This week I’m off to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) national conference in Seattle. It’s a great location for me personally since I’ll be able to visit a good friend (and former college counselor) who now lives on the Olympic peninsula. I’ll also visit the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma to see what neat things other fine Liberal Arts colleges are doing. Aside from personal considerations it should be a very interesting conference because of the many challenges facing those whose professions involve assisting students and families in the transition to college.
NACAC is a wonderful organization because it brings together two very different sides of the same process: college and university admission officers and high school college counselors. NACAC is a huge player in this critical field, allowing honest discourse, providing professional development, and a forum for discussion and agreement on ethical practices in a competitive environment. NACAC serves families and students while helping professionals balance market pressures with their essential purpose – helping students in transition.
This year I expect much discussion about how the worsening economy will affect families’ ability to pay for college and the availability of student loans. No doubt we will talk about the upcoming election and which political party will best serve higher education. And there is already discussion about a ground-breaking report which NACAC will release questioning the efficacy of using the SAT and ACT so heavily in admission and scholarship decisions.
When I return, I’ll report on the conference outcomes from my point of view. One thing is for sure, there won’t be a lack of topics to keep us interested and engaged.
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