CAREER CENTER SERVICES

Shippensburg University students are entitled to use the services of the Office of Career Development which can provide the following forms of assistance:

• Assistance with career planning - including job search

• Access to career resources and employer directories

• Access to computerized career development techniques such as “Discover”

• Participation in on-campus interview programs with employer representatives

• Referral to employment opportunities

• Establishment of a credential file which may be disseminated to prospective employers
           Participation in on-campus training activities provided to both undergraduates and Graduates in areas of career development skills, employment interview skills and related areas.

STUDENT RIGHTS

The Department of Counseling faculty actively supports the protection of student’s academic and personal rights.  Should informal consultation with professors not result in satisfactory resolution of a problem, students are encouraged to follow the formal grievance procedures established within the Department of Counseling.

Student Advisory Council

Students have a right to offer and have suggestions heard for benefiting the Department.  A Student Advisory Council, comprised of six (6) members - four elected and two students appointed by the Department Chair - meet at least twice each semester.  It’s purpose is to serve in an advisory role making recommendations to the Department of Counseling.  Students can address their thoughts or suggestions to Council members at any time.

Academic Appeals Procedures

• Incompetent Instruction Appeals
  Appeals concerning instruction must be submitted in writing, within 30 working days following the completion of the semester, to either the Department Chairperson or the Departmental Professional Affairs Chairperson.  The person receiving the appeal will respond, in writing, within 30 working days, to the concerns expressed.
  
• Candidacy Appeals
  
  Students wishing to appeal their denial to candidacy will be directed, in writing, to contact their advisor to obtain specific feedback.  If they are not satisfied with the outcome of the conference they may request, in writing, to the Department Chairperson, a review before the Candidacy Appeals Committee.  Request for a Candidacy Appeals Committee review must be made within 10 working days after being notified of the Department’s decision regarding candidacy.  Upon receipt of the written request, the Department chairperson will appoint a committee and notify the student, in writing, with the name of the Committee Chairperson.  Arrangements must be made, with the Chairperson, for the review meeting within 10 working days of the date of the letter.  Following the review session, the decision of the committee will be transmitted, in writing, to the student with a copy placed in the student’s Departmental file.
  
• Grade Appeals
  Grade appeals will be conducted according to the Graduate School
policies.  Please consult the current Graduate Catalogue.



• Personal Appeals Procedures
  
  In addition to providing training in academic and skill oriented classes, Department of Counseling Faculty members also serve the highest ethical standard in their professor/student relationships.  Faculty members should be aware of their own needs and their inherently powerful position vis-à-vis students, in order to avoid exploiting students’ trust and vulnerability.
  
  In the event that a student feels that a Department of Counseling Faculty member has behaved in a harmful or inappropriate way, the student may register a personal grievance.  Such behaviors include, but are not limited to, the following instances:
  
  • Violation of confidentiality
  • Racist, sexist, or other offensive remarks and/or attitudes
  • Inappropriate sexual contact, not limited to sexual intercourse
  • Inappropriate relationships with the student, which cause conflict of interest for either the student or the professor

The following procedure is recommended:

• The student is urged to consult formally with the Faculty member whose behavior is in question.  If the student feels unable to address the professor directly, he or she is encouraged to ask another professor to serve as a mediator in a three-way conference.  If no satisfactory results are achieved, or if the student is unwilling to meet directly with the professor in question, the student should follow the formal appeals procedures.
• Personal appeals must be made in writing and should be received within thirty (30) working days after the alleged behavior is identified by the student.  The grievance will be filed with the Department Chairperson, or, in the event that the chairperson is involved, with the DPAC Chairperson.
• A Departmental Appeals Committee will be appointed by the Departmental Chairperson (or DPAC Chairperson) consisting of three (3) faculty members and the Student Appeals Committee (consisting of three (3) students elected by their peers) to:
  • - review the written grievance and to render a decision on granting a hearing;
  • - provide written notification of a decision regarding the hearing to all parties involved;
  • - conduct a hearing, if deemed appropriate, within ten (10) working days following the filing of the grievance.  Verbal and written supportive evidence may be presented, and questions may be asked of the parties involved, and of any witnesses to the event.  All rights to due process are to be adhered to in the Appeals Committee hearing.  The committee will decide the case by majority vote.  If the student’s appeal is upheld, the Appeals Committee will assist the student in continuance of further appropriate action.
• Decision of the Appeals Committee will be submitted to the student, the professor, and Department Chairperson, in writing within thirty (30) working days following the hearing.
• Students, if not satisfied with the outcome, may also appeal to Affirmative Action, Professional Boards of Ethics, or other appropriate non-departmental appeals boards

 NOTE: An alternative grievance procedure for pursuing issues of sexual harassment exists through the University Sexual Harassment Grievance Board.  Members of the Board may be contacted directly to begin this process.  For up-to-date Board Membership names students may contact the Women’s Center or check for the posting in the Department.