Evaluating Competencies in Counseling Students: Comparing Adjunct and Core Faculty Ratings

Authors

Mark D. Newmeyer, Concordia University IrvineFollow
Kaitlyn C. Stafford, Concordia University IrvineFollow
Peter J. Buckingham, Concordia University IrvineFollow
Karen E. Fischer, Concordia University IrvineFollow
Meredith D. McDaniel, Concordia University IrvineFollow
Rhys P. Wilson, Concordia University IrvineFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0002-6784-2910

Author Biography

The principal investigator of this study, Dr. Mark D. Newmeyer, is a licensed professional clinical counselor and supervisor with extensive experience in both academia and clinical practice. Dr. Newmeyer earned his doctorate in Counselor Education & Supervision from the University of Cincinnati and holds a Master’s in Community Counseling from Kent State University.

Dr. Newmeyer is currently a full professor at Concordia University Irvine, where he teaches courses in counseling at both the master's and doctoral levels, focusing on research, statistics, psychopathology, and advanced counseling techniques. He continues to mentor doctoral students and contributes to the advancement of counseling research and practice.

Dr. Newmeyer is widely published in peer-reviewed journals, with research interests in mental health, spirituality, group work, and prevention. He has co-authored a book and contributed to numerous book chapters on a variety of counseling related topics. He is actively involved in professional organizations such as the American Counseling Association and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.

Document Type

Empirical Research Article

Keywords

gatekeeping, counselor competencies, counselor training programs, core faculty, adjunct faculty, CCS-R, evaluating students, CACREP

Subject Area

Clinical Supervision, Counseling, Counselor Education

Abstract

This study examines the differences in how adjunct and core faculty evaluate counseling students using a brief version of the Counselor Competencies Scale-Revised (CCS-R). Data from 647 evaluations of 433 students were analyzed. The results show that adjunct faculty, particularly those with master's degrees, tend to rate students significantly higher on professional counseling dispositions than core faculty, raising concerns about the consistency of gatekeeping in counselor training programs. These findings suggest a need for the standardization of counseling disposition evaluation practices to maintain high training standards. Implications for student-to-faculty ratio requirements are discussed.

Public Significance Statement

This study demonstrates that faculty status (core or adjunct) and level of educational attainment are significantly related to the scores that the faculty render on counseling student evaluations.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.70013/p8mqfc0y

Recommended Citation

Newmeyer, M. D., Stafford, K. C., Buckingham, P. J., Fischer, K. E., McDaniel, M. D., & Wilson, R. P. (2025). Evaluating competencies in counseling students: Comparing adjunct and core faculty ratings. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 19(4), 1-17.