Each year, ASU rewards an academic department that demonstrates excellence in graduate faculty, quality of graduate students and instruction, creative activities and innovative strategies. 

This year’s University Deans’ Award for Excellence in Graduate Education of $3,000 is shared by two departments: the Department of Psychology and the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling (HPC). 

Each department has received a plaque and $1,500 from the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School. 

The psychology graduate program began in 1968 and prepares students for doctoral-level training in psychology or related fields. It has 24 full-time faculty teaching graduate courses with 82 enrolled students. 

In the past five yeas, the department received an average of 243 applications per year and accepted an average of 36. 

Among department accomplishments, three students in the past two years have received the Southeastern Psychological Association Student Research Award for papers presented at the annual conference, and the department regularly has students admitted to Alpha Epsilon Lambda, the honor society for graduate and professional school students. In addition, faculty members have received teaching awards at the university and state level. 

A recent alumni survey indicated graduates’ jobs include university president, assistant dean,  professors of psychology and medicine, directors of mental health centers, correctional facility director, university nursing program director and company CEO.  Seventy-two percent of respondents had licensure or certification. 

The second department, HPC, recently received a full, seven-year accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which gives such accreditation to less than 25 percent of departments evaluated. The department offers programs in community counseling, school counseling, marriage and family therapy and student development. 

The program has 15 full-time and two part-time faculty and 135 students. 

The student body is comprised of 15 percent minority students, and each department course is taught from a multicultural perspective. The department embraces diversity and sponsors monthly discussions on topics such as race, gay and lesbian issues and second-generation Holocaust survivors. 

Although the department’s programs are all at the graduate level, the department also provides service instruction to undergraduates, such as courses in life and career planning, and human relations and interaction. 

Students and faculty have received awards for research and teaching and are involved with presentations at state, regional and national meetings. 

The department has received $24,000 in the past four years in scholarships from the N.C. Department of Mental Health for training addictions counselors. 

A recent alumni survey showed that 86 of 93 respondents were satisfied with their education and would re-select Appalachian if they could choose their graduate school program again.