Institute for Research, Assessment & Professional Development

The Institute for Research, Assessment and Professional Development at Cal State, San Bernardino provides assessment and intervention services for families with school aged children and enriches the education of future education professionals through hands-on post-graduate training experiences with our region’s neediest students. The Institute is an educational and advocacy resource for parents, teachers, counselors and other community members. We provide information and services to help school aged children meet their full potential and increase parent’s engagement and commitment.

Three Domains of the Institute

Opportunities across all three domains of the institute (i.e., research, assessment, professional development) enhance collaborations between program areas, faculty, graduate students and partnering activities with community agencies, such as:

• Department of Rehabilitation
• Veterans Affairs
• School Districts
• Corrections
• Mental Health Agencies

Research. The research portion of the institute is focused on the development of evidence-based
practices that can be infused into the graduate curriculum and practice of the related programs of
Rehabilitation Counseling, Counseling & Guidance, School Psychology and Special Education.

The use of cutting edge technology, such as neurofeedback interventions, provides faculty and students with an unparalleled opportunity to enhance the quality of lives of individuals with disabilities.

Research projects are being conducted regarding the use of neurofeedback to treat conditions such as ADD/ADHD in children and PTSD in veterans. This research agenda provides an opportunity for faculty who have been trained in neurofeedback to implement
intervention protocols and assess the effectiveness of the protocols on the symptoms generally
experienced by individuals with these disorders.

Neurofeedback has gained acceptance as a viable alternative to treating certain types of conditions by re-training the brain to function more effectively and has the potential to help reduce reliance on some types of medications.

Assessment. The assessment portion of the institute is providing comprehensive vocational evaluations to clients of the Department of Rehabilitation. These evaluations are designed to empower individuals to make informed choices based on quality information about themselves. Transitionaged students in high school [IDEA/IEP], individuals with various types of disabilities, and Veterans are served through the institute. The assessment lab utilizes a service-learning model to provide vocational assessments, evaluations and consultation to community partners.

Professional Development. The professional development portion of the institute serves as
a mechanism for professional associations to provide membership services. The institute is
the home offi ce for the Vocational Evaluation and Career Assessment Professionals national association. The institute has facilitated the development of a new state chapter of the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA) and a new NRCA student chapter affiliated with the Rehabilitation Counseling graduate program. The state NRCA chapter has provided training opportunities for professionals who are pursuing California counselor licensure.

For more information, please contact

Dr. Connie McReynolds
Director, Institute for Research, Assessment, and Professional Development
College of Education, Room 120
California State University San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA 92407
Phone: 909-537-5681
Phone: 909-537-5453
TTY: 909-537-5616
FAX:909-922-7580
e-mail: theinstitute@csusb.edu