Two counseling specialty areas within Henderson State University’s Teachers College have received eight years accreditation.
The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) issued the designation to Henderson’s Master of Science degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling.
CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
CACREP accreditation is an indication that the program meets the highest standards set by the counseling profession, and reflects the caliber and diligence of the faculty, its students, and administrative efforts towards a common goal of excellence, said Dr. Michael Kelly, associate professor and chair of counseling education.
“We are very proud to have our program and faculty recognized for their exceptional commitment to securing this achievement,” Kelly said. “It reflects the mission of our program and that is to ‘select highly qualified and motivated students and prepare them to become effective professionals in counseling and related fields.’
“We have excellent faculty and very motivated students who have worked hard to make Henderson’s counseling program one of the best in the state of Arkansas.”
“The Counseling Department worked in unity with a shared purpose of achieving CACREP accreditation, said Dr. Celya, dean of Teachers College, Henderson. “Our dedicated faculty remained focused on high-quality professional results for their counseling candidates as well as for the clients those candidates serve presently and in the future.”
The accreditations are based on an extensive review of the self-study documents, the visiting team’s report, and the institution’s response to the visiting team’s report.
“Those seeking to further their education and enter into the counseling profession will recognize this as our commitment to academic excellence and that we can provide the necessary training to help students achieve their vocational aspirations,” Kelly said.
For more information about Henderson’s counseling programs, go to hsu.edu/CounselorEd.