Campus Life

CAPS achieves reaccreditation, called model counseling center

Penn State’s Counseling and Psychological Services received a four-year reaccreditation from the International Association of Counseling Services. Credit: Rachel Garman / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), a division of Student Affairs, received a four-year reaccreditation from the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS).

Following an on-site evaluation, IACS released a report stating CAPS is a “high quality and high functioning center.” The report called CAPS a model for other counseling centers to follow, referencing the positive reputation CAPS has among students, faculty and staff, and the center’s highly effective leadership team. 

CAPS is a busy counseling center, providing more than 20,000 individual and couples counseling appointments to more than 3,000 students per year. Counselors facilitate around 25 therapy groups each semester, which focus on issues such as eating disorders, stress management, depression and international student support. In addition, counselors present outreach and educational programs to more than 3,000 students, faculty and staff.

Since the center’s last accreditation in 2011, CAPS has pursued the growing demand for counseling services by adding 10 clinical staff members, including staff serving the World Campus and Intercollegiate Athletics. CAPS also established satellite offices in South Residence Halls and the Bank of America Building.

“It is both gratifying and humbling to be cited in this extraordinary way by our primary accreditation organization. It serves as testimony to the hard work and diligence of the CAPS staff, stakeholders and supporters across the campus — all for the benefit of our students,” said Dennis Heitzmann, CAPS director since 1984. On Aug. 1, Heitzmann stepped down as senior director to lead special projects in Student Affairs.

IACS is the accreditation association for university and four-year college counseling services. The association is committed to furthering the visibility of counseling services on university and college campuses and improving their quality.

Last Updated September 23, 2020

Contact