ACA Code of Ethics, including:

 

C.5. Nondiscrimination

Counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination based on age, culture,

disability, ethnicity, race, religion/ spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual

orientation, marital status/ partnership, language preference, socioeconomic

status, or any basis proscribed by law. Counselors do not discriminate against

clients, students, employees, supervisees, or research participants in a manner that

has a negative impact on these persons.

 

F.8.a. Standards for Students

Counselors-in-training have a responsibility to understand and follow the ACA

Code of Ethics and adhere to applicable laws, regulatory policies, and rules and

policies governing professional staff behavior at the agency or placement setting.

Students have the same obligation to clients as those required of professional

counselors. (See C.1., H.1.)

 

Therefore, if a student engages in behavior that is discriminatory pursuant to ACA Codes C.5. and F.8.a., it could be grounds for determining that the student is unable or unwilling to develop the knowledge and skills required by the program which could be the basis for remediation and/or dismissal from the program.