The Dismissal Letter Context

June 16, 2025 Matthew Gioia (Gioia) 80 Rosemont Avenue Farmingville, NY 11738 Dear Gioia, Students in the M.A./Ed.S. Counseling programs are routinely evaluated by program faculty and the Office of the Dean to determine academic standing as well as eligibility for required clinical fieldwork experiences when applicable. Per the M.A./Ed.S. Counseling Handbook, these reviews occur regularly as part of the program’s probationary period as well as throughout the duration of coursework. Additionally, a student’s professional dispositions are carefully considered for alignment with the American Counseling Association’s professional standards and State licensing requirements. Recently, faculty shared generally positive feedback regarding your academic performance as part of coursework. There are, however, significant concerns regarding your professional dispositions in areas such as: (1) openness to ideas; (2) flexibility; (3) acceptance and application of feedback; (4) conflict management; (5) agency and responsibility; and (6) emotional stability and self-control. Moreover, implications for behaviors rooted in these dispositions are similarly under review as it relates to University policies. Specific areas under review include, but are not limited to: 1. Inappropriate and unwelcome communications. A pattern of inappropriate and unwelcome communications between yourself, learning team members, faculty, and administrators persists despite coaching from faculty regarding appropriate messaging. One recent example includes your May 29, 2025, correspondence to me where you stated: “However, I feel I may be singled out, possibly due to being a male student, especially in relation to a course where the professor was an attractive female.” This sentiment is especially concerning as it relates to the same female faculty member whom you repeatedly text messaged—despite being informed to cease communications via text messaging due to escalating after-hours inquiries. Although you acknowledge in your May 29, 2025, message that you “… may have been two incidents where I crossed a boundary unintentionally,” this pattern of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Additionally, other disclosures and unsolicited references to sexually-related material are included in correspondence dated October 20, 2024, regarding inspiration for assignments (i.e., inclusion of adult film actors), as well as in your December 20, 2023 pre-admission correspondence (i.e., reference to “I would need moral integrity and good bedside manner to be sensitive to patients’ intimate details and their vulnerability as they may have to disrobe.”). Taken together, these communications inform a troubling pattern of behavior and present serious implications for the University’s Policy Against Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment and Retaliation, the Student Code of Conduct, and the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics (specifically sections C and F) – all grounds for dismissal. 2. Inappropriate use of technology. Concerns regarding your adherence to the University’s Recording Policy emerged repeatedly. As Dr. Kulstad initially informed you on April 7, 2025, recording of classes and interactions with faculty, administrators, and students is strictly prohibited unless written permission from all parties is obtained. It appears based on your May 29, 2029, correspondence that you continued unauthorized recording by stating, “I recorded her [Prof. Conte] grading on a livestream.” The repeated violation of technology policies, despite being specifically informed recording is both against policy and unwelcome, is unacceptable and grounds for dismissal. 3. Clinical experience preparedness. Students are reviewed each semester to ensure they are advancing appropriately towards clinical experience coursework (practicum and internships). Advancement to clinical experiences requires the ability to be flexible, empathic, responsive to feedback, self-reflective and willing to grow, able to engage in respectful relationships with others, and aware and responsive to cultural and individual differences. Based on demonstrated interpersonal behavior, there is a recurring inability to accept and integrate feedback, resistance and/or avoidance of self-reflection at times resulting in inappropriate content shared, unproductive relationship dynamics with peers and faculty, and concerns about ability to be responsive to cultural and individual differences. Currently, we are unable to support your placement in a site working with individuals with mental health concerns. Ineligibility for clinical placement is grounds for dismissal, as fieldwork is a degree requirement. In the immediacy, you are to cease all behaviors associated with the concerns outlined above and focus on developing and refining your preparedness for clinical experience requirements. These matters, however, remain under review and will be considered as the College’s Academic Standing Committee further evaluates your status in the program as outlined below. When unsatisfactory progress arises at any point in a student’s training program – either academic or dispositional in nature – remediation is necessary. Given the significance of the concerns outlined in this correspondence, a comprehensive academic standing review to determine your future status in the program is necessary. This process includes a required meeting which provides the opportunity for you to share with the College’s Academic Standing Committee and University administrators a response to concerns raised, articulate your commitment to demonstrated improvement related to policy adherence and professional dispositions, and engage in discussion with the committee. The meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams video conference and is scheduled on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 11 a.m. (EST). Recording of any kind (including live-streaming) is prohibited per University policy. Note that this meeting is part of the review and following this process written notification regarding your status in the program will be provided thereafter. Failure to attend this meeting will result in dismissal. This is a serious matter and your status in the program is at risk. Please use the upcoming days ahead of this meeting to carefully consider your progress in the program, your professional goals, and your willingness and anticipated ability to demonstrate fieldwork readiness as required by this training program’s coursework and clinical experiences, as well as the profession. Sincerely, Bryan Crable, Ph.D. Founding Dean, College of Human Development, Culture, and Media Seton Hall University