Diversity Inclusion/Recruitment Standards

The couple and family therapy program at UNLV considers ethnic and cultural trends in order to provide a satisfying and effective education for its students. To promote the acceptance, facilitation, inclusion, and retention of diverse students and faculty, the couple and family therapy program engages in the following activities:

  1. The student handbook highlights an affirmative action policy explaining: “All couple and family therapy faculty, staff, and students will maintain respect for differences and honor factors that reflect diversity in our community, including age, culture, environment, ethnicity, gender, health/ability, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, spirituality, and socioeconomic status.”
  2. The program faculty openly endorse the recruitment and development of culturally diverse counselors as a professional responsibility, similar to providing adequate and appropriate services to culturally diverse clientele.
  3. The program actively recruits minority students, and makes every effort to retain these students via financial and tutorial assistance (including accommodations due to the impact of a disability per the Disability Resource Center).
  4. The program maintains internal diversity statistics for our students and faculty.
  5. Program faculty complete peer-reviewed publications and presentations on diversity-related topics and advocacy.
  6. The program has access to the Office of Diversity
  7. The program has access to the university Chief Diversity Officer whose office helps attract/retain diverse students and faculty.

The School of Medicine advertises for open faculty positions not only in the standard academic outlets (e.g., Chronicle of Higher Education) but also Black Issues in Higher Education, Diverse Issues, and Hispanic Outlook.

 

Complaints and Grievances

This section provides direction for students when they have encountered difficulties with program or university staff, faculty, policies, or procedures. A student should first address his issues or concerns with the relevant party. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome, then the student should follow the steps outlined in the corresponding grievance or appeal processes that follow. The grievance and appeals processes and any related forms are posted on the CFT program website.

Admissions Concerns

An applicant who was not admitted to the CFT program and has questions regarding admission process should follow the following steps:

  1. Contact the CFT Program Graduate Coordinator in writing, specifying the question or issue.
  2. If resolution is not reached, or if the candidate is not satisfied with the response or resolution, the candidate may appeal to the Program Director.
  3. Upon receiving written notification from the candidate, the Program Director can either a) review the situation and render a decision, or b) appoint a faculty review committee to research the situation and make recommendations to the Program Director. The Program Director will then render a decision.
  4. If the candidate is not satisfied with the Program Director’s decision, the candidate may appeal to the Graduate College using the existing appeals process.

Grading

If a student has concerns regarding a grade, the student should follow these steps:

  1. Contact the instructor who assigned the grade and discuss his/her concerns with the instructor. Because of the potential for anonymity in electronic interactions and sensitivity to FEPA regulations, the meeting to discuss the grade should take place in person.
  2. If resolution is not reached, or if the student is not satisfied with the response or resolution, the student may appeal to the program director in writing, specifying the reason for the dissatisfaction, and providing copies of supporting documentation (graded tests, graded papers, etc.). If the program director is the professor of the course, the student may proceed to the Graduate College appeal process (see step 4).
  3. Upon receipt of the appeal, the program director will either:
    1. review the situation and render a decision
    2. appoint a faculty review committee, excluding the faculty member in question, to investigate the situation and make recommendations to the program director.
    3. The Program Director will then render a decision.
  4. If the student is not satisfied with the decision, the student may appeal to the Graduate College using the existing appeals process.
  5. Appeals must be filed with the Graduate College Office (FDH 309) in a timely manner. The Graduate College must receive grade appeals within 60 calendar days from the last day of the term/semester. The Registrar’s Office must receive notification to change grade due to clerical error within 60 calendar days from the last day of the term/semester

Transfer of Credits

Not more than one-third of a student’s degree program (not including the thesis, dissertation, or professional scholarly paper) may be transferred from another university at the time admission is granted. Courses used to fulfill requirements for one degree may not be used to reduce credit hour requirements in another degree program. For UNLV non-degree seeking graduate students, a maximum of 15 graduate credits taken at UNLV may be applied toward a graduate degree program (see UNLV Graduate Catalog). Be advised that we do not meet with students to discuss transfer of credits until a student have been accepted to the program.

If a student has concerns regarding transfer of credits into the CFT program, the student should follow these steps:

  1. Contact his/her faculty advisor and discussing the concerns. The student must provide documentation along with the request, such as a copy of a transcript plus the course syllabus to support why the credits should be accepted as counting toward the master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.
  2. If resolution is not reached, or if the student is not satisfied with the response or resolution, the student may appeal to the program director in writing, specifying the reason for the dissatisfaction and providing copies of supporting documentation.
  3. Upon receipt of the appeal, the program director will either:
    1. review the situation and render a decision
    2. appoint a faculty review committee, excluding the faculty member in question, to investigate the situation and make recommendations to the program director.
    3. The program director will then render a decision.
  4. If the student is not satisfied with the decision, the student may appeal to the Graduate College using the existing appeals process. 

Faculty Concerns

If a student has concerns regarding faculty conduct or behavior toward the student, the student should follow these steps:

  1. Contact the faculty member and address his/her concerns directly with the professor.
  2. If resolution is not reached, or if the student is not satisfied with the response or resolution, the student may appeal to the Program Director in writing. If the concern is with the program director, the student may proceed to the Graduate College appeal process (see Step 4).
  3. Upon receipt of the appeal, the program director will either:
    1. review the situation and render a decision
    2. appoint a faculty review committee, excluding the faculty member in question, to investigate the situation and make recommendations to the program director.
    3. The program director will then render a decision
  4. If the student is not satisfied with the decision, the student may appeal to the Graduate College using the existing appeals process.

Sexual Harassment

A student who believes that he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment by anyone should follow these steps:

  1. The student is encouraged — but it is neither necessary nor required — to promptly tell the person that the conduct is unwelcome and ask the person to stop the conduct.
  2. The student may also choose to discuss the situation with the program director. If further action should be taken, the student should then file a written complaint using the UNLV Discrimination Complaint Form. The student shall then submit the written complaint to the Human Resources (HR) Affirmative Action Officer (see step 3 for how to locate HR personnel).
  3. If the student feels uncomfortable about discussing the incident with the program director, the student should feel free to bypass the director and discuss the complaint with any chair or dean, or human resources representative.
  4. The student may obtain further information regarding the UNLV Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Policy.

Disability

UNLV and the CFT program are committed to providing equal access to its programs and services for students who experience disabilities. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) was established to support these goals and to provide assistance with college learning through provision of recommended academic adjustments, auxiliary services, and advocacy. Students wishing accommodations and support must register with the DRC and provide recent and appropriate documentation. So that services can be arranged and provided in a timely manner, students are encouraged to begin the registration process as early as possible. Please call the DRC at 702-895-0866 or visit their website for further information.

  1. Any enrolled student with a disability shall have the right to request the director of DRC to review a denial of requested academic accommodations, or denial of certification of disability by the university.
  2. The student shall fully complete the DRC “Grievance Form” and forward it to the director of DRC within 30 days following the date of the event of concern. A student may obtain a copy of the “Grievance Form” online on the DRC website or from the DRC office in Room 137 of the Student Services Complex.
  3. The DRC grievance procedure should be followed. More information may be obtained on the DRC’s website. 

Assessment/Remediation and Dismissal

All students admitted to the CFT program are reviewed regularly to determine adequate progress in the program. Each semester the faculty will conduct a student review meeting at which each student’s performance to date will be reviewed (typically around midterm). A major purpose of this meeting is for faculty members to evaluate students’ demeanor and conduct. This includes the professional and personal characteristics outlined above. The faculty will evaluate students using the Student Review Evaluation Form, specifying either satisfactory, concern, or corrective action. The faculty will document the nature of any difficulties (e.g., poor performance on class assignments or tests, inappropriate behavior in class or in clinical settings, or inadequate or inappropriate performance in therapy sessions) and begin corrective action. The faculty as a group may suggest the corrective action steps outlined below. When problems with students arise during the semester, any faculty member of the Program, as well as faculty in other departments, lecturers, adjunct faculty or part-time instructors, may also begin the corrective action process independent of the student review meeting. Because the faculty as a unit share oversight for the program, information regarding students and any student concerns are shared amongst faculty members as needed. INITIAL 27 Once a problem situation has been identified, an effort will be made to work out a solution with the student. The following procedures may be used, and will be followed to the point of resolution:

  1. Documentation: Student difficulty noted and documented by individual Faculty member. In the event that a student’s conduct is in direct violation with UNLV policies on student conduct, or, if the student commits an act in violation of academic integrity (e.g., any form of plagiarism, cheating), the faculty has the option recommending separation from the Program to The Graduate College. This principle is in effect at all times, and is not subject to this due process policy. Further, in the event that the student’s conduct is in direct violation with CICFC policies, procedures, or supervisory directives, the faculty has the option of suspending the student’s clinical privileges. This option is in effect at all times and is not subject to this due process policy because of the potential for immediate risk to clients.
  2. Student/Faculty Conference: Faculty member will initiate a student/faculty conference and document this meeting. If resolution is reached, documentation of such is placed in student’s file. If resolution is not reached, the process continues to Step 3, placed on probation with the Graduate College, or being separated from the Program. Be advised that if the issue of concern is one related to use of supervision feedback, the CAP may also include a temporary suspension of clinical privileges as described above.
  3. Probation: If warranted, the faculty may recommend to the Graduate College that the student be placed on probation or separated from the program. Faculty would determine the conditions of the probation and a deadline by which the conditions must be met in order to be removed from probation. All documentation is placed in student’s file and copied to the Graduate College. Be advised that if the issue of concern is one related to use of supervision feedback, the CAP may also include a temporary suspension of clinical privileges as described above.
  4. Temporary Suspension of Clinical Privileges: If the problematic behavior has a negative impact on the student’s clinical conduct or client well-being, the student may be required to discontinue clinical work immediately. In this event, the faculty and the site supervisor will take the responsibility for the disposition of any cases that the student may be carrying, and the student will immediately be placed on a temporary suspension from continuing in practicum or internship. This means that the student will not pursue another clinical setting until receiving faculty approval.
  5. Separation from Program: Failure to meet the conditions of probation may result in separation of the student from the Graduate College and the degree program. Note: Students who are separated from the program have the right of appeal through standard university procedures (see the Graduate Catalog). Students who are dismissed from The Graduate College are not eligible for admission or re-entry and must petition for reinstatement.

Student Grievance Policy

This section provides direction for students when they have encountered difficulties with Program or University staff, faculty, policies, or procedures. A student should first address his issues or concerns with the relevant party. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome, then the student should follow the steps outlined in the corresponding grievance or appeal processes that follow. The grievance and appeals processes and any related forms are posted on the CFT Program website.

Office of Diversity Initiatives

The vision of the Office of Diversity Initiatives is to advocate, promote, and support the advancement of equity, inclusiveness, and empowerment of a continuously changing collegiate and global community. The mission of the Office of Diversity Initiatives is to provide leadership and support for UNLV’s diversity mission: to nurture equity, diversity, and inclusiveness that promotes respect, support, and empowerment. This office also handles UNLV Title IX questions, inquiries, and reporting

Retention

We offer graduate assistantships to our students. We are a year-round program. We advise our students year-round. We offer local internship sites. From 2010 to present, 79-88% of our students graduate from our program.