Call for Nominations - Marion Flagg Scholarships

What better time than during the holiday season to consider how you can help others in 2019! The Marion Flagg Scholarship Program gives you the perfect opportunity to provide support to colleagues and friends in the field of college counseling and admissions. 

Named for one of PCACAC's most outstanding members, the Marion Flagg Scholarship is awarded annually to a group of exceptional educational professionals who are not currently members of PCACAC and who have not previously attended a PCACAC conference. PCACAC and its sponsors provide up to TEN scholarships for counselors to attend the 54th Annual Conference. Self nominations are welcome. 

This scholarship specifically targets counselors who work with historically underserved students, minority students or students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Each scholarship includes one year of free membership in PCACAC, one conference registration, hotel lodging (two nights, in room shared with another scholarship winner of the same gender or 50% of the cost of housing  for a single room), and transportation. 

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION by February 15, 2019.

The Inclusion, Access and Success Committee oversees the selection of scholarship recipients. Most of these colleagues work with minority populations or students from disadvantaged backgrounds. They may be high school counselors, two- or four-year college admission professionals, independent counselors or individuals working in such programs as KIPP, Upward Bound, the College Success Foundation, AVID, etc.  

Selected recipients and their nominators will be notified by March 8, 2019.  Award certificates will be presented to recipients at the 54th Annual Conference.  Nominee must make every attempt to attend the program if selected.

Thank you for supporting this professional development opportunity!

Sincerely,
Rachel Cleaver
Marion Flagg Program Chair
rcleave2@gmu.edu

Only 10 days left to submit your session proposal!

54th Annual Conference May 2-4, 2019 (Thu-Sat) Marriott College Park 3501 University Blvd East Hyattsville, MD 20783 Whether you've been in the profession for two years, twenty years, or more, we invite you to share your expertise and SUBMIT A SESSION PROPOSAL for our 54th Annual Conference at the College Park Marriott from May 2-4, 2019!  If you want to see what the program will look like, check out the Conference At-a-Glance. Proposals should be on any area of interest to high school counselors and college admission professionals, including hot topics like those on our list of Suggested Session Topics.  Session proposals can be for a full 75-minute session or for a 7-10 minute 'Anchor Talk'. Our conference sessions are the best opportunity for attendees to have a better understanding of the job they don't do and how it relates to the job they do! We are looking for motivated, passionate presenters for our conference sessions and welcome all session proposals. However, we'd like to see if we can get beyond the typical sessions to provide some deeper understanding of the college process from all sides of the desk. When thinking about what you'd like to present, please consider co-presenting with someone who can offer another view point on the same topic. For example, if you want to submit a session on working with transfer students, include a co-presenter or a panel of presenters who offer various view points, such as a 2-year college admissions counselor, a 4-year college admissions counselor, a high school counselor and/or a community-based organization.  A person from each of these areas can offer great insight into the same topic.  Completing the online form is easy if you have the following information ready before you submit: contact information for submitter and each presenter session title (70 characters or less) session description (75 words or less) current PCACAC membership status for all presenters/panelists - Organizations wishing to present a conference session must have at least one PCACAC high school or college member as a co-presenter. a brief biographical sketch of each presenter, to include educational background PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS interested in presenting for the first time at a PCACAC conference are invited to submit for a chance to receive free lodging for up to TWO nights if selected to present.  Conference registration and travel costs will not be covered. The following criteria and limitations apply: The proposal must be submitted by a public high school counselor who works in the PCACAC region. The counselor must SUBMIT the session proposal AND confirm that this is their FIRST TIME presenting at a PCACAC conference by selecting that option on the proposal form. The award applies only to the submitter, not other presenters mentioned in the proposal. Up to six (6) awards will be presented. Proposals are due by Friday, December 7, 2018. The session review committee is eagerly anticipating your session proposal submission! Be part of the conference team!  VOLUNTEER on the Conference Planning Committee (CPC).

PCACAC | www.pcacac.org/conferences | info@pcacac.org | 434-989-7557 Conference Chair:  Rosemary Martin, rmartin@stjohnschs.org Sessions Chair:  Joel Lang, jlang@paduaacademy.org

Submit Your Nomination for PCACAC's John A. "Jack" Blackburn Award

The PCACAC Past Presidents Committee invites you to SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION for a candidate deserving of the John A. "Jack" Blackburn Award for Ethics in College Admission.  This award will be presented during PCACAC's 54th Annual Conference at the College Park Marriott in Hyattsville, MD on May 2-4, 2019.   Nominations close on January 4, 2019.  Applications will be reviewed by the Past Presidents Committee and selections will be made by February 2019.

The Blackburn Award was established by the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC) in 2010 to honor the late Jack Blackburn, long-time Dean of Admission at the University of Virginia. Throughout his career, Jack served as an admirable role model promoting the highest ethical standards, integrity in our profession and equity in access to higher education. This award recognizes a member of our profession who exemplifies the qualities that made Jack Blackburn revered by his peers.

Criteria used for selection are:

• Commitment to the high ethical standards of college admission through sustained active involvement in the profession;
  
• Dedication to promoting equal access to higher education for all students.

Membership in PCACAC is not a criterion for selection but special consideration will be given to professionals in the PCACAC region.  If you are not currently a member, we invite you to enjoy the benefits of membership and JOIN TODAY!

If you'd like to support the 2019 Conference or partner with us on a specific conference event, stay tuned at www.pcacac.org/conferences to learn more.

Thank you for helping us recognize those who make a difference!

Sincerely, 

Mike Carter                
Past Presidents Committee Chair

Call For Session Proposals!

Whether you've been in the profession for two years, twenty years, or more, we invite you to share your expertise and SUBMIT A SESSION PROPOSAL for our 54th Annual Conference at the College Park Marriott from May 2-4, 2019. Proposals should be on any area of interest to high school counselors and college admission professionals, including hot topics like those on our list of Suggested Session Topics.  Session proposals can be for a full 75-minute session or for a 7-10 minute 'Anchor Talk'.

Completing the online form is easy if you have the following information ready before you submit:

• contact information for submitter and each presenter
• session title (70 characters or less)
• session description (75 words or less)
• current PCACAC membership status for all presenters/panelists - Organizations wishing to present a conference session must have at least one PCACAC high school or college member as a co-presenter.
• a brief biographical sketch of each presenter, to include educational background

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS interested in presenting for the first time at a PCACAC conference are invited to submit for a chance to receive free lodging for up to TWO nights if selected to present.  Conference registration and travel costs will not be covered. The following criteria and limitations apply:

1. The proposal must be submitted by a public high school counselor who works in the PCACAC region.
2. The counselor must SUBMIT the session proposal AND confirm that this is their FIRST-TIME presenting at a PCACAC conference by selecting that option on the proposal form.
3. The award applies only to the submitter, not other presenters mentioned in the proposal.
4. Up to six (6) awards will be presented.

Proposals are due by Friday, December 7, 2018. 

Be part of the conference team!  VOLUNTEER on the Conference Planning Committee (CPC).

We've Heard You: NACAC Board Will Propose Changes to New Membership Model

Over the past few weeks, on the NACAC Exchange and various social media platforms, there has been a vigorous and sometimes difficult discussion about our proposed new membership model. The Board of Directors has been listening closely to the conversation, and we have heard the concerns from those who believe that some of the proposed changes would adversely affect certain segments of the membership.

The board has met twice during the last 10 days and, during a call Monday evening, voted unanimously to revise the proposed model to address two of the most discussed provisions. These revisions would change the language in the proposed membership model in order to:

* retain member categories to ensure that individual school counselors working in institutions that do not support their NACAC membership still have the opportunity to be members of the association, with different dues for voting and nonvoting status; and

* retain voting privileges for retired members. 

Because the conference is just one week away, these proposed changes will have to be made via motions from the floor at the Annual Membership Meeting. Here are the motions that we have drafted:

*Motion for individual member categories
*Motion for retired members’ voting privileges

I encourage you to review and consider these new motions, along with the proposed membership model itself, before the Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, Sept. 29. 
https://www.nacacnet.org/about/governance/annualmembership/nacac-board-will-offer-changes-to-proposed-bylaws/

I believe in the value of our method of decision-making as an organization. The proposed membership model arose through an effort that included more than a year of study over the course of two boards, the help of a consultant specializing in membership strategy and research, multiple financial models for comparison, and consultation with sections of member-leaders via surveys at key intersections.

Putting items like this to the membership directly for a vote highlights that they are too important to be left to small groups behind closed doors. I’m sincerely pleased we are having this conversation now; it has been a very good thing—the sign of an engaged organization and a reminder of how dedicated and caring our members are.

Along with the Board of Directors, I also believe that, with the revisions put forth Monday evening, we have developed a powerful model for membership that can help NACAC attract new members, remain strong and continue to grow, and improve the overall member experience for all. 

Thanks again for your engagement in this important conversation. I look forward to seeing many of you in Salt Lake City next week.

David Burge
NACAC President

Chat with author Beverly Daniel Tatum

#NACACreads: "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?"

TONIGHT | 9 p.m. ET | Twitter Chat There's a reason it's a classic. Parents, educators, and others have turned to Beverly Daniel Tatum’s bestselling book for over two decades to better understand the dynamics of race in America. Those conversations continue to be critically important, so tonight #NACACreads will discuss the new edition of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College (GA), will answer questions about her recently revised book as we explore how racism continues to affect students as they make their way to and through college. The chat kicks off on Twitter at 9 p.m. New to #NACACreads? https://www.nacacnet.org/news--publications/publications/NACACreads/

NACAC Action Alert - Urge Your Representative to Oppose the PROSPER Act

Our records indicate that you have previously completed an Action Alert for NACAC. We invite you to urge your Representative to oppose the PROSPER Act by completing our Action Alert here. 

The Higher Education Act (HEA) was signed into law in 1965 with the intent of expanding opportunity and access to higher education in the United States. Since its creation, HEA has been reauthorized eight times; last renewed in 2008, HEA is currently up for reauthorization, which provides Congress the opportunity to make changes to the current law.

The Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity Through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act (H.R.4508) was passed out of committee by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and is now eligible to be brought to the House floor for debate. According to some Congressional staff members, Speaker Paul Ryan plans to do so in the coming weeks.

NACAC strongly opposes many of the provisions set forth by the PROSPER Act. Among the negative elements of the bill, the PROSPER Act:

• disinvests in need-based student financial aid; 
• eliminates the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant; 
• eliminates subsidized student loans; 
• eliminates Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which benefits college admission counseling professionals; and 
• eliminates or weakens a number of safeguards intended to protect students against unscrupulous, predatory institutions.​

The PROSPER Act is bad for students, educators, and taxpayers. Urge your Representative to oppose it.

Thank you,

NACAC Government Relations