2021 - 2022 COM Student Handbook

Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM)—Department of Couple and Family Therapy 2021–2022 330 Recruitment Policy NSU KPCOM’s M.S. in Couple and Family Therapy, Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy, and D.M.F.T. programs demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and prepare students for the clinical practice of couple/marriage and family therapy, maintaining a high level of graduation and postgraduate success in the field. KPCOM’s recruitment policy combines a commitment to diversity and underserved populations with a fair and realistic appraisal of qualities needed to graduate and have success in the field of couple/marriage and family therapy. The Department of Couple and Family Therapy does not require the graduate record examinations (GRE) or other standardized tests, as standardized testing tends to privilege certain populations over others. The Department of Couple and Family Therapy requires a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) for the master’s program, a 3.5 GPA for doctoral programs, and demonstrated interpersonal abilities. In addition to letters of reference, an admissions essay, and a writing sample (for doctoral programs), the Department of Couple and Family Therapy conducts in-person interviews to assess prospective students. To attract qualified students, the Department of Couple and Family Therapy maintains relationships with universities nationwide, who have graduate programs in couple/marriage and family therapy and related fields. The Department of Couple and Family Therapy makes it a point to build relationships with other universities nationwide. The Department of Couple and Family Therapy also offers open houses, which are open to the community and publicized through the college’s web page, where prospective students can talk with faculty members and current students. Department of Couple and Family Therapy students and graduates themselves are a primary source of prospective students, as they recommend the program to friends and colleagues. The department strives to recruit a diverse student body in terms of age, experience, class, race, color, religion or creed, sex, pregnancy status, national or ethnic origin, nondisqualifying disability, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, military service, veteran status, or political beliefs or affiliations. The department is transparent about its values and what it offers, providing all prospective students with a statement of its core diversity/inclusion values, and publicizing both its licensure exam pass rates and postgraduate employment statistics. Retention Policy NSU KPCOM’s M.S. in Couple and Family Therapy, Ph.D. in Couple and Family Therapy, and D.M.F.T. programs demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion and prepares students for the clinical practice of couple/marriage and family therapy, maintaining a high level of graduation and postgraduate success in the field. KPCOM’s retention policy balances its commitment to the best outcome for individual students with the need to maintain a positive reputation for its graduates to ensure success in the field. The faculty advisers attend closely to the progress of individual students during the entire program, as evidenced in the annual reviews. Most of the college’s attrition occurs during the first semester, when students are not able to succeed academically or have underestimated the commitment required for a graduate program. In this event, the program director meets with the student and the faculty teaching the student that semester. Every effort is made to work toward a mutually agreeable outcome. The program director is notified if a student earns a grade of C , F , I , or IP in any course. The director follows up with the student and informs him or her about the available options. Additionally, students may be asked to take additional internal practicums above and beyond the minimum requirement. The program director and the faculty members work with individual students to maintain their progress