Student Services, Health, and Safety

Campus Posting

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology permits the posting of materials within public areas and corridors of TCSPP buildings in adherence with the guidelines set in this policy. All displayed materials must relate to TCSPP-approved organizations, activities, programs, or services and have the sponsoring organization’s name listed. Printed materials must be appropriately displayed on a bulletin board or easel in student lounges or classrooms and are permitted only on non-academic department bulletin boards in common areas of each TCSPP location.

Printed materials are permitted for posting only upon the specific approval of Student Life & Events. Department Chairs or their designees must approve posted materials on departmental bulletin boards. Postings deemed inappropriate, posted in areas other than on approved bulletin boards, or without approval will be removed.

Career Services

Career Services is committed to complying with the ethical standards of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and expects students and employers to be honest and professional in the job search process. All students who choose to participate in Career Services events and utilize resources must abide by the following agreement. By logging into the Career Services online systems, a student is indicating adherence to the following standards:

1. Provide accurate and honest information on the profile, CV/résumé, and job search documents and in interactions with employers. Examples include but are not limited to GPA, major, and student status. Any information provided and all usage of the account will accurately reflect a student’s identity.
2. Be responsible for selecting an appropriate position. Although Career Services reviews postings, the posting of a job on a Career Services-maintained site neither means that the office is making any recommendations, representations, or guarantees regarding the job, nor is there a guarantee that employment opportunities will be available in every geographical or functional area. Requesting additional information from a potential employer is necessary to make an employment decision.
3. Keep all interview appointments with employers or notify employer and Career Services in advance of any emergency requiring cancellation. Late cancellations require an apology email or phone call to the employer, and Career Services must be copied or notified.

A student is encouraged to notify Career Services if any perceived violations of ethical conduct on the part of employers occurs.

Health and Wellness

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers Student Solutions, a free, confidential, around-the-clock counseling service. Student Solutions resources may be accessed by calling 1-855-460-6668 or visiting www.guidanceresources.com (Web Identifier: TCSPP). The Student Solutions toll-free line is answered by counseling professionals and is strictly confidential, as mandated by law.

Counseling Providers

Student Solutions is available to students struggling with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, or legal and financial concerns. Should a student desire to access in-person care with a mental health provider in the local area, Student Solutions will make a referral, and TCSPP will pay for the student’s first three (3) counseling sessions. Should a student choose to engage in ongoing treatment with the recommended provider, the student may have the opportunity to establish a sliding scale service rate or arrange for payment by a health insurance plan.

Legal and Financial Information

Through Student Solutions, a student has an attorney “on call” for questions about legal matters including divorce, custody, adoption, real estate, debt and bankruptcy, landlord/tenant issues, civil and criminal actions, and more. Additionally, financial advisors are available for consultation on budgeting, debt management, tax issues, and other money concerns.

Immunizations

Washington, D.C.

For degree-seeking students under the age of 26 attending TCSPP’s Washington, D.C. campus, the D.C. Department of Health requires confirmation of immunization prior to enrollment in school. The following immunizations or tests are required:

• Tetanus/Diphtheria (Td)
• Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)
• Hepatitis B (Hep B)
• Varicella (Chicken Pox)

A student must submit a Certificate of Immunity along with proof of immunization as part of the enrollment process. Please see instructions included with the certificate of immunity for additional information. The deadline for submitting the Certificate of Immunity is the Add/Drop date of the first semester of enrollment. Failure to provide immunization records will result in removal from the institution.

International Programs and Services

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Office of International Programs and Services fosters a global, scholastic environment by coordinating international activities for students and visiting scholars, faculty, and alumni. Through its two key functions, the office serves both international students and visiting scholars studying domestically and serves students participating in international travel opportunities.

International Programs and Services advises international students and scholars on immigration matters, specifically focusing on F-1 and J-1 status, and provide support to students pertaining to cross-cultural adjustment. Questions regarding status, travel, or employment (on-campus, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), or Optional Practical Training (OPT)) may be directed to the Designated School Official (DSO) on the student’s home campus.

International Programs and Services manages quality international education through the administration of study abroad and field experience programs. Please refer to the Study Abroad website or email studyabroad@thechicagoschool.edu for specific information on eligibility, registration, and in-country requirements.

International Student Health Insurance

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology requires international students and scholars on F-1 and J-1 visas to carry health insurance for themselves and their F-2 and J-2 dependents. International students are required to purchase a health insurance plan from a school-designated carrier or show proof of comparable insurance to waive out of the school-designated plan.

University Library

The Chicago School University Library provides service to all students at all campuses, with dedicated library spaces at the Chicago, Dallas, Southern California, and Washington, D.C. locations, with hours of operation varying according to the needs of the specific location. All of the librarians and library staff from all campuses offer bibliographic instruction and research assistance to all faculty, students, and staff and 24/7 access to online databases and other e-resources.

A student enrolled at TCSPP @ XULA may access both the TCSPP University Library resources and the XULA Library Resource Center.

Overview

The Chicago School Library provides access to information and materials that support the teaching, research, and public service programs of the school. The library supports these programs by acquiring and managing scholarly information related to the theory, teaching, and practice of professional psychology, providing access to information available elsewhere through the interlibrary loan service, providing reference and instruction, and exchanging information resources with other libraries around the world.

Electronic Resources

A student has access to over 20,000 full-text and abstract psychology-specific journals and APA-published books through the online research databases. The databases that are available from Ebsco and Proquest include Academic Search Complete, ABI/Inform, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PsycBOOKS, PEP Archives, Tests in Print and Mental Measurements Yearbook, as well as the SAGE Premier Journal Collection. Also available are large collections of streaming video titles and e-books.

Dissertations by Chicago School graduate students and students from around the world can be accessed online through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

Interlibrary Loan Services

A student can request books, dissertations, and journal articles that are not available at a campus location or electronically through interlibrary loan. This library service is offered to students, staff, and faculty at no additional cost except as outlined in the University Library’s policies.  There are fines and fees for late or lost Interlibrary Loan items which are outlined in the University Library’s schedule of due dates, fines, and fees.

Print Resources

The Library has books and videos that can be checked out for a limited period of time. In order to check out material, a student needs to bring a student ID card.  For information on fines and fees, please refer to the University Library’s schedule of schedule of due dates, fines and fees.

Psychological Test Materials

The University Library maintains an extensive range of psychological assessment materials in support of The Chicago School’s degree programs. Professional guidelines set forth by the APA and assessment publishers limit the use of and access to materials to qualified individuals. The APA PsycTests and the Mental Measurements Yearbook databases are available via the Library web site 24/7 to locate information about specific assessments.  The University Library’s full policy on Test Kit usage can be found on the library’s website.

Fine and Fees

The University Library collects fines and fees for late and lost materials. The details of this policy can be found on the University Library’s website.  Additionally, a student can also refer to the fee schedule on The Chicago School’s website.

Reference

Bibliographic instruction is provided at all TCSPP locations; in addition, the TCSPP librarians work with all students by phone or GoToMeeting. A student may ask questions through email 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Librarians are also available to answer questions via email or phone during normal business hours. The Chat the Library service is available via the University Library’s website.

Reserves/Electronic Reserves

Whenever possible, the all required texts will be available from each of the University Library Branches’ Circulation Desks.  Course readings are made available in Canvas for all campuses.

Office of Placement and Training

The Office of Placement & Training (OPT) is responsible for overseeing practicum and internship training including orienting the members of the learning community to the training site search, application, interviewing, and acceptance processes. Once a student begins their field placement, OPT oversees the evaluation of student performance by site supervisors and Chicago School faculty. The professional faculty is responsible for developing training sites and regularly evaluating the quality of training that they provide. Additionally, students receive direct oversight by our internal OPT departmental faculty.

OPT Services

• Oversee student practicum and internship placement process.
• Provide small group and personalized meetings for students requiring specialized assistance.
• Provide general information meetings and resource materials about the training site search process.
• Provide professional mentorship of students in training, which includes negotiating professional relationships, conflict resolution, ethical decision making, and professional comportment.
• Develop and maintain training sites.
• Collect student and site performance data.
• Provide consultation to program directors and faculty about the training process.
• Participate in academic program review of student progress to ensure continuity of training.

Information about OPT sites can be found on the ALCEA Professional Training Database, a password protected resource for current Chicago School students. This database contains descriptions of available opportunities, ideal applicants, organization of the site, positions available, and populations treated. It also includes a description of treatment modalities and other activities that one can expect to participate in at a particular site. The ALCEA Professional Training Database also offers information about supervision and application materials.

For more information on OPT, please refer to the academic resources section on the mychicagoschool website.

School Safety

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has a 24/7 recorded information line, 800.750.5579, and an Emergency Information webpage, that contains information, guidelines, and resource links. All of these outlets will accompany campus email as a means to help disseminate information in the event of a campus emergency, global class cancellation, or school closing. TCSPP @ XULA campus closure information may be found on the XULA Emergency Website or by calling 866.520.9852. 

All TCSPP campuses utilize security cameras at public entry points and throughout common areas on campus. This security camera system is not used for 24/7 monitoring, but as a tool for capturing and archiving footage to help law enforcement investigate a crime if one were to occur.

Chicago Campus

Dallas Campus

 Irvine Campus

 Los Angeles Campus

TCSPP @ XULA

Washington, D.C. Campus 

Crime Awareness and Campus Security Information

The institution publishes an annual security report which includes information on the following:

• Campus policies on reporting criminal actions and other emergencies
• Security and access to campus facilities
• Campus law enforcement
• Crime prevention programs
• Policy on the possession, use, and sale of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs
• Drug and alcohol abuse programs
• Crime statistics

To view a copy of the latest Crime Awareness and Campus Security Information Report, visit the Emergency Information page on the school website. A separate report is created for each campus as required by law.

Emergency Text Messaging

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology utilizes Rave, an emergency text messaging notification system, to reach members of the TCSPP community by rapidly transmitting short notifications to a cell phone. TCSPP community members who have not yet registered are encouraged to visit http://www.getrave.com/login/tcsedsystem to submit contact information. Rave does not charge subscribers to send or receive SMS messages. Standard or other messaging charges apply depending upon the wireless carrier plan and subscription details. Once registered, community members may opt out of SMS messaging at any time by texting STOP to 67283 or 226787.

Minors on Campus

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to providing an educational space free of distractions and conducive to learning.  The presence of minor children on site can be a disruptive factor for students, and it can also present safety and liability issues for the institution. Therefore, appropriate restrictions are placed on bringing minor children to TCSPP’s campuses, sites, and facilities (classrooms, offices, common areas, and grounds).

Unsupervised minors are not permitted in classrooms, research labs, facility grounds, offices or any other common areas. Authorized visits are permitted where minors are accompanied by an adult at all times.

For the purpose of this policy, an authorized visit is defined as:

• A “bring your child to school day” sponsored by the institution.
• A school-sponsored activity that explicitly includes children.
• A short visit, i.e. to pick up a book, drop off a form, meet with an Admissions representative, or tour the campus.
• A department or course event planned especially for minors.

In all of the above instances, minors must be supervised by their parent, guardian, or a paid attendant (e.g. nanny).

Anyone who observes minor children who appear to be unattended should alert a Facilities representative who will attempt to locate the parent, guardian, or paid attendant. If the responsible adult is unable to be located in a reasonable amount of time, the Police Department will be contacted so that local authorities may respond to the matter in accordance with the appropriate city, county, and/or state laws

Student Advisement

Student advising is an integral part of a TCSPP education. All students are provided with a faculty advisor and a Student Support Counselor.

Faculty Advising

The faculty advisement relationship includes:

1. Review and discussion of career planning in relation to past experiences, present needs, and future professional goals
2. Review of past coursework and advice concerning course selection
3. Review of grades, evaluations, and additional narratives commenting on past performance
4. Participation in the development and oversight of ADPs, where necessary
5. Availability for discussion of personal concerns that impact academic and professional progress
6. Referrals for additional help when necessary and appropriate

The following is expected of the student with regard to the faculty advising relationship:

1. Consultation with their faculty advisor regarding course selection prior to registration
2. Meeting with their faculty advisor at least twice per year to review academic and professional progress
3. Consultation with their faculty advisor before a problem or concern becomes serious

Student Review Meetings

The practice and frequency of Student Review meetings varies across academic departments. At Student Review meetings, faculty advisors present their advisees and solicit feedback from the faculty regarding a student’s progress in the program. After reviewing a student’s academic and professional progress, work samples, practicum, thesis, or internship feedback and evaluations, instructors of record for the courses forward written feedback to each student reviewed. First-year students are generally reviewed at the end of the fall, spring, and summer semesters. More advanced students are reviewed at least once per year. Permission to apply to or participate in practicum and internship is typically considered during Student Review meetings.

Selecting a New faculty advisor

A student who desires a new faculty advisor may make a change request to the Department Chair. The student must make their request in writing. If approved, the Department Chair will notify the Student Support Counselor of this change so that the student’s records may be updated.

Student Support Counseling

All TCSPP students have a Student Support Counselor, a staff member who is available to assist with general questions, course registration, graduation requirements, and more. A student is encouraged to be in regular contact with their Student Support Counselor.

Student Identification Cards

An identification card is issued automatically to an on-ground student. This card permits student access to the campus buildings and allows for the use of materials and services in the library. The identification card should be displayed at all times using a TCSPP-provided lanyard. Identification cards of a student who withdraws or who is dismissed from the institution will be deactivated.

An online or TCSPP @ XULA student may obtain an identification card, if desired. Requests for information on identification cards, including how to provide a passport-ready head shot (jpg format) may be sent to facilities@thechicagoschool.edu.

A student must report to Facilities all lost, stolen, damaged, or misplaced cards. A replacement fee applies to all reissued cards.

Student Organizations

Student associations exist to meet the needs and serve the interests of all students at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. The associations strive to provide meaningful opportunities for involvement that promote personal growth, professional development, and community engagement.

As organizations devoted to specific interests and activities are developed by students, they are required to become officially recognized. All new student organizations must first apply to become a Student Interest Group.  After three months in Student Interest Group status, the organization may apply to become a Registered Student Organization. Once a group becomes a Registered Student Organization, it may request funding for approved events and activities. Information on this process is available from Student Life & Events.

For student groups sponsored by an academic department (i.e. student ambassadors, etc.), please see your academic department for funding options and availability.

Chicago School Student Association

The shared mission statement of The Chicago School Student Associations is:

“The Student Association exists to meet the needs and serve the interests of all students at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Recognizing that students’ needs and interests go beyond the academic environment, the Student Association is committed to addressing various aspects of the student experience including personal and professional development, information resources, and social outlets. The Student Association advocates mutual respect and inclusion in support of students’ educational goals, occupational development, and community engagement.”

The association structure provides for the election of a student cabinet each year. The term of office is one year in duration. The purpose of the student association is to:

• Foster campus community and engagement through purposeful dialogue and events
• Provide programs to enhance the students’ social, professional, intellectual, and cultural development
• Serve as the student voice, both locally and across the institution, to administration
• Give students the opportunity to maintain and enhance their leadership skills

Representation on Committees of the Faculty

Where required, the student association works with faculty to appoint students to serve on committees.

Use of Alcohol

A student is expected to abide by all applicable state and federal laws, as well as all TCSPP policies and procedures, when consuming alcohol at TCSPP-recognized events sponsored by a student organization.

Alcohol may not be freely accessible, must be consumed in moderation, and must be served by a licensed vendor or trained professional. Food and non-alcoholic beverages must be provided and readily accessible. Ultimately, students are responsible for their own behavior and for providing a safe environment for all event attendees. All on- and off-campus events involving alcohol that are sponsored by a student organization must comply with this policy.

There is no guarantee that a student organization will be permitted to provide alcohol at TCSPP-recognized events, and permission to serve alcohol at a TCSPP-recognized event is granted on a case-by-case basis.

All venue contracts must be reviewed by the organization’s advisor, Student Life & Events, and the Office of General Counsel prior to being signed. To request permission to serve alcohol at a TCSPP-recognized event, the student organization must first submit all applicable documentation including contracts at least 30 calendar days prior to the event. The budget for and marketing of all events that include alcohol must be pre-approved by Student Life & Events.

Once approvals are obtained, alcoholic beverages may be served at a student organization-sponsored event under the following conditions:

a. Alcohol must be served in a controlled manner and not be freely accessible. Individuals under the age of 21 or who are visibly intoxicated may not be served. Alcohol must not leave the confines of the event.

b. Non-alcoholic beverages and food must be available during the entire time alcohol is served. Water must be served for the duration of the event.

c. The event has a primary purpose not directly related to the consumption of alcohol. Such purposes might include, but are not limited to, furtherance of the organization’s mission and/or providing networking opportunities to students.

d. At least two student members of the organization hosting the event shall attend the event as Student Sponsors. Student Sponsors are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages prior to or during the event, and must be present to ensure the alcohol policy and all other applicable institutional policies are being followed. In no event shall there be fewer than two Student Sponsors at an event regardless of the total number of attendees.

e. All on-campus events must have a published end time, and the service of alcohol must stop at least 30 minutes prior to the published end time of the event.

f. Organizations are prohibited from co-sponsoring an event with an alcohol distributor, charitable organization, or tavern (tavern defined as an establishment generating more than half of annual gross sales from alcohol) where alcohol is provided free-of-charge or heavily discounted by the distributor.

g. While alcohol may be mentioned, any marketing of the event should not solely focus on alcohol promotion or service.

h. Student organizations shall not use alcohol brands or logos as part of promotional materials for an event.

On-campus events:

1. Organizations must purchase alcohol by following all state and federal laws. Organizations must provide a trained bartender to serve alcohol and be in compliance with local liquor license requirements.
2. Organizations may not collect supplemental funds from students solely for the purposes of purchasing alcohol. Organizations may require students to pay a portion of the overall event cost.

Off-campus events:

1. Alcohol may be sold on a cash bar basis if held at a venue which has a liquor license. Food must be available at the selected location. Two student sponsors are required for off-campus events.
2. Student organizations may not collect supplemental funds from students solely for the purposes of purchasing alcohol. Student organizations may require students to pay a portion of the overall event cost.

Student organizations and/or their representatives that fail to comply with this policy in full may be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to revocation of the student organization status, removal from the organization, or dismissal from the institution.

Study Areas and Project Rooms

Chicago, Online, Southern California, and Washington, D.C.

In addition to the library, a student may study or meet in any classroom or project room that is not otherwise in use. A student is advised to reserve a room in advance for dissertation defense requirements; please see the local Facilities department for more information. Classroom schedules displaying regularly scheduled courses are posted outside all classrooms, and are subject to change without notice. Additionally, meetings and other events are scheduled in classrooms, conferences rooms, and project rooms and may not be listed outside of the door. Please respectfully acknowledge and relocate if someone has a reservation for the space. In the event of any dispute over room reservations, please contact the campus Facilities department.

Dallas

Classrooms or the group study room reservation requests may be made by contacting Dr. Lance Garrison at lgarrison@thechicagoschool.edu or by calling 469-941-8360.

TCSPP@XULA

Group study rooms are located on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the Library Resource Center and are available for checkout through the circulation desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional rooms can be reserved on campus by calling 504.520.5451 or e-mailing events@xula.edu.

Transit Programs

The Chicago School participates with local transportation agencies to provides transit benefits to students, where available.

Chicago Campus

The Chicago Campus participates in the  Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) U-Pass program. The CTA U-Pass program provides a low-cost transit pass valid for unlimited rides on CTA buses and trains while school is in session. A full-time Chicago Campus student in a qualifying academic program is enrolled in the CTA U-Pass program.

Full-time status for CTA U-Pass eligibility is defined as follows:

• Fall and Spring Semesters: CTA U-Pass eligibility is determined based on the institutional definition of full-time enrollment status. To receive the CTA U-Pass benefit, a student must meet the minimum credit hour requirement for their degree level or be enrolled in a course granting auto full-time status.
• Summer Semester: To be eligible to receive the CTA U-Pass benefit in Summer, a student must be enrolled in 5 credit hours (graduate) or 6 credit hours (undergraduate) or a course granting auto full-time status.

Certain courses and programs of study at Chicago require minimal visits to campus. A student enrolled in the following programs is not eligible to receive the CTA U-Pass: PhD in Organizational Leadership, PhD in Business Psychology: Consulting Track, PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis, and full-time internship placements outside the City of Chicago.

Washington, D.C. Campus

The Washington, D.C. Campus participates in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) U-Pass program. The WMATA U-Pass program provides a low-cost transit pass valid for unlimited rides on Metro rail lines and buses and the Metro Airport Shuttle while school is in session. A full-time Washington, D.C. Campus student who lives in the D.C. Metro area in enrolled in the WMATA U-Pass program regardless of home address or course delivery modality. 

Full-time status for WMATA U-Pass eligibility is determined based on the enrollment status information in the Student Classification  policy in this Catalog. A student must report a change in enrollment status within 45 days of the start of the semester to transit@thechicagoschool.edu.

A student assigned to a full-time internship outside the D.C. metro is not eligible for enrollment in the WMATA U-Pass program. Internship placement data is determined based on what is posted to the OPT database.