2020-21 Annual Report – Counseling Services

The mission of Counseling Services at UA at Little Rock is to empower students to overcome barriers to their academic success by:

• Providing counseling services for university students and
• Promoting a culture of community by fostering an atmosphere of caring.

1) Enhance recruitment and retention efforts to increase enrollment

Due to the fluid nature of Covid-19 protocols, Counseling Services (CS) was front and center in its efforts to assist in the many varieties of adjusted student orientations including:

• Parking Lot New Student Orientation Event
• RA Orientation
• Instagram Live Leadership Lounge TTAC
• New Student Orientation with Karl Lenser (Physical/Mental Wellness)
• Trojan Drive Up

2) Strengthen student-friendly operations and customer service

• In an effort to provide services during the Covid-19 Pandemic, the counselors and staff pivoted to online counseling sessions. During late spring of 2021, as protocols changed, the staff began offering in-person sessions outside on a limited basis, to accommodate client requests.
• CS participated in Admissions and Enrollment Quick Calls.
• Tara Kittrell won the Student Affairs Staff Excellence Award for Student Retention.
• Hyginus Ukadike assisted and advised students at the Internship Fair on March 3, 2021.

3) Improve diversity and inclusion efforts to provide a safe and inclusive environment for students

• The CS signature event, the Self Care Fair, could not take place due to Covid-19 protocols. In lieu of the fair, a week of daily infographics, activities, challenges, and prizes were offered via Instagram and Facebook accounts.
• The CS team organized and hosted a virtual Suicide Prevention Panel with 98 students participating.
• Aresh Assadi participated in SADI Peer Mentors TAO Talk, facilitated the Delta Chi Mental Health Presentation for 15 student members, and participated in a workshop for LSAMP (ancient solutions to modern problems).
• CS staff promoted Let’s Talk TAO (Therapy Assist Online) in the Chi Omega Courtyard to 187 students, faculty, and staff.
• During March and April 2021, CS hosted the Let’s Walk Trail and Gym Steps Program for approximately 111 participants.
• During April and May 2021, CS partnered with Naomi Fletcher and the DSC to host Step Into Spring with Naomi for 99 students, faculty, and staff.
• During April 2021 Sexual Assault Awareness Month, CS staff participated in a myriad of activities including SAVE AR Students Community Training.
• 54 students were provided one-on-one advocacy for a variety of reasons. This is an increase of approximately 15% over last year.

4) Align financial and human resources to operate more effectively and efficiently

• Alumni and Development – 100% of CS staff donated to the Campus Campaign, scholarships, or both.
• Clinical Internship Placement Site – During the academic year, CS provided clinical training and opportunities to intern students from the School of Social Work and Rehabilitation Counseling programs. Additionally, Carolyn Wray provided Intern supervision and consultation with California Southern University. These interns provided 501 counseling sessions for our students. To date, CS has hosted 45 clinical interns since fall 2009.

5) Promote student development, engagement, and leadership

• In an effort to reach more students, employees, and members of the community, Ashley Crismon, Aresh Assadi, and Tara Kittrell launched a CS Instagram page and refreshed our existing Facebook page. Creative and original posts including information and activities are posted several times a week.
• Dr. Kirk presented to 22 students, faculty, and staff at the SSWS program Mind Games: Attending to Mindfulness.
• During November 2020, Dr. Kirk participated in both the undergraduate and graduate Computer Science Town Halls with 42 students in attendance.

6) Other

Committees:

• Racial Barrier Committee
• GLS Camps Suicide Prevention Committee
• Behavioral Intervention Team
• Orientation Committee
• CARE Team
• Campus Steering Committee
• Data Research Committee Meeting
• Education Committee
• Grievance Committee
• SSS Coordinator Hiring Committee
• Arkansas Collegiate Network

Stewardship and Community Engagement:

• CS maintains a partnership with the AFSP (Arkansas Foundation for Suicide Prevention).
• Dr. Kirk participated in the Drug Take Back at the Capitol event on April 19, 2021.

Our Numbers:

• 3,052 individual clinical appointments
• 106 Triage/Students in distress
• 3,661 Emails
• 364 Instagram Followers
• 803 Facebook Followers
• 87 TAO users

Highlights from the Annual Assessment of Services:

Percentages:

• “My interactions with Counseling Services improved my ability to cope with setbacks and/or disappointments and kept me on track to meet my professional and personal goals.”
  • 97.4% responded True or Very True.
• “Counseling Services provided advocacy, support, and/or insight which led me to be more academically successful.”
  • 92.3% responded True or Very True.

What did you learn from your interaction with Counseling Services?

• “How to better deal with my emotional issues and hardships in life.”
• “Hyginus has helped immensely; I can’t thank him enough.”
• “I learned so many skills and tools that I was never taught, but are vital to anyone’s social/academic/personal success.”
• “Resilience, Perspective.”
• “Life is complicated at times. It’s okay to reach out to professionals who are here to help us stay on track.”
• “To be more aware of what my anxieties are and how to cope.”
• “I can succeed.”

General Feedback:

• “Great service, professional, and they seem to care about their clients.”
• “I just want to let you know that Tara is awesome! I absolutely love her and appreciate everything she has done for me. Always on top of her emails, always finds time, always flexible and helpful.”
• “Ashley, Assadi, and Tara are awesome!”
• “Therapy saved me from quitting school and made me find strength in myself again.”
• “I absolutely love Lauren!!!! She’s so understanding. She’s very genuine and tells me how it is. I’ve truly connected with her. I am so grateful to have her!!!! I appreciate her so much!!!!”
• “I would like to express my gratitude to Ms. Carolyn and Ms. Tara. They always made me feel that we three are a team and we’ll get through this. Couldn’t have finished my PhD without them.”

Type of assessment (learning outcome or operational)

Operational

Goal

To assess the customer service of each department under the Division of Student Affairs.

Activity or experience being assessed

The customer service experience of the campus community.

Assessment artifacts

Survey via QR Code and web address found on easily accessible posters posted within Student Affairs

The survey asked the following questions, with an option to leave additional feedback:

I’m satisfied with how the employee handled my inquiry.
This employee resolved my issue.
This person was timely in resolving my issue.
This person communicated in a clear manner.
This person was professional and courteous.
This person made me feel valued.

Time period assessment was done

FY 2021

Results

Despite having posters everywhere and adding the link to the survey in all Student Affairs email signature lines, there were no responses to the survey.

Continuous improvement process

The Division of Student Affairs will continue to develop ways to elicit the campus community’s feedback to better assess staff responsiveness, professionalism, and competency.

Type of assessment (learning outcome or operational)

Student Learning: CAS – Intrapersonal Development

Goal

To develop an online group process to address psychological/emotional issues

Activity or experience being assessed

1. Confer with clinical counseling staff to ascertain appropriate group topic.
2. Select 2 group leaders from clinical staff and/or interns.
3. Recruit student participants.
4. Facilitate the group.

Assessment artifacts

Notes from final session – will outline what participants say they have learned and what new tools they have based on the group counseling sessions.

Time period assessment was done

6/30/2021

Results

This goal was not addressed this year, so there are no assessment results.

Continuous improvement process

N/A

When changes were made in FY21

N/A

Continuous improvement process

N/A

When changes will be made in FY22

N/A

Stakeholder involvement / Communication plan

N/A

Type of assessment (learning outcome or operational)

Operational

Goal

Develop and implement online Let’s Talk sessions.

Activity or experience being assessed

N/A

Assessment artifacts

N/A

Results

The demand for counseling surpassed expectations, which made it impossible to develop this goal this year.

Continuous improvement process

N/A

When changes were made in FY21

N/A

Continuous improvement process

N/A

When changes will be made in FY22

N/A

Stakeholder involvement / Communication plan

N/A

No information provided.