You should plan to attend residency after your third course in the program.

You should not enroll in residency unless you complete the residency application that is provided each semester. This application is posted in all Program Resource Blackboard courses the semester prior to the upcoming residency. 

• Locate the page to apply for residency by going to your Program Resources course in Blackboard. You are placed in the residency course depending on highest need to graduate.
• Applications must be submitted by the following deadlines:
  • Oct. 1 for Spring residency. Notifications are sent by Jan. 1
  • Feb. 1 for Summer residency. Notifications are sent by April 1
  • June 1 for Fall residency. Notifications are sent by Aug. 1 

After you submit the residency application, you will receive an email notification to confirm whether your application was approved. Please note that this confirmation will be sent after the deadline has passed and all applications are received. If you are approved for residency, you will be automatically registered for the course, which begins on the regular five-week start date listed on the course schedule.

Be prepared to begin the course online before the face-to-face meeting on campus. Assignments begin in Week 1 of the five-week online course and are required, in addition to the week-long meetings on campus.

Residency takes place at Lamar University. The check-in and general hub are located at the College of Education and Human Development. Here's a campus map.

You are responsible for transportation to and from the campus if staying in a local hotel. Some hotels offer a shuttle service to the LU campus.

Lamar University is in Beaumont, Texas. The campus is not far from Interstate 10. If you plan to fly, the closest major airports are in Houston. Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports are each approximately 100 miles from Beaumont, and each offers shuttle and bus service to Beaumont.

The closest regional airport is Jack Brooks Regional Airport. While the regional airport is 10 minutes away, there are only limited flights available.

Residency begins at 8 a.m. on Monday and concludes by 1 p.m. on Friday that week. You are expected to be punctual, and attendance at every session is mandatory.

Be sure to schedule your travel time to allow for the program schedule. Typically, students have arrived the evening before residency begins in order to be present at the mandatory 8 a.m. session on Monday. You may schedule your departure from Beaumont any time after 1 p.m. on Friday.

If you are planning to fly into Houston, schedule plenty of time to commute to one of the major airports and ample check-in time. Direct flights to Beaumont should also be scheduled accordingly.

There are also numerous hotels in the Beaumont area. The Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau provides information about local hotels and other points of interest in the Beaumont area. You are responsible to schedule your own accommodations and transportation. 

A block of rooms has been reserved for you at the Elegante Hotel, inclusive of daily breakfast. To reserve, please say you are a student with LU residency and ask for the block room rate. 

The dress code for residency is business casual. Dress code for orientation is casual. We want you to be comfortable as you will be doing a lot of sitting around and absorbing. Ties are not necessary and jeans are fine.

Residency I students focus on beginning counseling skills. You are not expected to come in with any advanced skills. You are divided into triads and will present for taping with your triad. Each student in the triad will take the role of client, counselor and observer. While in the role as counselor, you will be taped and will be given feedback from the other triad members and the faculty supervisor. While not taping, you will participate in skill development sessions with the skills coordinator.

Residency II (Clinical Mental Health Counseling only) students focus on advanced and group counseling skills. The triad system works much the same as in Residency I, with the emphasis on more advanced skills. You also participate in 10 hours of group counseling, with each being evaluated on their group leadership skills.

Residency is an intensive experience that is designed to build knowledge, awareness and skills in mental health counseling. In order to accomplish learning objectives, you participate in counseling skill building activities for the majority of each day. Other workshops include behavioral health and integrated health care topics, delivery services in school counseling, supervision and the field experience and overall professional identity.

The cumulating activity of residency is a group advocacy poster presentation, where you will work with a group on a topic important to your communities to address gaps in services, access or resources relating to your profession. This project is presented to faculty and peers to be scored on professional communication skills, knowledge and teamwork.