| December 2004
Dear Alumni:
How many times have you told people that you graduated from San Diego State University ’s Rehabilitation Counseling Program? Have you referred others to the program? Have you provided clinical experience or employment to our graduates? Have you attended continuing education courses/training, collaborated in grant projects, or provided instruction on campus or via distance education with our faculty and staff? As an SDSU graduate you have played an important role in building the reputation and distinction of our graduate program that will celebrate the 30 th year since the first graduates earned the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling at SDSU!!
Since May 1975, over 800 graduates have earned their degrees from this program. A number have gone on to earn their doctoral degrees. In addition to our traditional on-campus program, we now deliver our 60-unit masters degree program via distance education to rehabilitation practitioners across the country and in the Pacific Territories . We currently have more than 70 students enrolled in our on-campus program and more than 105 students enrolled by distance. Graduates from both programs come to campus for commencement – and many of them come with their families to meet their peers and instructors.
The program continues to grow in new directions while maintaining areas of specialization that many of you will recognize. Professor Ron Jacobs is still teaching and mentoring students specializing in the area of Deafness and Hard of Hearing. Professor Bobbie Atkins continues to bring awareness to students and practitioners related to diversity and multiculturalism. Professor Marjorie Olney (who joined the faculty in September 2002) is developing a program specialization in mental health. Professor Caren Sax assumed the position of Coordinator of the graduate program in September 2004 and has developed a successful specialization in rehabilitation technology in collaboration with the College of Engineering . Professor Fred McFarlane continues to provide leadership to the Department as the Chair and as the Director of the Interwork Institute.
Our distance technologies and service-related pursuits have resulted in new partnerships with the rehabilitation community–locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally. In addition to our five full-time rehabilitation faculty (we are currently in the process of recruiting one new faculty member), there are 21 staff members under our roof who are involved in a variety of exciting endeavors that address Latino issues, consumer and counselor empowerment efforts, mentoring activities, and continuing education opportunities for rehabilitation professionals around the region (e.g., CA, AZ, NV, HI, and the Pacific jurisdictions). We have four rehabilitation certificate programs for students to enroll in concurrently with the masters program or as stand-alone programs: Rehabilitation Administration, Rehabilitation Technology, Supported Employment and Transition, and Workforce Education and Lifelong Learning. Over the past several years, we have scored in the top twelve in the annual national ranking of all rehabilitation counselor education programs by U.S. News and World Report.
Our most recent graduates know that we are located off-campus in the Mission Valley area with Qualcomm Stadium as our neighbor to the north. We are progressing in our plans for an addition to the current building integrating the principles of universal design. We expect several of our community partners to be located in the expanded building, offering our students unique opportunities for clinical experiences, research, and program development. Phase I of the building is scheduled to begin in spring 2005.
We’re inviting all graduates to join us on May 21, 2005 to coincide with this year’s weekend graduation ceremonies. So come see what’s new and what’s planned for the Rehabilitation Counseling Program and what you can do to get more involved. Join us to celebrate the program – past, present, and future. What a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues and faculty and staff.
Our task between now and March 1, 2005 is to gather information about each graduate and find out how many of you are able to join us for this celebration. We have set up a special area on the Interwork Institute website. Please spread the word to any other graduates so that we can find as many of you as possible.
Even if you are unable to attend the event in May 2005, we would deeply appreciate your completing the information so we can give you periodic updates on your Program.
Fred R. McFarlane, Ph.D. , CRC
Professor and Chair
Caren Sax , Ed.D.,CRC
Associate Professor & Coordinator
Bobbie Atkins, Ph.D. CRC
Professor
Ron Jacobs , Ph.D., CRC
Professor
Marjorie Olney , Ph.D., CRC
Assistant Professor |