Dr. LaShondra Manning and Dr. Carolyn Litteral are starting this term, but both are very experienced counselors/counselor educators, so you are in great hands. Of course, Dr. Helums and Dr. Dyson will be back with us again this term. I know I really appreciate their dedication to our program and our students since we launched in 2021!

Please remember to go into auto-attendance, 'introduce yourself' TODAY to introduce yourselves, if you haven't already. Remember, that several of you have new adjunct professors who have not taught with us previously, although very well-versed in their subject matter. So, please introduce yourselves to them, in particular so they get a sense of who you are.

As a reminder, 49% of your course is delivered through asynchronous instructional methods on Canvas. Instructors will review Canvas metrics periodically to see whether you are on the Canvas shell, how much time you are spending, whether you are accessing and viewing videos and other learning materials online. If you are not demonstrating engagement with the online material needed to prepare for Saturday classes, then you may have points deducted from your final grade. Each week you cover 2 units with the equivalent of a 3-hour class completed online WEEKLY and a 3-hour class completed on campus WEEKLY. 

Reminders: The first class meeting must be attended on-ground in the classroom. Some classes do not allow for HyFlex (Zoom) attendance, so check with your instructor to find out the requirements for the course. If you attend via Zoom, you MUST FOLLOW NETIQUETTE POLICIES in the Student Handbook to be counted as attending. At a minimum this means stable internet connection, camera on, active participation in class discussions and activities, and private uninterrupted environment so you can attend and participate fully.

If you have not engaged an equivalent of 6 hours per week, then you are not attending class. As the student handbook states, if you miss 2 class meetings (on ground or on Canvas) you cannot pass a class and must repeat it. 

I wanted to provide the latest CACREP update to you guys. We will have our site visit in the fall. Although I do not have the specific dates yet, it will likely be in Fall I. We will be asking for student volunteers to meet with the CACREP site visitors when they come.

Expect an announcement about the new space we will have in our new building, which should be coming soon from the Director of Operations. The space will be new, high tech, and improve our ability to provide state-of-the-art instructional and clinical training for students!

Student Leader!!! Zykeith Hinton was elected as the Graduate Student Representative to the Texas Association of Humanistic Counseling, and we are so proud of him!!!! There are lots of opportunities for students to get involved on committees and professional development/networking events through the Texas Counseling Association, its' divisions, and/or the American Counseling Association and/or its divisions, and/or the American Mental Health Counselors Association. I highly encourage you to talk with your advisors/mentors and instructors about opportunities. 

• Spanish Club The Spanish Club, led by Dr. Lopez meets from 12-1 on Saturdays, between class. It's open to all students, faculty, and staff.

  
  

• Book Club/Podcast? Dr. Lopez is currently leading the book club discussion on Man's Search for Meaning, which should finish up this term. It is open to all students, faculty, etc.! Folks are coming from all over the country. New book in the Fall, and possible integration of a podcast. Interested in turning the book club into a podcast??? If interested talk with Dr. Lopez or Dr. Maxwell.

Please forward to interested colleagues. To register you must go through The Chicago School's Office of Continuing Education link here: 

Registration link: https://tcsppofficeofce.com/cmhc-7th-annual-virtual-conference-empowering-diverse-voices/

Texas Counseling Association

• Committee Volunteer applications are being collected in the Member's area of the Texas Counseling Association website. To volunteer, you must submit a volunteer application by May 15, 2024. Committees include Awards, Bylaws, Communications, Educational Endowment Fund, Equity and Inclusion, Ethics, Membership, Public Policy, Program Review, and Wellness. 

• 2024 Fall Conference is in DALLAS!!! To register or volunteer go here: https://txca.org/tcas_conferences.php

Southern Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors' bi-annual conference will be held in Dallas in the Fall. For those interested in going on to a doctoral program, you are highly encouraged to attend. This conference is for counseling doctoral students, researchers, supervisors, and faculty members. For more information: https://saces.wildapricot.org/Conference-2024

Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling has accepted Dr. Holman's proposal on behalf of Texas AARC to host the national AARC annual conference in 2026 in Dallas! So, if you are interested in volunteering to assist with the conference planning, please let Dr. Holman know! To learn more about AARC, a division of the American Counseling Association, please visit: https://aarc-counseling.org/

May 6: First Day of Instruction 

May 12: Last day to add classes 

May 27: Memorial Day 

June 3: Fall 2024 Schedule Preview 

June 9: Last day to drop with a ‘W’ 

June 10: Fall Registration Begins 

June 19: Juneteenth 

June 24: Last day of instruction 

June 26: Grades Due 

June 30: End of Term I 

July 1: First Day of Instruction 

July 4, Independence Day Holiday 

July 7: Last Day to Add Courses 

August 4: Last Day to Drop with a “W” 

August 19: Last Day of Instruction 

August 21: Grades Due 

August 25 Official End of Term I