Student Services

New Student Orientation

Upon acceptance into a program, students will be notified by the Dean of Students of the date, time, and place of New Student Orientation. This is a vital information session that all new students should attend at the beginning of their first semester. The general orientation is supplemented by a program-specific orientation. Information about the orientation schedule is sent to students prior to their first semester and is available on the CIIS website.

Academic Advising and Program Agreements

Each faculty advisor and CIIS student will complete a Program Agreement at the time the student first enters the program. The Program Agreement is based on the current curriculum in the program. The original signed Program Agreement is kept in the student’s file. A copy of the Program Agreement is put in the student’s program file.

Any change to the original Program Agreement needs to be documented with the date and the signatures of both student and advisor. The amended Program Agreement is filed in the student’s file.

Students are expected to fulfill the program requirements in effect at the time of their entrance into the program. Continuously enrolled students are not required to meet new requirements, although they may choose to do so. Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment in a program will be expected to fulfill the requirements in effect when they reenter the program.

International Student Services

The International Student Office is dedicated to supporting international students throughout their education at the Institute. International students are offered orientation, informational workshops, a group health insurance plan, English-language tutors, and social events. The International Student Advisor encourages students to participate in the development of the international student community by assisting with the planning of social and educational events.

One of the primary services offered by the International Student Office is advising. The International Student Advisor is available for consultation and the processing of nonimmigrant paperwork in areas related to travel, visa application, employment authorization, and program extension. Additional information and forms may be found outside the Admissions Office at the main building.

International students are also encouraged to participate in the international student e-mail list (international@ciis.edu). The International Student Office uses this e-mail list to communicate important information regarding immigration regulations and Institute policies. The international student website at www.ciis.edu/students/international.html may also serve as a reference and a place to download important forms.

The International Student Office is committed to promoting diversity and cross-cultural exchange. The International Student Advisor acts as an advocate and a representative of international students in relation to the Institute’s faculty and staff, and students are encouraged to bring their questions and concerns to the Office. The International Student Advisor can be reached at 415.575.6153.

Disabled Student Services

The Dean of Students is the designated Institute Disability Officer. Any questions, requests for accommodation or access, or complaints regarding services for students or applicants with a disability as defined by law should contact Dean of Students Shirley Strong at 415.575.6171 or sstrong@ciis.edu. The complaint procedure is set forth in the CIIS Student Handbook, available from the Dean of Students and online at www.ciis.edu/students/CIISStudentHandbook.pdf.

Field Placement Office

The Placement Office assists the Institute community with professional development and in finding training sites that satisfy both program requirements and students’ individual educational needs. The staff supports students in the process of career exploration and decision making, helping them to identify employment opportunities and field placements appropriate to their academic program, level of experience and training, theoretical orientation, goals, and interests.

Placement Office staff facilitates self-assessment and exploration and provides resources and practical information. The Placement Office identifies practicum and internship sites for the School of Professional Psychology master’s and doctoral programs leading toward licensure.

Placement Office resources include listings of more than a hundred specific training sites and service organizations, job announcements, web sources, handouts on effective résumé writing, interview preparation, job-search strategies, and a Career Advisory Network linking CIIS alumni with students. The staff also maintains and administers job listservs for students seeking employment. A library is maintained with materials related to vocation, right livelihood, and internships. The staff offers periodic workshops on predoctoral internships and licensing, class presentations, and individual consultations. The Placement Office is committed to supporting students in acquiring experience and training congruent with their unique career paths, thus bringing the integral vision into the world. For more information, visit the website at www.ciis.edu/students/placement.html.

Student Alliance

The Student Alliance supports students’ needs by promoting their involvement on all levels of the Institute community. The Student Alliance provides a forum for all students to explore solutions to common problems, to enhance the quality of life for CIIS students, and to ensure that the student voice is heard. It achieves this by

•  funding projects run by students for the benefit of students

•  awarding money to students to help them make presentations at conferences

•  advocating for students before the school faculty and administration

•  representing students on various Institute committees

The Student Alliance is made up of students who volunteer their time, with one paid position at ten hours a week, to ensure the basic functioning of the Student Alliance. Some of the specific positions are filled by representatives from each program, a Board of Trustees representative, and two representatives to the Diversity Action Team. Listed below are also several action teams in which students can participate. Please contact studentalliance@ciis.edu if you would like to get involved.

Outreach

Proposals

Resource Development

Hospitality

Events (Social, Academic, Cultural)

Spirituality

Budget

Greening of CIIS

Alumni Association

More than 3,200 women and men have earned degrees from the Institute and have taken the integral vision into the world community. Institute alumni play an active part in the Institute community through the Alumni Association. All CIIS alumni are welcomed as members of the Alumni Association, free of charge, upon graduating. Alumni are invited to audit courses at CIIS at a reduced fee. Each spring, all alumni are invited to join their former classmates at a festive gala celebration. For information, contact the Dean of Alumni at 415.575.6116.