Student Services, Health, and Safety

Campus Safety

A student who has been the victim of a crime on or around school premises should report the incident to a supervisor, Campus Dean, Facilities personnel and/or a Human Resources staff member as soon as possible and provide assistance with any subsequent investigation.

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. Grayslake Campus closing information may be found on the University Center of Lake County’s website. 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

 Grayslake 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

TCSPP @ XULA

A TCSPP student enrolled in the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program at Xavier University of Louisiana must comply with the Louisiana State Immunization requirements for higher education. The following immunizations or tests are required:

• Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)
• Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Td, Tdap)
• Meningococcal Meningitis
• Tuberculosis (TB) Skin Test
• Varicella (Recommended)

The student must submit a Health Clearance form as part of the enrollment process. Please see instructions included with the health clearance form for additional information. The student will have a temporary hold placed on their student account prior to registration for the first semester until this requirement is satisfied. Once the completed form is submitted, the hold will be removed. Failure to provide immunization records will result in removal from the institution.

Any campus not listed above does not have immunization requirements.

International Programs & 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, faculty, and alumni. Through its two key functions, the office serves both international students studying domestically and students participating in overseas opportunities.

Staff members in the International Programs and Services office advise international students on immigration matters, specifically focusing on F-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)) should be directed in advance 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 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.

Libraries

The Chicago School Libraries provide service to all students at all campuses, with dedicated library space at the Chicago, Southern California, and Washington, D.C. locations. All of these locations offer bibliographic instruction and access to online databases and other e-resources with hours of operation varying according to the needs of the specific location.

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

Overview

The Chicago School Libraries provide access to information and materials that support the teaching, research, and public service programs of the school. The libraries support these programs by acquiring and managing scholarly information related to the theory, teaching, and practice of professional psychology, providing access to information  available elsewhere, 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.

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 locally through interlibrary loan. The library belongs to two major consortia that allow a student to borrow material free of charge.

Print Resources

The libraries have 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 and register with the library.

Psychological Test Materials

The libraries maintain an extensive range of psychological assessment materials in support of The Chicago School’s academic programs. Professional guidelines set forth by the APA and assessment publishers limit the use of and access to materials to qualified individuals.

Reference

Bibliographic instruction is provided at all TCSPP locations; in addition, the TCSPP librarians work with online and on-ground 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 with a Librarian service is available limited hours via the individual campus web pages.

Reserves/Electronic Reserves

All required readings are available at the circulation desk. Electronic reserves are available through the Docutek platform.

National Center for Academic & Dissertation Excellence (NCADE)

The National Center for Academic & Dissertation Excellence (NCADE) provides support to students in the areas of academic and professional writing, including thesis and dissertation research and post-defense publication. NCADE staff members serve as consultants on APA writing style (e.g., grammar, usage, and mechanics of style), APA citation and formatting, research methodology, methodological and editorial preparation of IRB applications for submission, and dissertation copyediting. In addition, Applied Research Project Instructors (ARPIs), also a part of the NCADE staff, provide support to students engaged in the Applied Research Project, the required capstone for the online master’s programs at The Chicago School.  For more information on NCADE’s services, including dissertation services, please refer to the Academic Resources section on the myChicagoSchool website.

Student Advisement

Advising Expectations

The school expects the following of the advising relationship between an on-ground student and the faculty advisor:

1. Consult with the advisor prior to registration with questions or concerns.
2. Meet with the advisor at least twice per year to review academic and professional performance.
3. Consult with the advisor before a problem or concern becomes serious.

Advisors are responsible for reviewing a student’s progress each academic year at the faculty-student review meetings.

Advising Relationship

The faculty advisor provides a proactive review of a student’s progress through the program and the development of an Academic Development Plan (ADP) to address any areas of deficiency or weakness.

The advisement relationship offered to on-ground students will include:

1. Review of past coursework and advice concerning course choices
2. Review and discussion of career planning in relation to past experiences, present needs, and future professional goals
3. Review of grades, evaluations, and additional narratives commenting on past performance
4. Participation in the development and oversight of ADPs as required by the Department Chair, Associate Department Chair, or the Student Affairs Committee.
5. Availability for discussion of personal concerns that affect academic and professional progress
6. Referral for additional help at the request of the student when necessary and appropriate

On-Ground Programs

Advising for on-ground programs is an integral part of the academic experience at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Program faculty members serve as advisors; each student is assigned an advisor at the time of first enrollment. A student may request a new advisor by completing a written request, obtaining approval signatures of the former and new advisors, and submitting the request to the Department Chair or designee for approval. If approved by the Department Chair or designee, the request will be subsequently submitted to the department manager or representative for the student’s academic department for entry into the student’s academic record.

The student is responsible for selecting a new advisor as circumstances may require. The Department Chair or designee is available to assist the student in the selection of an advisor. At no time is a student to be without an advisor.

Online Programs

An online student is assigned a Student Advisor, a support person who is available to assist as the student works to successfully complete the academic program. A student may call with general questions, course registration, student progress, course concerns and questions, graduation requirements, and more. A student is encouraged to reach out to the Student Advisor each term.

A student in an online program that requires the completion of an Applied Research Project (ARP) is assigned an Applied Research Project Instructor (ARPI) during the first ARP course. A student should plan to have the same ARPI throughout the program. ARPIs are not faculty members, but are professionals with expertise in writing, research, and specific content areas. ARPIs review deliverables throughout the Applied Research Project (ARP) curriculum and give approval for a student’s progression through the project. A student’s ARPI is the main source for guidance with all things regarding the ARP. Beyond the ARP process, ARPIs serve as a contact point for students, giving advice and guidance, providing information, and answering questions or addressing concerns.

Student Review Meetings

At Student Review meetings, 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 performance, work samples, practicum, thesis, or internship feedback and evaluations, faculty members forward written feedback to each student reviewed. First-year students are generally reviewed at the end of 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 normally granted during Student Review meetings.

The practice and frequency of Student Review meetings may vary across academic programs.

Student Affairs Resources

The Division of Student Affairs creates and maintains an inclusive school community that allows a student to take full advantage of academic and co-curricular opportunities. Student Affairs staff members support students by offering comprehensive programs and services designed to help all achieve their academic goals. A multitude of resources are available to ensure a student’s smooth transition into TCSPP as well as provide assistance throughout the educational experience and beyond.​

Information on Student Affairs resources is available on myChicagoSchool or by calling:

On-Ground Students                              Online Students

(800) 684-2890                                   (800) 595-6938

support@thechicagoschool.edu               onlinestudentservices@thechicagoschool.edu

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 Affairs.

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.

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.

Grayslake

Study rooms located in the Library of the University Center of Lake County are available for student use. Please communicate with the librarian or contact Classroom Scheduling at 847.665.4006.

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.