Narrative: d. 2. I. i. II. a.

The University of Southern Maine (USM) is the only in–state institution of higher education offering a graduate program which satisfies the standards set forth by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). During the most recent year, USM had 32 students enrolled full–time or part–time in its Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling Program. Five students graduated during the past academic year. USM classes are offered on campus and via distance education. USM does offer RSA grant funding for Maine DVR Employees for their Rehabilitation Counseling Program participants at the present time. It should be noted that USM did submit an application for long–term grant funding to RSA and was given granted approval for RSA funding. Maine DVR has been utilizing RSA funding since January 2015.

The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) in partnership with the University of Southern Maine began offering an accelerated program in the Fall of 2015 that will allow counseling students to graduate with a master’s degree a year sooner. Graduates of the five–year program will be able to quality for both State licensing for counseling and national certification for rehabilitation counseling. The Program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs and the Council on Rehabilitation Education. UMF typically graduates 25 to 30 students per year with a B.S. in Rehabilitation Services. This new program will meet the standards set forth by RSA for "fully qualified" vocational rehabilitation counselors (i.e. qualifies to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam). Maine DVR has offered summer internships to UMF undergraduates to expose them to careers in vocational rehabilitation. UMF does expect to have three to eight students enrolled in their accelerated program beginning, in January of 2016. Maine DVR has limited resources to pay educational/training costs associated with its efforts to develop and maintain a fully qualified staff and, as such, conducts on–going investigation of distance education programs that offer RSA grant funding to participants.