University of La Verne Marriage and Family Therapy (MS) Program External Review Benjamin Caldwell, PsyD April 10, 2010

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1 UniversityofLaVerne MarriageandFamilyTherapy(MS)Program ExternalReview BenjaminCaldwell,PsyD April10,2010

2 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD CONTENTS Overview...3 ProgramDocumentation...4 FacultyandAdministrationExperiences...5 StudentExperiences...8 AdditionalConsiderations...10 Recommendations...12 ContactInformation...13 Attachments AAMFTCoreCompetencies COAMFTEStandardsofAccreditationVersion11.0 COAMFTEVersion11StandardsFrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQs) COAMFTEAccreditationFees COAMFTEEducationalGuidelines VitaforBenjaminCaldwell,PsyD ConflictofInterestStatement 2

3 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD OVERVIEW OnMarch25,2010,IvisitedtheUniversityofLaVerne(ULV)maincampusinLaVerne,CAto serveasanexternalreviewerforthemarriageandfamilytherapy(mft)program.theprogramisa55 unitprogramofstudythatispartofthemasterscounselingprogram,housedwithintheuniversity's DepartmentofPsychology. ImetindividuallywithProgramChairTrishLong;withagroupofprogramfaculty;withthe InterimDeanoftheCollegeofArtsandSciences,JonathanReed;andwithtwoclassesofstudents combinedintoonegroup.iinvitedallgroupsto mewithanyadditionalthoughtsorcomments thatarosesubsequenttothevisit.ialsoreviewedanumberofprogram relateddocuments,including the universitycatalog,thepacketofmaterialssenttoprospectivestudents,andsyllabiforall courses.ialsoreviewedrelatedexternaldocuments,includingcaliforniaboardofbehavioralsciences (BBS)dataonhowULVgraduateshaveperformedonthestate smftlicensingexams,andthecurrent requirementsforexternalprogramaccreditation,anareaofinquiryforboththeprogramchairandthe Dean.Whilethisreviewdidnotseektouniquelyevaluateeachoftheprogram'sdesignatedlearning outcomes(ataskthatwasconductedquitethoroughlyintheoctober2008internalreview),someof thefindingsofthisreportarerelevanttosomeofthosespecificoutcomes. Thisreportprovidessummariesofeachcomponentofthesitevisit.Itconcludeswithanumber ofrecommendations,basedonmycurrentknowledgeoftheprogramandtheexpresseddesiresof students,faculty,andadministration. Informationonmybackgroundandtrainingisavailableintheattachedvita.BecauseIhavea consultingcontractwithaamftthatinvolvesdiscussionofprogramaccreditation,ihavealsoincludeda ConflictofIntereststatementwithadditionaldetail. BenjaminCaldwell,PsyD April20,2010 3

4 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD PROGRAMDOCUMENTATION Informationsources: Coursesyllabi Admissionspacket ULVCatalog MFTProgramReview(October2008) Oneofthemostmeaningfulquestionstoemergefrommyreviewofprogramdocumentation wasthatoftheprogram soverallidentity.inreviewingtheprogramgoals,onlyoneofthem( [g.]mft studentswillacquiretrainingthatpreparesthemforlicensureasamarriageandfamilytherapistwithin thestateofcalifornia )specificallymentionsmarriageandfamilytherapy,andthisgoalisparticularto licensing.theothersreferencepsychologyandcounseling. Ofcourse,itisanormalandexpectedthingthatMFTprogramswillhavevariousidentitiesand pointsofemphasis;thisisoneofthewaysbywhichstudentscanselectwhichprogramisthebestfitfor them.incalifornia,somemftprogramsarestandalonemftprograms(e.g.lomalindauniversity); othersaretracksoremphasisareaswithinpsychologyprograms(e.g.pepperdineuniversity),andstill othersaretracksoremphasisareaswithincounselingprograms(e.g.csu Sacramento).Asthe UniversityofLaVerneprogramcontinuestogrowanddevelop,andparticularlyastheuniversity considershowtoapproachthestate snewlyavailablelicensedprofessionalclinicalcounselor(lpcc) license,itwillbecomeincreasinglyimportanttostakeoutaclearidentityfortheprogram.thiscan guidechoicesinfutureprogramofferings,studentandfacultyrecruitmentefforts,andprogram accreditation.thequestionofprogramidentityisonewhichiaskedeachcoregroup(studentsand faculty)withwhomimetthroughtheday;theirresponsesappearinthoserespectivesections. TheinternalProgramReviewcompletedinOctober2008isparticularlythoroughand informative.itoffersagreatdealofinformationonstudentandfacultyneeds,andindicatesthatthe program'sofferingsarelargelyinlinewithwhatstudents,facultyandalumnifindmostimportant.these conclusionsrelyinpartonself reportsurveys;ifithasnotdonesoalready,theprogramislikelytoneed toidentifymoreobjectiveoutcomemeasurestosatisfythedemandsofexternalaccreditationbodies. 4

5 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD 5 FACULTYANDADMINISTRATIONEXPERIENCES Informationsources: Meetingwithprogramfaculty MeetingwithInterimJonathanReed,InterimDean,CollegeofArtsandSciences Programstrengths.TheMFTfacultyandDeanReeddescribedanumberofprogramstrengths. FacultyandadministrationspokeinverypositivetermsabouttheleadershipofProgramChairTrish Long.Theyfeltsherepresentedtheprogramwellindiscussionswithuniversityadministration,including ondifficultissues,andthatherleadershiphadimprovedtheoverallqualityoftheprogram. Facultyalsoreportedthattherehadbeen,andwouldcontinuetobe,anactiveprocessof curricularrevisioninresponsetostudentneedsandchangingstaterequirements.(theulvmft programiscurrentlya55 unitprogram,andunderstatelawwillneedtobecomeatleasta60 unit programbyfall2012.) Thefacultynotedthattheyareadiversegroupandthatthestudentbodyisadiversegroup, andeachoftheseareasofdiversityisanassettotheprogram.thisemphasisondiversitywasechoed laterinthedayasimetwithstudents. Finally,facultyreportedthatinspiteofincreasingclasssizes,theyhadattemptedtomaintaina high touch environmentwherestudentscouldmaintainfrequentcontactwithfacultyforlearningand mentoring.theyexpressedhopethatthiscouldcontinue,amidconcernthattheprogram sgrowth(in bothstudentsandrequiredunits)wouldmakepreservingthatenvironmentincreasinglydifficult. Concerns.Facultyexpressedconcernovertwospecificissues:theneedforadditionalfaculty positionswithintheprogram,andthegrowingroleoftheuniversity senrollmentmanagementofficein recruitingnewstudents. TheMFTprogramisrequiredtoaddunitstotheprogramby2012.Facultyreportedclasssizes asincreasing;themostrecentprogramenrollmentdataintheoctober2008programreviewisfrom Springofthatyear,makingthisdifficulttoverify.Itmaybeusefulfortheprogramtoanalyzetotal enrolledunitsoverthepastfewyears,aswellasexaminingaverageclasssizes,todeterminewhether expansionpressuresareindeedincreasingaverageclasssize.theoctober2008programreportdoes clearlynotethatadjunctfacultyteachamajorityofcoursesintheprogram.relatedpressuresformft facultyincludecontractualrequirementsthattheysplittimebetweenmultipleprograms,andanewer expectationthattheybeactivelyinvolvedinresearch/scholarship,withoutbeingofferedreleasetimeto meetthisexpectation.overall,facultymembersfeelstretchedverythin,andexpressedconcernabout theprogram songoingabilitytofunctionintheabsenceofadditionalfull timefaculty.thisneedfor additionalprogramfacultywasechoedbythedean. Relativetothesecondconcern(involvementofEnrollmentManagement),facultyexpresseda tensionbetweenmaintaininghighadmissionsstandardsandmeetingenrollmenttargets.therewasa

6 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD 6 consensusthatpastadmissionsstandardsmayhavebeentoolow,andcreatedadifficultteaching environmentbecauseofthepresenceofbothacceleratedlearnersandthosewhowouldstrugglemore significantlyinclasses.thistensionisnotuniquetoulv;however,itcanimpactfacultymorale,student perceptionsofprogramquality,andprogramperformanceonoutcomemeasures(seetheinformation onlicensingexampassratesin OtherConsiderations below). Administrativetransitions.Facultyreportedthatuniversityadministrationiscurrentlyinflux, withaninterimdeanandaninterimprovostcurrentlyinplace,andapresidentwhoplanstoleave withinayear.whileturnoverinhigheradministrationisnotunusualatanyuniversity,nearsimultaneousinstabilityinallthreeoftheselevelsofadministrationpresentsuncertaintyforthe program. LPCCoptions.Bothfacultyandadministrationsuggestedinterestin anduncertaintyabout theforthcominglpcc(licensedprofessionalclinicalcounselor)licenseincalifornia.areviewofcurrent courserequirementsinthemftprogramsuggeststhatitsgraduateswouldlikely*meet8ofthe12 corecontentareas requiredforlpcclicensure(forthosestartingtheireducationonorafter 8/1/2012);iftheprogramweretodevelopaprogramortrackgearedtowardLPCClicensure, courseworkwouldneedtobeaddedoradjustedinthefollowinghighlightedareas: Counseling&psychotherapytheory&technique PSY516wouldlikelymeetrequirements Humangrowthanddevelopmentacrosslifespan PSY507wouldlikelymeetrequirements Careerdevelopment 3 unitcoursewouldneedtobeoffered Groupcounseling PSY522wouldlikelymeetrequirements Testing PSY509wouldneedtobetransformedtoa3 unitclass Multi culturalcounseling PSY523wouldlikelymeetrequirements Diagnosis PSY512wouldlikelymeetrequirements Researchandevaluation PSY502wouldlikelymeetrequirements Law,ethics,andprofessionalorientation PSY527wouldlikelymeetrequirements Psychopharmacology PSY534wouldneedtobetransformedtoa3 unitclass Addictionscounseling PSY528wouldlikelymeetrequirements Crisisortraumacounseling 3 unitcoursewouldneedtobeoffered Note:BasedoneducationalrequirementsforthoseseekingLPCClicensurewhobegintheireducationon orafteraugust1,2012. InconsideringLPCCoptions,itisworthnotingthatthelicensewillbenewandinitially unrecognizedincaliforniaworkplaces.lpcclicenseeswillnotinitiallybecoveredunderanystateor countyjobclassifications,andwillnotbereimbursablethroughmedi Cal.Thesearelikelytochange

7 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD overtime,ofcourse,butitisimpossibletopredicthowrapidlythecaliforniajobmarketforlpccswill develop,howlpccswillbeseenrelativetomftswhenapplyingforsimilarpositions,andhowmany otheruniversitieswillbeofferinglpccprograms.simplyput,nooneknowswhethertherewillbetoo manyortoofewlpccstomeetthemarketneed. * Thehedgedlanguageof"likely"hereisusedonlybecausedecisionsonacceptabilityofcoursesas meetingspecificrequirementsisultimatelyuptotheboardofbehavioralsciences. 7

8 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD 8 STUDENTEXPERIENCES Informationsources: Meetingwithstudents Followup communicationfromstudents Overall,thestudentsinattendanceduringthereviewreportedverypositiveexperiencesinthe UniversityofLaVerneMFTprogram.TheydescribedanumberoffactorsthatdrewthemtotheMFT programatlaverneoverotheroptions.thesefactorsincluded(innoparticularorder)location,the Factthattheycouldgetin/beadmitted,Personaltouchwithfaculty,Smallclasssizes,andWelcoming atmosphere.itisworthnotingthattheelementofpersonaltouchwithfacultyisanexperiencethat facultymembersexpressedconcernwasnolongerhappening,withtheheightenedinvolvementof EnrollmentManagementintherecruitingandadmissionsprocess. Whenaskedaboutadditionalprogramstrengths,studentsreportedFacultywhoareinpractice themselves,structureforworkingadults/eveningclasses,abilitytoattendpart time,andtheprogram s Emphasisondiversity(specificallydemonstratedinnotrequiringtheGRE). Studentswereaskedhowtheywoulddescribetheprogram'sidentity.Towhatdegreeisita psychologyprogram,afamilytherapyprogram,acounselingprogram,and/orsomethingelse?students generallydescribedtheprogramasamixofpsychologyandfamilytherapy,withfirst yearstudents notingthattheyhadreceivedverylittlespecificinstructioninfamilytherapyandsecond yearstudents reportingtheyhadreceivedmuchmoreinformationaboutfamilytherapyandsystemicmodelsinthe secondyearoftheprogram. Studentsdescribedanumberofpotentialadditionsorchangestotheprogramthattheyfelt couldbringtheprogramclosertomeetingitsgoals.someoftheirsuggestionsweremoreissuesof studentconveniencethanprogrammission(forexample,studentssuggestedstackingrequiredclasses onthesamedaytobetteraccommodateworkingstudents),whileothersmoredirectlyrelatedto academicpreparationforpractice. Onesuggestionthatdrewagreatdealofconversationsurroundedpreparationforthe program'scomprehensiveexamination.accordingtothecatalog,thisexam"isbasedupon,andoccurs aftersuccessfulcompletionofpsy512,516,517,and527."studentswhohaddelayedtakingcomps untilaftertheyhadtakenmoreofthefamily therapy specificclasses(e.g.518,519)reportedfeeling significantlybetter preparedforthecomprehensiveexam;thosewhotookthetestonschedule(thatis, earlier)expressedconcernthatthecompsincludedsignificantamountsoffamily theorycoverage,and thattheyhadnotbeenadequatelypreparedforit.ofcourse,inanyhigh stakestestingenvironment, somestudentswillfeelill preparedregardlessoftraining;thosewhohavetakenmorecourseworkmay naturallyfeelmorecomfortablewiththematerial.however,thecompsmayneedtobereviewedto ensuretheyarenottestingstudentsabovetheirexpectedlevelofskillacquisitionfromsolelythefour classesonwhichthecompsaresaidtobebased.

9 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD Anothersuggestiondirectlyrelatedtoacademicpreparednessfocusedonskillstrainingfor fieldwork,inareasofdocumentationandtheory basedtreatmentplanning.studentsinfieldwork reportedtheywouldhavelikedtoreceivemoreofthiskindofinstructionduringtheircoursework. Whileitwasaminorityposition,afewstudentsexpressedconcernabouttheprogram s academicrigor.onestudentnotedthattheclassesthestudenthadtakenatlavernewereeasierthan thosethestudenthadtakenatanundergraduatelevel;anotherfeltthatcoursesrequiredtoomuch "busywork"thatdidnotactuallycontributetostudentgrowth.notably,thefewstudentswho expressedsuchconcernswereallfirst yearstudents.thosefartheradvancedintheprogramreported thatclassesgraduallyincreaseindifficulty,thattheyfeltthisincreasewasappropriate,andthatthey felttheprogramwaschallengingatanappropriatelevel.second yearstudentsalsosuggestedthatthey betterunderstoodthepurposeoftheirfirst yearassignmentsaftertheyhadprogressedfartherinthe program,andbegunfieldwork;itmaybebeneficialforinstructorsoffirst yearclassestoeffectively placetheirassignmentsinthebroadercontextoftheprogram,sostudentscanbetterseethebenefitof suchworkandinvestinit. Studentswereaskedabouttheirpost graduationplans,andwhethertheyfeltadequately preparedbasedontheirexperienceattheuniversityoflaverne.overwhelmingly,studentsplanto licenseasmftsincalifornia.(thisfindingisconsistentwiththeprogram'sinternalreview.)onlytwoout ofagroupofapproximately30suggestedtheywouldnot:onestudenttalkedofmovingtoanother stateandlicensingasanmftthere;anotherindicatedhemayremaininapositionthatdoesnotrequire licensure,butwouldstillbenefitfromtheknowledgeandexperiencegainedintheprogram.alarge numberofstudentsindicatedtheywouldcontinueworkinginotherjobsastheygainedhoursof experiencetowardthelicense,largelyoutofconcernthattheywouldnotbeabletoearnenough moneyfrommftinternpositionsalone. 9

10 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD ADDITIONALCONSIDERATIONS Informationsources: BBSlicensingexamdata COAMFTEaccreditationstandards Licensingexampassrates.Exampassratesareasignificantoutcomemeasureforanyprogram seekingtopreparestudentsforeventualmftlicensure.areviewofcaliforniamftlicensureexamdata forjanuary1,2001 June30,2009findsthattheprogram sgraduatesareperformingbelowaverage formftprogramsstatewide.onthemftstandardwrittenexam(thefirstoftwomftlicensingexams incalifornia),from1/1/2001through6/30/2009lavernegraduatespassedon51of112attempts,fora passrateof45.5%.lookingatthemostrecenttwoyearsofdata,from7/1/2007through6/30/2009la Vernegraduatespassedon15of37attemptsattheSWE(40.5%). TheBBSparsesoutexamdatabyfirst timetest takers,whichisarguablyabettermetricfor judgingaprogram spassrate;examineeswhofailmultipletimescandisproportionatelyimpacta university spassratewhenallexamadministrationsareincluded.lookingonlyatfirst timetest takers, LaVernegraduatespassedtheSWEon10of15attemptsfrom7/1/2005to6/30/2007(67%),and14of 21attemptsfrom7/1/2007to6/30/2009(72%).Whilethesenumbersarestillbelowaverage(the statewideaverageforfirst timesweexamineestypicallyisbetween75and80%),theyarefarmore favorablethanthenumbersforallexaminees. Whilethisisalimitedsamplesize,itisnoteworthythatfromJuly1,2007throughJune30,2009, LaVernegraduatestakingtheSWEforthesecond(orsubsequent)timepassedononly1of16 attempts.thisrelatesdirectlytodiscussionofadmissionsstandards:itcouldbearguedthatthe programaccepted(andultimatelygraduated)somestudentswhomayneverbesuccessfulatthe licensingexams,aseriousconcern.however,suchahypothesisrequiresanumberofcaveats;most importantly,graduatestakingthesweforasecondorsubsequenttimefrom2007to2009arelikelyto havegraduatedbetween2003and2005,andmayhaveevengraduatedyearsearlier.ifthesestudents wereacceptedintotheprogramaround ,theiracceptanceatthattimemayhavelittle resemblanceorrelevancetotheprogram sadmissionsstandardstoday. Programaccreditation.Oneoftheissuesthataroserepeatedlyduringmyvisitwasthequestion ofexternalprogramaccreditation.formftprograms,twoorganizationsofferaccreditation:the CommissiononAccreditationforMarriageandFamilyTherapyEducation(COAMFTE,theaccreditation armofaamft),andthecouncilonaccreditationforcounselingandrelatededucationalprograms (CACREP,theaccreditationarmoftheAmericanCounselingAssociation[ACA]).InCalifornia,those programswhicharecoamfteaccreditedtendtobestandalonemftprograms,typicallyinprivate institutions.meanwhile,thoseprogramsaccreditedthroughcacreparelargelycounselingprograms withmftemphasisareas,typicallyinpublic(csu)schools.whileeachaccreditationhasitsbenefits, COAMFTEaccreditationismostrecognizedbyMFTlicensingboardsaroundthecountryasthestandard 10

11 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD 11 formfteducationalprograms.typicallymftscomingintoanewstateuponleavingcaliforniamust establishthatthegraduateprogramtheyattendedwascoamfte accreditedoranequivalent. InformationontheCOAMFTEaccreditationprocessisattachedtothisdocument. CACREPaccreditationmayalsobeworthconsidering;CACREPaccreditscounselingprogramsof allvarieties,andhasspecificstandardsforaccreditingmarriageandfamilytherapyspecializations.one concernwithcacrepaccreditationisitshiringrestriction:asofjuly1,2013,anynewfacultyhires wouldneedtoeitherhaveadoctoraldegreeincounseloreducation,orhavebeenfull timefacultyina counseloreducationprogramforatleastoneyear.pastthatdate,iftheprogramwantedtohirefaculty withdoctoraldegreesinpsychologyormftratherthancounseloreducation,itwouldnotbeabletodo soinaccordancewiththisstandard. Asitispresentlydesigned,theprogramwouldlikelymeetmost,butnotall,oftherequirements foreitheraccreditingbody.coamfterequirementsofferagreatdealofflexibilityaslongasprograms canestablishtheyareproducingcompetentmarriageandfamilytherapists;however,questionsof programidentitywouldneedtobeaddressed,andtheprogramwouldneedtomorethoroughlydefine andmeasureitsoutcomesinamannerconsistentwithcoamfterequirements.inaddition,the ProgramDirectormustbe"anAAMFTApprovedSupervisororStateApprovedSupervisorthatis equivalenttotheaamftdesignation."suchadesignationtypicallyrequiresa30 hourtrainingcourse,a theoryofsupervisionpaper,andaperiodofsupervisionmentoring.cacreprequirementsretainsome specificrequirementsforinputs,includingaspecificstudent to facultyratioof10:1fteanda requirementthatcorefacultymustteachatleasthalfofallunitsoffered. Externalaccreditationcanprovidesignificantbenefitstotheprogram,particularlyintheareaof studentrecruiting(bothinquantityandquality).coamfte accreditedprogramsoutperformtheirpeers oncalifornia'smftlicensingexams*.accreditationalsorequiresaninvestmentofresources (particularlythatmostpreciousoffacultyresources,theirtime).theprogrammaywishtoconsider whethertopursueexternalaccreditation,andifso,whichavailablepathtofollow. *Caldwell,B.E.,Kunker,S.A.,Brown,S.W.,&Saiki,S.Y.(inpress).COAMFTEaccreditationand

12 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD CaliforniaMFTlicensingexamsuccess.JournalofMaritalandFamilyTherapy. RECOMMENDATIONS Developadditionalfacultypositionsfortheprogram.Ahighfaculty studentratioand associatedsmallclasssizesaremajordrawsfortheprogram.however,facultyworkloadsand responsibilitiesareincreasing,andthosewhosplittimebetweenprogramsinthedepartmentof Psychologyareplacedinextremelydifficultroles.Withoutadditionalfaculty,notonlywill programgrowthbedifficult,butevenmaintainingtheprogramatcurrentlevelsmaybecome increasinglychallenging. Restoremoremeaningfulfacultyinvolvementinthestudentrecruitingandadmissions process.currentstudents,particularlythosefartheralongintheprogram,expressedan appreciationforthe personaltouch offeredtothembyfacultymembersduringtheir admissionsprocess;facultyexpressedconcernthattheiropportunitiestoprovidesuchan experiencewerebeingdiminished.whilefacultyspokehighlyoftherecruiterwhonowmeets withmostprospectivestudents,itshouldbepossibletoretainthebenefitsofhavingarecruiter involvedwhilealsoretainingthe personaltouch prospectivestudentsexperiencewhenthey meetandgettoknowfacultymemberspriortoadmission. Maintainprogramstrengths.Theseinclude(butarecertainlynotlimitedto)coordinationwith fieldworkagencies,diversityinthestudentpopulation,smallclasssizes,programmatic leadership,andlargelysatisfiedalumni.futureplanningshouldcarefullyconsideractions necessarytomaintainthesestrengthsinthepresenceofotherpossiblechanges. Developaclearsenseofprogramidentity.Theprogram'scurrentgoalsandlearningobjectives onlyspecificallymentionmftasanelementoflicensure.inaddition,theprogram'sinternal reviewsuggestedaneedtorevisithowsomeoftheseobjectives(particularly"consuming scientificinformation")aretaughtandassessed.astheprogramchartsafuturecoursethatmay ormaynotincludeprogramgrowth,anlpcc relatedoffering,and/orexternalaccreditation, oneplacetostartisbyrevisitingtheprogram'smissionandgoals.doingsowillmake subsequentchoicesclearer. ConsiderprofessionalaccreditationthroughCOAMFTEand/orCACREP.Theseaccrediting bodiesofferapowerfulvalidationoftheprogram scarefulprocessofself examinationand continualimprovement;serveasausefulstudentandfacultyrecruitingtool;andarerelatively inexpensive.informationonthecoamfteprocessisattached. Offerstudentsgreaterclarityonthecomprehensiveexamprocess.Thecompexamappeared tobeoneofthegreatestsourcesofanxietyforstudents(commoninanyhigh stakestesting), andmanyofthemsuggestedthattheyfeltinadequatelyprepared.studentswhohad successfullydelayedtheexamforayear,includingthoseonpart timeprogramplans,reported thatthisdelaywasagreathelptotheminfeelingreadywhenthetimecametotakethetest. 12

13 UniversityofLaVerne MaritalandFamilyTherapyProgram ExternalReviewReport BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD CONTACTINFORMATION Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorrequireanyadditionalinformation,pleasedonothesitateto contactmeaslistedbelow. BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD 4000LongBeachBlvd,Ste247 LongBeach,CA90807 (privatepracticeoffice) or BenjaminE.Caldwell,PsyD AlliantInternationalUniversity 1000SFremontAv,Unit5 AlhambraCA91803 (universityoffice)