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 past academic year, USM had 37 students enrolled full—time or part—time in its Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling Program. No students graduated during the past year but six are on track to graduate in the coming year. USM classes are offered on campus and via distance education. USM does offer Long Term Training RSA grant funding for Maine DVR Employees for their Rehabilitation Counseling Program participants at the present time and intends to reapply for funding at the completion of this grant cycle.

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. 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.