Counseling, Higher Education, and Speech-Language Pathology Student Organizations

The mission of CSI is to promote scholarship, research, professionalism, leadership, and excellence in counseling, and to recognize high attainment in the pursuit of academic and clinical excellence in the professional of counseling.

Chi Sigma Iota is the international honor society of professional counseling. It was established in 1985 through the efforts of leaders in the profession of counseling whose desire was to provide recognition for outstanding achievement as well as outstanding service within the profession. CSI was created for counselors-in-training, counselor educators,and professional counselors who are committed to research and service through professional counseling.

University of West Georgia houses the Gamma Zeta Chapter of CSI. Dr. Becky Stanard started the Gamma Zeta chapter at UWG in 1998 and served as Chapter Faculty advisor until 2010. In 2010, Dr. Julia Chibbaro became Gamma Zeta's chapter faculty advisor and, in 2013, Dr. Julia Whisenhunt agreed to serve as co-advisor of the chapter.

Membership is by invitation only. Eligibility requirements include at least 9 hours of graduate coursework in professional counseling and a minimum 3.5 GPA. Eligible Dept. of Clinical & Professional Studies academic programs include M.Ed. in Professional Counseling (school and community), Ed.S. in Professional Counseling, and Ed.D. in Professional Counseling and Supervision. To learn more about CSI, please visit our CSI chapter website. You may also contact Drs. Chibbaro (jchibbar@westga.edu) and Whisenhunt (jwhisenh@westga.edu) for additional information.

The Graduate Student Affairs Professionals is the primary organization for graduate students in the College Student Affairs program and strives to cultivate enriching opportunities for professional and social development, while fostering opportunities for life-long learning in the field of student affairs.

Learn more on the Graduate Student Professional Affairs webpage.

The mission of the LPCA Student Affiliate Organization (SAO) at the University of West Georgia (UWG) is to promote awareness of the counseling profession, and the professional development of counselors-in-training at the UWG. We are committed to the support and promotion of the interests of the LPCA and its members. The UWG SAO will provide a unified voice for counseling students.

The goals of the LPCA UWG Student Affiliate Organization are to:

• organize and maintain student membership at the UWG;provide opportunities for networking with other students and practicing professionals;
• obtain and distribute information about licensure requirements, career opportunities, and other relevant information students may need;
• provide resources on current state and national legislative policy and advocacy efforts; and
• encourage involvement in LPCA activities.

For more information please contact:

Michael Phillips, SAO President (mphill16@my.westga.edu)
Dr. Julia Whisenhunt, Faculty Advisor (jwhisenh@westga.edu)

The National Student Speech-Language and Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is the official student organization of the Speech and Hearing profession. The national organization was founded in 1972. The University of West Georgia chapter was founded in 1995. The West Georgia chapter has approximately 75 members annually and members participate in various fundraising, community service, and educational activities to promote speech and hearing awareness in the west Georgia community.

The group sponsors 'Better Speech and Hearing Month' activities in May, participates in the Alzheimer and Autism Speaks walks yearly, and hosts mentors programs designed to assist student members in their academic programs. For more information visit the National NSSLHA website.

The Council for Exceptional Children is the primary professional organization for special education teachers. It is an international organization that is involved in a variety of efforts to improve the educational success of individuals with disabilities, as well as individuals with gifts and talents. Seventeen special interest divisions are active in CEC.

UWG's chapter, #356, is more than 30 years old and functions as a student CEC chapter and an officially-recognized UWG student organization. Membership in the chapter is not limited to UWG students or to special education majors, although officers must be student members of CEC.

Membership is open to anyone, community members or students, who is interested in working with individuals with disabilities. UWG chapter members participate in a variety of activities designed to increase awareness of disability and support individuals with disabilities and programs that serve them.

For more information, contact the Department of Clinical and Professional Services, Area of Special Education, at (678) 839-6567.