Congratulations to the faculty of the School of Education Counseling program. Senator Tom Harkin has announced that Drake University will receive a U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services grant for Rehabilitation Counseling and Long Term Training. This grant is funded at approximately $200,000 per year for an anticipated five years, totaling nearly $1,000,000. Drake University will use this funding for long-term training funds to provide a Masters of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling with an emphasis in employer development. Of the total amount, Drake will use $150,000 (75%) each year to fund student stipends. This amount will allow the Drake School of Education to assist an average of 15-16 students per year. This average is based upon an anticipated mix of full-time and part-time students.
As Project Director, Dr. Robert Stensrud will administer the grant and teach courses that are part of the required curriculum. Dr. Matt Bruinekool will also devote his time assisting with the management of the grant and teaching a grant-specific course.
This project will have a national impact by partnering with the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation to create and support a national clearinghouse for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to create and support a national clearinghouse for VR agencies that will match students with open Internships, graduate with open jobs, Rehabilitation Services Administration scholars with mentors, and bring national speakers into classrooms via distance education technology. This service and the degree program will be sustained after project completion so VR professionals can receive Continuing Education Units for their assistance in student supervision, mentoring, and guest speaking to classes.
This announcement on the heels of additional good news received from the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). They finalized their decision to recognize Drake University Rehabilitation Counselor Education Program within the School of Education as fully accredited for a term of eight years. Over the last 25 years, Drs. Stensrud and Bruinekool have successfully written grants that have added millions of dollars to our degree programs for school, agency and mental health counselors. The resources are used for curriculum and technology innovation as well as scholarships for graduate students. For more information about Drake’s counseling programs visit the website, www.drake.edu/counseling.