Letter from the Chief Delegate: Mike Carter

Letter from the Chief Delegate,

I want to thank all of the members of the PCACAC Delegation for their service, wisdom and thoughtful contributions to this year’s NACAC National Assembly.

2014 PCACAC Delegates

 

High School Delegates:

Barbara Conner, Foxcroft School (VA)

Jenifer Evans, Broadneck High School (MD)

Heather Jeter, The Steward School (VA)

Robyn Lady, Chantilly High School (VA)

Scott Mayer, St. Christopher’s School (VA)

Kathleen Martin, Wilmington Friends School (DE)

Chris Miller, Glenelg Country School (MD)

 

College Delegates:

Karen Felton, George Washington University (DC)

Lou Hirsh, University of Delaware (DE) (retired)

James Pennix, Radford University (VA)

Sam Shoge, Washington College (MD)

 

Executive Committee Delegates:

Mike Oligmueller, The Potomac School, (VA)

Kelly Farmer, Stevenson University (MD)

Mike Carter, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School (VA)

 

Alternate Delegates:

Jayne Fonash, Academy of Science, Loudoun County Public Schools, (VA)

Aundra Weissert, Washington College (MD)

Matt Boyce, George Mason University (VA)

 

Our Delegates represented PCACAC in fine fashion at the 2014 NACAC Assembly.  As we discussed in our caucus, NACAC’s Statement of Principles of Good Practice (SPGP) is the standard for our profession, but is also very much a “living document” that needs to grow as our profession grows.  Much of the hard and necessary work of the delegates in assembly is to vote on amendments to the SPGP to ensure the responsible growth of our standards. 

 

This year PCACAC Delegates worked on several key issues.  We continued to hone the language passed in the 2013 Assembly involving international agents to further clarify a resolution enforcing accountability, transparency and integrity in the use of international agents in college admissions.  Similarly, the delegates voted to strengthen language regarding institutionally-affiliated financial aid and scholarship offers.  The third major issue tackled in the assembly was particularly rewarding for PCACAC and dealt with safeguarding students and families in wait-list situations.  It was especially gratifying to complete the language on this issue, as the original motion for this change was initiated by our very own Jake Talmage, Director of College Counseling, St. Paul’s School for Boys, (MD), current PCACAC Secretary and Executive Committee member when he was a delegate in the 2011 Assembly.  Jake’s motion was to protect students offered admission through the wait-list by ensuring that there was an appropriate amount of time for a student and her/his family to consider such an offer.  Ultimately, the assembly voted to mandate that a student be given a minimum of 72 hours to decide on whether to accept a position off of a wait-list.  This year, the NACAC Admissions Practices Committee, (which includes PCACAC member and delegate, Lou Hirsh), further amended “Jake’s bill” to close some loopholes, and strengthened the standard to read “allow students a reasonable amount of time (at least 72 hours or May 1, whichever is later) to respond to an offer of admission from that institution’s wait list and gain admission to that institution’s incoming class.  This offer of admission should be a written or electronic communication to the student.  Postsecondary institutions should also strive to fully inform wait list students of their financial aid and housing opportunities, if different from their normal policies.  Postsecondary institutions should not require a commitment from a student until the financial aid award and housing options, if any, have been provided.”  The passage of this on Saturday September 20th, (which became effective immediately) is a tremendous example of how NACAC, PCACAC and counseling professionals like Jake Talmage, work tirelessly to serve and support our students and their families.  Thanks Jake!

 

The 2014 Assembly also witnessed one of our own, Sue Rexford, Director of College Counseling, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (MD) run for the office of NACAC President-Elect.  Sue ran a spirited and energetic campaign, attending a year’s worth of NACAC Board events, meetings, NACAC’s Leadership Development Institute, and a myriad of pre-conference and conference sessions, “meet and greets” and “speed-dating” interviews.  She epitomizes the best of Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling and we were so proud to have her represent our region as a candidate for President-Elect.  While the election did not have the results that we had hoped for, it was nevertheless a wonderful opportunity to highlight Sue’s leadership.

 

The delegates also had the opportunity to elect three new members of the NACAC Board.  One of those elected was Amy Jarich, former PCACAC Member and PCACAC Technology Chair, who is currently the Director of Admission at the University of California- Berkeley.  Congratulations to Amy!

 

The hard work of the PCACAC Delegates in the NACAC Assembly is a testament to the strength of our association and reflects tremendously on the ethics of our profession.

 

Thanks for your faithful service,

 

Mike Carter

PCACAC Chief Delegate