July 24, 2007

Press Release – Brooklyn, NY. - ReadyMinds Part-Time Counselor Distance Model Yields Positive and Proven Results at Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus

ReadyMinds reported that after reviewing the evolution of the Long Island University/ReadyMinds partnership and receiving input from both the ReadyMinds Distance Counselor involved with this population and the institution itself, the relationship continues to grow and prove to be very beneficial to all concerned.

Initially, Distance Counseling Services were offered by ReadyMinds exclusively to graduate students at LIU. Over time, these services were extended to LIU alumni as well, to address the needs of this underserved population. Graduate students and alumni representing all majors offered by the University are eligible for Distance Career Counseling, free of charge. Services are provided by a designated ReadyMinds Counselor, who is also a half-time employee of LIU. Costs are budgeted for on an annual basis and completely covered by LIU.

Students register for Distance Career Counseling via a special co-branded link to the ReadyMinds site which allows them to bypass the payment process. They complete the ReadyMinds Gold Program General Survey and have the option of completing the formal self-assessment portion. Upon completion of the assessment phase of the Program, they are assigned to the designated ReadyMinds Counselor.

Over time, the Program has evolved to meet the needs of both populations. Many students benefit from a series of short telephone conversations, rather than a full one-hour contact. This allows students to request and utilize additional follow-up contact time as needed. During the time of engagement, the counseling process can remain open-ended, with opportunity for ongoing contact between student and counselor. This conforms more closely to a college career center model, and provides a level of flexibility that busy adults appreciate. The LIU population is diverse, with many non-traditional and/or first-generation college students. Many are older than traditional students, with a number of roles competing for their time and energy (e.g., parenthood, full-time work), so flexibility is particularly important. Distance Counseling, therefore, is a very useful option for them as it affords access to services that might be difficult to utilize face-to-face because of time and logistical constraints.

The ReadyMinds Counselor involved with this population maintains all necessary counseling records and completes all written products required for adherence to all counseling guidelines for school and industry. In addition, monthly utilization reports for LIU Career Services are supplied and detailed registration and contact records are archived for department statistical purposes. The part-time counselor also conducts periodic workshops for staff and students at LIU as requested, and attends departmental meetings and events. From the counselor and ReadyMinds perspective, it is a mutually beneficial relationship.

Michelle Relyea, Dean, Academic and Instructional Resources of LIU was quoted, “As a former Career Services Director, I experienced the many benefits of bringing the ReadyMinds Program to my office. Graduate students and alumni who needed career counseling services including assessment, exploration, decision-making and self-marketing assistance were able to access these services from home, office, or school seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. The ReadyMinds Program offers convenience and flexibility that the classic Career Center cannot provide. Most importantly, by utilizing the services offered by ReadyMinds, your office can reach students who might not have the accessibility to the career center. From a financial perspective, the cost of the program saved my office and the University thousands of dollars. We have seen our retention numbers increase as a result of this program. I highly recommend this working distance model to those in the field looking for a professional, credible, online solution.”

For a more detailed description of the LIU Model, please reference Chapter 6 “How to Organize & Launch a Distance Counseling Program” authored by Ms. Relyea, in the newly released publication, Distance Counseling: Expanding the Counselor’s Reach and Impact. Published by Counseling Outfitters, LLC in association with ReadyMinds and American Counseling Association.

About ReadyMinds

Founded in 1997, ReadyMinds owns and operates readyminds.com and is a privately held company that has emerged as the leading global provider of distance career counseling and training services. The ReadyMinds' distance career counseling process was initially designed with the assistance of business leaders and career-counseling experts to help individuals focus on their career planning and develop action plans to achieve their immediate career goals. In addition to the counseling of individuals, the ReadyMinds Training Division provides global training opportunities for counselors seeking to further enhance their professional development in the area of distance counseling. ReadyMinds abides by the guidelines set forth by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC); the NBCC Code of Ethics and the Standards for the Ethical Practice of Web Counseling. For more information on the company, please visit http://www.readyminds.com.

About Long Island University

Long Island University was chartered by the New York State Education Department in 1926 in Brooklyn, New York, as a nonsectarian, coeducational, privately supported university committed to providing "effective and moderately priced education" to people from "all walks of life." Admission to the University always has been based on merit and promise, offering opportunity to a diverse student body, including large numbers of immigrants and children of immigrants seeking to achieve the American dream. For more information about Long Island University, please visit http://www.liu.edu/liu_start.html.