Offering degrees as an educational specialist in school psychology and a pupil personnel service credential in school psychology and being approved for national accreditation by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) just wasn’t enough for the ambitious faculty of the School Psychology program within the CES.

Last year, they added a new emphasis in Professional Clinical Counseling to meet the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences standards in obtaining a license to practice privately as well as in schools. Yesterday, the school psychology program concluded a site visit from the International School Psychology Association (ISPA) to gain international accreditation for the program. Building on existing partnerships and travel courses already established in Vietnam, Cambodia and Guatemala, this new international accreditation seems to be another positive investment on behalf of the faculty, staff and students of the SP program.

Director of Program Improvements and Accreditation within the CES, Dr. Dianne Ferguson remarked, “It was a good visit. It was thought providing and provoking and I think we learned things to help us continue to move forward in a number of areas, but especially with our international initiatives.” Dean Don Cardinal followed with these words, “This was a very big deal. They not only were significantly impressed by our school psychology faculty, staff and students, but the CES in general. Way to go team! As always, I am very proud to be associated with you all.”

The CES and School Psychology program should get a draft report from ISPA in a few weeks and a final decision of their 5 year accreditation in January 2013.