The Indian Country School Counselors Institute (ICSCI)

This is an 8-month professional development institute for School Counselors to grow their capacity and effectiveness in working with Indigenous students. Members of the ICSCI cohort will build their capacity to support student wellbeing and success in culturally responsive ways. The program will culminate with each cohort member writing a guidance curriculum unit on a topic of their choosing, which they can use in their schools and which will be published online as a resource for others.

School Counselors who are ICSCI Fellows participate in an 8-month Fellowship that will increase their:

  • Content knowledge
  • Curriculum-development skills
  • Capacity to deliver culturally responsive lessons
  • Leadership ability
  • Writing capacity

School counselors participate in a seminar group that is led by University faculty who are content experts. School counselors learn the seminar material through reading, discussion, and independent research. Each school counselor writes a unique guidance curriculum unit for use in their school. Curriculum units are then published online so other educators and professionals can access, adapt, and use them in their own school setting.

Benefits of program participation Accordion Closed
  • Certificate of completion with seat hours noted for professional development
  • A stipend provided upon completion
  • Self-authored guidance curriculum unit is published on INE website
  • Connected to a diverse community of school counselors with a shared commitment to culturally responsive best practices with/in Indigenous communities
  • Graduate course credit available, for a fee

How can I participate in the ICSCI? Accordion Closed

Participants in the ICSCI are motivated, intellectually curious school counselors who want to improve their content knowledge and have high expectations for their students. If you meet these criteria, you may apply.

Eligibility criteria
  • Employed full-time as a School Counselor in a school in the Southwestern U.S serving over 25% Native students
  • Employed in a publicly-funded or tribally-funded school
  • Access to reliable internet and a computer with video conferencing capability
  • Ability to attend ALL virtual and in person meetings ICSCI schedule 2023
Expectations of accepted applicants
  • Attend all virtual meetings and Saturday in person meetings
  • Submit all writing assignments on time, including the final complete guidance curriculum that meets program specifications
  • Maintain regular communication via email and/or phone with the program staff
  • Have access to reliable internet and a computer for word processing and video conferencing
Application process

Applications for 2024 will be opening soon! If you are considering applying to an INE professional development program in 2024, please submit your information through this survey and we will contact you when applications open.

Current program information for the ICSCI Accordion Closed
ICSCI schedule 2023
Download the 2023 ICSCI schedule
Counselor resources