William Paterson University Education Programs Accredited By National Organization

Two programs in the Department of Special Education and Counseling at William Paterson University have been granted accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Both programs are part of the master’s in counseling services degree program. Community Counseling was accredited for eight years, through December 2010, and the School Counseling Program received a two-year accreditation from the same agency. "To receive accreditation for eight years on the first try is remarkable," says Les Agard-Jones, dean of the College of Education. "This is another feather in the cap for the College, the University and the Department of Special Education and Counseling."

The 48-credit Community Counseling program was cited in part for its focus on multiculturalism, as was the School Counseling Program, and William Paterson is one of only three colleges and universities in New Jersey to receive accreditation from CACREP. "The focus on multiculturalism helps students develop a self-awareness by examining how one develops attitudes, values and prejudices and how this impacts a counseling situation," Mathilda Catarina, an associate professor of special education and counseling and director of the graduate program, says. "We can’t understand others until we can understand ourselves." The multicultural component of the program covers the idea of prejudice and oppression in racism, ageism, sexism, disability and lesbian, gay and/or bisexual issues, through opening discussions and questioning basic assumptions.

CACREP, formed in 1981 as a corporate affiliate of the American Counseling Association, promotes the advancement of quality educational program offerings. Accreditation is a voluntary undertaking and is the result of extensive input from educators and practitioners, and is considered a tool for self-evaluation and improvement. CACREP offered William Paterson commendations based on numerous criteria including the self-study document, the visiting team’s report and the institution’s response to the visiting team’s report.

William Paterson University, one of the nine state colleges and universities in New Jersey, offers 30 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs through five colleges: Arts and Communication, the Christos M. Cotsakos College of Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health. Located on 370 hilltop acres in Wayne, the University enrolls nearly 11,200 students and provides housing for nearly 2,300 students. The institution’s 366 full-time faculty are highly distinguished, diverse scholars and teachers, many of whom are recipients of prestigious awards and grants from the Fulbright Program, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the American Philosophical Society.

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12/02/02
For Further Information, contact:

Mary Beth Zeman, Director, Public Relations 973-720-2966