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Advising and Mentoring
Faculty are available to students in a variety of settings,
often serving as advisors, mentors
and co-therapists. Classrooms and clinic supervision provide
the primary forums for collegial
interactions between faculty and students. More structured
advisement takes place related to
the following:
•
Academic Advisement: The Dean for Student and Alumni Services and Coordinator of Student Services work with all students to review program requirements and progress in program completion. The Dean works with entering students to review prior educational and training experiences, determine potential for transfer credit. Through the office of student services all students construct an Individual Education Plan. This type of planning not only ensures the student will meet all program requirements in a timely manner, but also serves as a long range guide that helps the student properly sequence academic and practicum experiences to support integration of learning; develop appropriate expectations related to course load; maintain awareness of Financial Aid guidelines; and prepare for activities such as the dissertation project, internship application and comprehensive examination. The Dean of Student and Alumni Services serves as a resource for advisement regarding program choices and career planning; students also seek out faculty with specialty interests for advising as they progress through the program.
•
Practicum Advisement: Students receive continuous support and
guidance throughout
practica, which eliminates the need for students to coordinate
their own training. A full time
Practicum Coordinator serves as the training advisor for students
and helps them
select opportunities and sites within their area of interest.
The Coordinator also guides
students through the practicum orientation process, coordinates
assignment of supervisors,
and assists students with required documentation of hours and
other forms.
•
Research Advisement: Initial advising regarding research and dissertation projects is a part of the research design class. Students choose a chair and committee members for the dissertation; these faculty members advise throughout the dissertation process.
Library
 The 7,500 sq.ft. library houses a collection of over 4500
books, a collection of professional journals, computer workstations,
audiovisual equipment and photocopiers. Library services
are administered by a full time
Master’s of Library Science Librarian, two full time
support staff, and several work-study
students. Students are encouraged to avail themselves of
the staff’s expertise in utilizing both
internal and external resources for research.
External resources are available in the Forest library through
Interlibrary Loan Agreements and
databases. Students are able to request articles, books,
and chapters on-line using a variety of
sources such as:
•
MOBIUS (Missouri Bibliographic Information User System):
a consortium of academic
libraries with 50 member universities in the state of Missouri
holding over
14 million items.
•
OVID: provides an on-line gateway to several standard databases
such as PsychInfo,
Medline, and Docline.
•
SWAN (Southwest Academic Network): offers the library catalogs
and resources of
seven regional universities and schools.
Students can access many of the library resources
here. Also, a reciprocal borrowing agreement with
Missouri State University
allows students on-site access to the research resources
of a major, local university system.
Booklists
Library staff compiles the booklist for each term. Students can purchase books on-line using MBS Direct. In addition, the textbook used for each class is available on reserve, along with class notes and other resources that may be designated by the instructor.
Computer Technology Workstations
The library also houses over 25 computer workstations which
provide access to the internet,
research databases, software, reference materials and three
high-speed printers. Each computer
is equipped with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS
(Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences) and other assessment scoring programs for
student’s use. Please reference the
Computer Use policy found on Page 79 of this Catalog for
information regarding appropriate
use of all Institute computers.
Fiber-Optics
Both the academic campus and clinic utilize fiber-optic connections
to provide high-speed,
unlimited broadband communications for internet and video
conferencing activities.
Wireless Technology
Wireless connectivity is available for students with laptops.
Photocopiers
Two photocopiers are available in the library for student
use. Students must purchase a
pre-paid zip card in the Business Office to access the copiers.
Testing
Materials
Cognitive and Personality Assessment courses
teach
students to use a variety of testing materials, such as the
WAIS III, WISC IV, Rorschach, and TAT. Sample testing kits
are available for student’s use in the library, but
are not available for check-out.
Audio-Visual Lab
An audio-visual lab is located in the back area of the library
for viewing tapes, listening to tapes
and CD’s, etc. Mobile audiovisual equipment, including
a computerized projector, is also available
for checkout by students, but is limited to classroom use
only.
Study Areas
The library offers several quite, comfortable spaces for
individual or group studying. These
areas may be reserved through the help desk in the library.
 Classrooms and Multi-Media Room
All teaching areas are equipped with fixed or mobile computer
technology offering internet
and intranet access. The Multi-Media Lecture Hall is equipped
with stationary audio and visual
technology that allows for large screen video projections,
easily viewed PowerPoint presentations
and in-class internet viewing. Three main classrooms are
utilized to teach smaller sections,
and use mobile technology associated lab rooms.
Student Lounge and Atriums
Numerous areas are available for students,
including large student lounge areas, study
atriums, and courtyards.  These areas are provided
for student comfort, and to encourage
informal interaction and socialization among
peers. Vending machines, microwaves and
a refrigerator are available for student use in
the lounge; Student Council provides coffee,
tea, hot chocolate, sugar, cream and other
items for students‘ convenience using student
activity fees. Student organizations also utilize
these areas from time to time for meetings
and other student functions.
Tutorial Services
Tutorial services are available on campus
or through Missouri State University.
Students interested in these services may make arrangements
through the office of the
Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
Student Housing
 On-campus
one-and two-bedroom housing units, completed in 2000, are
available to individual students
and their families. They are within walking distance of the school and are competitively priced when compared with other apartments in the Springfield area. The units are equipped with spacious living areas, and balconies, fully equipped kitchens with microwave, laundry facilities with washer and dryer in each apartment. A fitness circuit and playground equipment are also situated on the grounds. A city park, municipal golf course, and the Ozarks Greenway Trail border the campus and are accessible to students. Students or perspective students wishing more information on housing may call Hunter Property Management, 417-887- 3004.
Scholarships/Financial Aid
Scholarships are awarded to students based on academic achievement.
Nearly $170,000 is
awarded annually in the form of scholarships and work-study.
Need-based financial aid is
available to students through the Financial Aid Office. These
programs are administered by
two full-time staff members and are described in greater
detail in the Financial Aid Handbook.
An institutional Hardship Committee, composed of experienced
financial planners and peers, is
also able to assist students with financial planning matters.
Counseling Services and Personal Growth
The Dean of Students/Alumni Affairs maintains a
list of therapists in the community
who offer counseling services to students at Forest Institute
on a reduced fee service. Personal
psychotherapy, family therapy, growth workshops and other
forms of psychological assistance
are strongly encouraged.
Disability Support Services
Assistance is available for students with documented disabilities
through the Disabilities Officer. Facilities are ADA compliant
and specific accommodations beyond the minimal requirements
have been made at the requests of both students and faculty.
Student Council
 Each May, ten officers and cohort representatives are elected
by the student body to serve
one-year terms that begin in June. These representatives
serve as liaisons with the faculty and
administrative committee and advocate student perspectives
during planning, strategic and
academic decision-making, and overall quality improvement
activities. This affords numerous
opportunities for student input and feedback about program-related
matters.
Officers of the Council also meet regularly with the President,
Dean/Chief Academic Officer,
and other members of administration to ensure timely dissemination
of information and
changes to the student body. The Council holds monthly meetings
and sponsors several functions
throughout the year. These functions are intended to offer
support and encouragement
for students, as well as provide opportunities for socialization. Offices
of the Student Council are located in the North-South hallway
beside the Multi-Media
Room, in the back (south) section of the Academic/Administration
Building.
Student Organizations
•
Integrated Health Psychology
The Integrated Health Psychology (IHP) organization is established
as an educational
resource for students who are interested in Biofeedback,
Hypnosis, Integrated
Health Care, Pain Management, and Rehabilitation Psychology.
Student delegates
volunteer to represent the organization to national organizations
and to share the
most recent information from the national organizations with
the group. Topics the
group have explored include: stress management, holistic
healthcare, acupuncture
and acupressure, cancer, AIDS and related disorders, chronic
pain issues, and other
information brought into the group by delegates to national
chapters.
•
Psi Chi
Psi Chi is the National Honor Society for psychology. The
purpose of this group is
to promote and maintain excellence in scholarship and the
advancement of the
science of psychology. Membership is open to graduate students
who are pursuing
psychology as their major course of study. The local chapter
is dedicated to
promoting the excellence of psychology in school and community,
and seeks to
serve the community in such a way as to make a difference.
Students become
members of the national organization by becoming members
of our local chapter.
Activities co-sponsored by Psi Chi include the annual National
Alliance for the
Mentally Ill fund-raiser and annual Thanksgiving Dinner for
students, faculty and
staff.
• Students Promoting Multicultural Awareness
and Appreciation (SPMAA)
The purpose of SPMAA is to enhance understanding and awareness
of cultural
differences, promote understanding and appreciation of diversity,
and act as an
advocate for members of underrepresented groups at Forest
Institute. SPMAA offers
a forum where students are encouraged to discuss issues related
to diversity
and draw on support from fellow students and faculty mentors.
It also serves as a
medium by which students can propose changes that would impact
diversity in
the curriculum and throughout the environment at Forest Institute.
One way in which SPMAA fulfills its purpose is by co-sponsoring
the “Ethnic Life
Stories Project” at Forest Institute. This project
showcases community elders
chosen from among various ethnic groups. Hosted as a monthly
luncheon series,
speakers from different nations and cultures speak and interact
with the student
body, expanding awareness related to diversity issues. Recent
speakers have
represented the countries of Argentina, China, Morocco, India,
Romania, Palestine,
Japan, France and the Philippines.
Professional Organizations
Students are strongly encouraged to become members of professional
organizations while at
Forest Institute. Specific organizations that are beneficial
for students include APAGS, Missouri
Psychological Association (MOPA), and Ozarks Area Psychological
Association (OAPA). |
