California Graduate Institute

The California Graduate Institute is an unaccredited graduate school of psychology, founded in 1968, specializing in psychology, marital and family therapy, and psychoanalysis. It is not affiliated with a university and has no national or regional accreditation, but operates and grants higher degrees in psychology within the state of California through previous approval by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE).cite web|url=http://www.psychboard.ca.gov/exams/unaccredcal.shtml|title=Unaccredited California Approved Schools: A History and Current Status Report|publisher=California Board of Psychology|accessdate=2008-08-18] When the California BPPVE became inoperative on July 1, 2007, [Board of Behavioral Sciences. [http://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/publications/bppve_0307.pdf To Whom It May Concern] , State of California – State and Consumer Services Agency, 14 March 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2008.] temporary legislation came into effect that extended the schools' approval status until January 1, 2009. [http://www.bppve.ca.gov/leg/current.shtml Current Legislation] , SB45. State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. Retrieved 23 August 2008: "Private postsecondary educational institutions that have a valid approval to operate, including, but not necessarily limited to, a license to operate, and instructors holding a valid certificate of authorization for service, from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education as of June 30, 2007, shall retain those approvals, licenses, or certificates of authorization for purposes of interpreting other provisions of applicable law that refer or relate to the issuance of a license or registration and meeting qualifications for licensing examinations. Those approvals shall be effective through January 1, 2009, unless a later enacted statute modifies, extends, or deletes that date."] The California graduate Institute has entered into a voluntary agreement with the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs in California, [ [http://www.bppve.ca.gov/students/index.shtml List of Schools That Signed a Voluntary Agreement - Updated June 30, 2008] . State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. Retrieved 23 August 2008.] agreeing to comply with the state of California student bill of rights. [ [http://www.bppve.ca.gov/forms_pubs/bill_of_rights.pdf Student Bill of Rights] , State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. Retrieved 23 August 2008.] It has recently achieved candidacy status for accreditation with Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). [http://registration.wascsenior.org/institutions/affiliation.aspx?accessID=834 Statement of Accreditation Status California Graduate Institute] . Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, Statement Last Revised: 7/3/2008. Retrieved 22 July 2008.] [ [http://cgi.edu/accredation_01.php Accreditation Standing] . California Graduate Institute, 30 June 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008: "California Graduate Institute has been recognized as a Candidate for Accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). [...] This status is a preliminary affiliation with the Commission, awarded for a maximum period of four years. Candidacy is an indication that the institution is progressing toward Accreditation. Candidacy is not Accreditation and does not ensure eventual accreditation".]

History

The California Graduate Institute was founded in 1968, became state-approved in 1976, and received permission to grant higher degrees in psychology as an unaccredited California-approved school in 1991. [State of California. [http://www.cpec.ca.gov/CollegeGuide/Institution.asp?ID=E0133A&bhcp=1 Programs Offered] . "Guide to California Colleges and Universities". California Postsecondary Education Commission. Retrieved 23 August 2008.] An attempt to establish accreditation in the early 1980s was unsuccessful.

In 1999, Marvin Koven, president of the California Graduate Institute, stated that the school planned to seek accreditation again, and that in the meantime, students would be told upfront, "that if they want to practice in some state other than California, then they better go to a school accredited by the Western Association for Schools and Colleges".Thomas, John. [http://www.nationalpsychologist.com/articles/art3992.htm "Brouhaha brewing over nonaccredited programs in California"] . "The National Psychologist", Vol. 8, No. 2, March/April, 1999.] An application for candidacy for accreditation made in February 2007 was rejected by WASC, [ [http://www.wascsenior.org/wasc/Doc_Lib/Commission%20Actions/February2007ActionSummary.pdf February 2007 Action Summary] and [http://www.wascsenior.org/wasc/Doc_Lib/CGIPublicStatementFeb2007.pdf WASC public statement on California Graduate Institute.] (2007, March 13). Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities. Retrieved April 8, 2007: WASC found that, although the California Graduate Institute took positive steps to meet the requirements for candidate accreditation, the Institute continued to be in non-compliance with implementing elements of Standard 1 (Defining Institutional Purposes and Ensuring Educational Objectives), Standard 2 (Achieving Educational Objectives through Core Functions), Standard 3 (Developing and Applying Resources and Organizational Structures to Ensure Sustainability) and Standard 4 (Creating an Organization Committed to Learning and Improvement).] but in June 2008, the WASC Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges & Universities granted candidacy for accreditation to the California Graduate Institute. [http://registration.wascsenior.org/institutions/affiliation.aspx?accessID=834 Statement of Accreditation Status California Graduate Institute] . Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, Statement Last Revised: 7/3/2008. Retrieved 22 July 2008.]

Degree programs

CGI offers both the Masters of Arts and Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degrees in Psychology (with the possibility to elect a Marital and Family Therapy (MFT) emphasis). Several certificate programs are also offered. [cite web|url=http://www.cgi.edu/academic_grpr01.php|title=Graduate Programs at CGI|publisher=California Graduate Institute|accessdate=2008-08-18] The majority of CGI psychology graduates practice in California.

Licensure

The California Graduate Institute lacks regional accreditation and is not accredited by psychology's accrediting body for doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, school psychology, the American Psychological Association's Committee on Accreditation (CoA). [American Psychological Association. [http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/doctoral.html Accredited Doctoral Programs in Professional Psychology] . For more on accreditation, see also [http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/accrfaq.html Frequently Asked Questions about Accreditation in Psychology] . Retrieved 2 March 2007.] A doctoral degree in psychology from a regionally accredited institution is the required educational standard for eligibility to take the exam for psychology licensure in most states other than California, but the California Board of Psychology allows individuals who have earned psychology doctoral degrees from California's previously state-approved schools, including the California Graduate Institute, to take the exam, currently under a sunset clause set to expire January 1, 2009.

On July 1, 2007, the BPPVE ceased to exist, but the Board of Behavioral Sciences will continue to accept degrees earned from the California Graduate Institute and 20 other institutions towards MFT Intern registration or MFT licensure until new legislation is introduced. [ [http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1851-1900/ab_1897_cfa_20080624_083330_sen_comm.html Assembly Bill 1897 - Bill Analysis, Marriage and family therapists: licensure] . California State Senate. Hearing Date: June 23, 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2008.]

According to the California Board of Psychology, such a two-tiered system was developed after World War II in order to "expand vocational education opportunities for returning veterans". It was later expanded to also apply to four-year colleges and universities as well as graduate schools that offer doctoral degrees. CGI has maintained its state approval status since 1976, acting as graduate-degree school by meeting the standards of the California Department of Education and California Bureau for Private Postsecondary & Vocational Education (BPPVE)

Effective 2001, California law requires disclosure of unaccredited status to prospective students and the California Graduate Institute is thus mandated to provide each prospective psychology license seeking student a disclosure form that states:

:"Prospective students should be aware that as a graduate of an unaccredited school of psychology you may face restrictions that could include difficulty in obtaining a teaching job or appointment at an accredited college or university. It may also be difficult to work as a psychologist for some federal government or other public agencies, or to be appointed to the medical staff of a hospital. Some major managed care organizations, insurance companies, or preferred provider organizations may not reimburse individuals whose degrees are from unaccredited schools. Graduates of unaccredited schools may also face limitations in their abilities to be listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers or to hold memberships in other major organizations of psychologists"The California Board of Psychology. [http://www.psychboard.ca.gov/licensing/unaccredited.htm Unaccredited California Approved Schools: A History and Current Status Report] . Government, State of California. Retrieved 1 March 2007.]

CE programs

California Graduate Institute is approved for continued education (CE) in various subjects by the following organizations::* Veteran Administration - approves for GI Bill inclusion a wide range of educational programs (including graduate level education) . [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. [http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/programs.htm Education programs: IHL] . Retrieved 2 March 2007.] :* National Association of Social Workers (NASW) - a member association that offers approval of social work programs in continuing education for its members. However, the association's approval program (NASW CE approval) is not approved by the official Social Work Licensure Boards in several states, including California. [NASW. [http://www.naswdc.org/ce/response.asp Social Work Licensure Boards’ Response to the NASW CE Approval Program] . Retrieved 2 March 2007.] :* California Board of Registered Nursing - approves registered nursing and advanced practice nursing programs in California.:* California Board of Behavioral Sciences - approves continuing education providers (such as schools, associations, health facilities, governmental entities, educational institutions, extension programs, individuals, etc) in behavioral science in California. [Board of Behavioral Science. [http://www.bbs.ca.gov/licstat4.htm CE Provider FAQ's] . Retrieved 2 March 2007.] :* Division of Allied Health Professions of the Medical Board of California - approves research programs in Psychoanalysis, the first such program approved by the Allied Health Professions is offered at CGI. [CGI. [http://www.cgi.edu/welcome/history.html History, Licencing and Approvals] . Retrieved 2 March 2007.] :* California Psychological Association - a professional association in California which approves sponsors for continuing education for psychologists. The individual courses are approved by the MCEP Accrediting Agency. [CPA. [http://www.cpapsych.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=18 Which courses count toward the continuing education requirement for license renewal?] . Retrieved 2 March 2007.] :* American Psychological Association (APA) - approves sponsors of continuing education for psychologists. Graduates of unaccredited state-approved schools such as CGI are limited to associate membership in APA.Thomas, John. [http://www.nationalpsychologist.com/articles/art3992.htm "Brouhaha brewing over nonaccredited programs in California"] . "The National Psychologist", Vol. 8, No. 2, March/April, 1999.]

Affiliations

California Graduate Institute is an accredited member in the Society of Modern Psychoanalysis, a corporation in New York which accepts membership from institutes after review by an Institute Membership Committee. On approval, the institute becomes an accredited member of the corporation. [Society of Modern Psychoanalysis. [http://www.socmodpsychoanalysts.org/mission.htm Mission and Purpose, Section 3: Review Procedures] ; [http://www.socmodpsychoanalysts.org/criteria_institute.htm Criteria for membership: Institutes] ; and [http://www.socmodpsychoanalysts.org/accredited_institutes.htm Modern Psychoanalytical Institutes/SMP Members] . Retrieved 2 March 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.cgi.edu California Graduate Institute]