PCACAC Admission Practices Committee's February Case Study - Multiple Choice Questions

As part of the PCACAC AP Committee's desire to proactively discuss ethics, we are sending out monthly "case studies." In these cases, we typically offer a situation and discuss whether the issue is in compliance with NACAC's Statement of Principles of Good Practices (SPGP).

And now for something completely different...This month's case study is a multiple choice competition. Anyone who would like to participate should submit answers to jtalmage@stpaulsschool.com by Feb 28. Those with the most right answers will be entered in a raffle for a $25 gift card. Correct answers and the winner will be announced in early March. Remember, if you have a question about a situation or SPGP, please contact a member of the AP Committee.

1.       Which of the following is NOT a Core Value of NACAC's SPGP:

a.       Professionalism

b.       Education

c.       Collaboration

d.       Social Responsibility

e.       All are core values of SPGP

2.       Which of the following is NOT a Member Convention of NACAC's SPGP:

a.       Members will make protecting the best interests of all students a primary concern in the admission process

b.       Members will provide accurate admission and financial aid information to students, empowering all participants in the process to act responsibly.

c.       Members will be ethical and respectful in their counseling, recruiting and enrollment practices.

d.       Members will look to provide confusing and inaccurate information to students and families in order to make the admission process as intimidating as possible. 

e.       Members will support a common set of admission-related definitions and deadlines.

3.       NACAC's SPGP does NOT provide an ethical framework for which constituents in the admission process?

a.       Admission Officers

b.       School Counselors

c.       Independent Counselors

d.       Students and Families going through the admission process

e.       Organizations that work with admission offices

4.       You can contact the PCACAC Admissions Practices Committee for which of the following situations?

a.       You encounter a practice that seems weird and you wonder if it is ethical

b.       You encounter a practice that is clearly a violation

c.       You are concerned that the SPGP needs clarification

d.       Your office is considering a new practice and would like to explore ethical issues of the practice

e.       All the above

5.       If you make an allegation or a complaint, which of the following is true?

a.       The member against whom you make an allegation will be told your name

b.       Your name, professional affiliation, position and even gender will not be shared

c.       Your name will be published on the PCACAC website celebrating your ethical integrity

d.       You will receive a Certificate of Integrity to post on your office wall

6.       In an admission letter dated February 14, Great U writes to a student, "Congratulations. Because we love your community engagement, we would like to offer you a Service Scholarship for $5,000. Please reply within thirty days to confirm your acceptance of this scholarship." What is the SPGP issue in this situation?

a.       The practice of thirty days reply is manipulating the May 1 common reply date

b.       Colleges should not be offering scholarship in an admission letter

c.       The letter needs to state May 1 explicitly

d.       There is no issue-colleges can have any deadline for a scholarship

e.       Both A and C

7.       MostPopular U is looking at the options they have for the admission process and wants to be creative in the admission options they offer students next year. Which of the following application plans are NOT allowed by the Statement of Principles of Good Practice?

a.       MostPopular First Choice Commitment

b.       MostPopular Earliest Early Action

c.       MostPopular Restrictive Regular Decision

d.       MostPopular Last Chance Admission

e.       All of the above

8.       A university has required a housing deposit in order for admitted students to hold a space in on-campus housing prior to the National Candidate Reply Date of May 1. Is this a violation of SPGP?

a.       No, housing is not a purview of the admission office

b.       No, so long as the housing deposit is refundable

c.       Yes, regardless of whether or not the housing deposit is refundable

d.       It depends.

9.       What does SPGP Mandatory Practice I. A. 2 state?

a.       All post secondary members agree that they will not use disparaging comparisons of secondary or postsecondary institutions

b.       All counseling members agree that they will not use disparaging comparisons of secondary or postsecondary institutions

c.       All members agree that they will not use disparaging comparisons of secondary or postsecondary institutions 

d.       All members agree that they will accurately represent and promote their schools, institutions, organizations, and services

e.        None of the above

10.   Joanie was crushed when she was put on the wait list at her first choice college. She deposited at her second choice which had offered her a nice financial aid package. On May 2^nd, she was thrilled to receive a call from her first choice college. Which scenario is acceptable under the SPGP?

a.       The admission officer said there was not much money left in the financial aid budget so he could not tell her what her package would be, but he needed her to respond  by the end of the day on May 3^rd.

b.       The admission officer followed up with a written email acceptance offer, but no award letter. He gave Joanie three days to respond.

c.       The admission officer let Joanie know she would receive an email the next day with her acceptance and award letter.  She would have a week to respond.

d.       All of the above.

If you wish to file a complaint, please complete a NACAC Confidential Complaint form. All personal information will be kept confidential, but the information will be forwarded to the appropriate affiliate AP Committee. This committee will follow up on the issue. 

Want to review previous case studies? 

View all of the Admissions Practices Case Studies on The Anchor here

Want to submit a case for consideration? Please e-mail the PCACAC AP Committee Chair at jtalmage@stpaulsschool.org.

We are excited to highlight another member of our profession...

Meet Dave Kraus who is the Director of Admission and Senior Athletic Liaison at Davidson College.

What led you into admission/college counseling?

Directly out of the University of New Hampshire, I was a middle school then high school English teacher and coach at a public school district in New Hampshire for 10 years.  When the opportunity presented itself to take an admission counselor at my alma mater, it seemed an interesting possibility to try for a few years.  Now, here we are 34 years later.  I have been incredibly fortunate in those years to work with two giants in the business.  I was hired at UNH by Stanwood Fish, now Dean Emeritus, and could not have had a better role model and mentor for my early career.  Stan’s vision, professionalism, ethics and calm laid the foundation upon which I have drawn many times through the years.  When I moved to Virginia accepting a position at Radford University, I had the privilege of working with and getting to know Jack Blackburn, Dean of Admission at UVA.  Jack was simply an icon in the admission world.  His intelligence, commitment to access, inclusiveness, and warmth are characteristics that I try to emulate daily.  I am no Stan Fish nor a Jack Blackburn but I like to think I have positively influenced my younger colleagues over the years.

What do you love most about your job?

Much has changed in the work since the mid ‘80’s, most notably marketing materials and certainly technology.  But the core of what we do remains the same, that is working with students and their families in an anxious and stressful time and helping them understand how the process works as they seek that good fit in their college choice—and reassuring that they will find that fit.  That remains the most enjoyable part of the work for me.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue leadership in PCACAC and/or NACAC?

I have always felt the admission/college counseling field in general attracts positive, can do people.  That is certainly true in the membership and leadership of PCACAC many of whom have gone on to important roles and leadership in NACAC.  So, my advice if you are thinking of getting involved is simply DO IT!!

What's one thing that most people don't know about you?

I am most definitely an “I” on the Myers Briggs Personality test.

How do you balance work/life?

Balance?  What’s that?  I am afraid that my junior colleagues do a better job on this than I.

What's a current trend or future issue you're passionate about right now?

Higher ed faces many challenges on the horizon but I would have to put affordability at the top of the list.  When I was a college student, one could work hard during the summer and pretty much earn the year’s expenses.  That certainly is not the case now.  The indebtedness with which students graduate presently is frightening.  Wish I could say I have the solution but this must be addressed.

What advice would you give to someone considering entering the admissions/college counseling profession?

This is good work and important work.  We are privileged to do what we do every day.  Join us!

Registration is open for PCACAC's Annual Conference and Pre-Conference Workshop!

Dear Colleagues,

You are invited to join us for the 52^nd Annual Conference, April 23-25, 2017 in Williamsburg, VA at the Kingsmill Resort. Rosemary Martin, Conference Planning Committee (CPC) Chair, and the CPC have been working diligently for the past few months to ensure that your conference experience is exceptional. If you have attended in the past, then you know the sessions are engaging as well as educational, networking is extensive, and the fun is endless.  The best part, of course, are the college admission colleagues!  So do your part and register today.

New this year - a Pre-Conference Workshop - PCACEC, Potomac & Chesapeake Admission Counselors Equity Collaborative, taking place Saturday & Sunday, April 22 & 23^rd.  Thank you to William & Mary for hosting this transformative session. Register for the workshop soon - attendance is limited to 40. 

For more information, visit www.pcacac.org/conferences and look for the following:

• Conference Registration Fees & Information
• Conference-at-a-Glance (a quick overview of the conference schedule)
• Sponsorship & Contribution Form
• Exhibitor Registration & Program Advertisement Form
• PCACEC Pre-Conference Workshop Location, Registration, & Fees
• PCACEC Pre-Conference Workshop Program
• Conference & Pre-Conference Registration Form 

Lodging is the responsibility of each participant. To book your guestroom at the Kingsmill Resort, call 800-832-5665 and speak with a reservations specialist. Tell reservations that you are with the PCACAC Conference to receive discounted rates.

Registration Fees - PCACAC members receive a $50 discount toward their conference registration. If you are not currently a member and would like to enjoy the benefits membership has to offer, please visit the Membership Information section on our Home page at www.pcacac.org and click on Join or Renew.

We look forward to gathering with our colleagues!

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Questions? We are happy to help!
Visit the PCACAC Conference Page: www.pcacac.org/conferences
General Information: Rosemary Martin, Conference Planning Committee Chair, rmarti2@umd.edu
Sessions:: Robyn Lady, Conference Sessions Chair, ralady@fcps.edu
Registration: Annie Hilten, PCACAC Executive Assistant, info@pcacac.org, 434-989-7557

Join Us for a New, Transformative Pre-Conference Workshop!

Dear Colleague:

In addition to attending PCACAC's 52^nd Annual Conference in Kingsmill Resort in April, we want to invite you to arrive early to take advantage of an exciting opportunity - The Potomac and Chesapeake Admission Counselors Equity Collaborative (PCACEC). PCACEC is an interactive preconference workshop for the discussion of diversity, equity, and inclusive practices in college admission and counseling.  At PCACEC, counselors and college admission officers will come together to engage in conversations that build multicultural literacy and will share best practices for advancing our profession, specifically focusing on issues that affect historically underserved and marginalized communities. Discussions at PCACEC are relevant for all members of the college admission community.

Dates and Times 

Saturday, April 22, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Sunday, April 23, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM     

(Saturday and Sunday attendance required for the workshop.)     

Location

The College of William & Mary - Office of Undergraduate Admissions

A pre-conference registration includes workshop meetings both Saturday and Sunday, a continental breakfast and lunch on Sunday, and topics such as "The Language of Diversity" and "Diversity and the Student Search Process."  For more information regarding PCACEC and to register, access the Location, Registration, and Fees guide or go to www.pcacac.org/conferences. To attend both the pre-conference workshop and the conference, look for the combination package price.  A discount (only for PCACEC) is available for institution members if two or more representatives (coworkers) register for the workshop together. To learn more about this special offer for institution members, email info@pcacac.org. Thank you.

Any questions? We are happy to help.
Visit the PCACAC Conference Page: www.pcacac.org/conferences
General Information: Rosemary Martin, Conference Planning Committee Chair, rmarti2@umd.edu
Sessions: Chris Miller, IAS Chair and Pre-Conference Coordinator, cmiller@glenelg.org
Registration: Annie Hilten, PCACAC Executive Assistant, info@pcacac.org, 434-989-7557

We are excited to highlight members who are newer to our profession or our organization!

Meet Libby Weith who is an Associate Director of College Counseling at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.

 

What led you into admissions/college counseling? Share your journey story!   

I started, as so many of us do, as a student worker in the Admissions Office.  (Looking back, I realize that my excitement for the field really started long before that as I had the best college counselor in the world when I was in high school!).  In addition to working and communicating with prospective students, I regularly presented information sessions, represented the institution at college fairs, and visited high schools.  I was hooked!  I was lucky to be able to join the admissions team and in doing so joined what I think is an awesome profession.  On the college side, I loved travel season – visiting all of my college counselor friends and sharing the outstanding opportunities that Furman offers to students.  It was through my travels that I learned of the position at SSSAS, and before I knew it I found myself living in DC and going to high school every day.  The best part: I love this side of the desk too!  My time in college admission counseling has been so rewarding and I have sincerely enjoyed working with young adults as they’ve made the transition from high school to college.

What do you love most about your job?

The students!  I feel so fortunate to work with creative, eager, dedicated, thoughtful, open-minded students each and every day.

What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue leadership (or membership) in PCACAC and/or NACAC?

Do it!  PCACAC is a truly remarkable organization.  We have an amazing opportunity to collaborate, share, and work together to find best practices in support of our students. I am constantly in awe of the wealth of knowledge and the experiences of all the outstanding professionals in the field.

What's one thing that most people don't know about you?

Two fun facts:

My family name is on the world’s largest catsup (ketchup) bottle in Collinsville, Illinois.

My sweet little pup is a regular PCACAC Conference attendee!

Registration for PCACAC's 52nd Annual Conference is Open!

Dear Colleague, 

Welcome to February! We are now more than halfway through the school year, and the best is yet to come, especially since the 52^nd PCACAC Annual Conference is April 23-25, 2017, at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA.  The Conference Planning Committee continues to work diligently to plan events you have attended in the past and are looking forward to again.  We need you to do your part - register for the conference!

REGISTRATION

A full conference registration includes sessions, meals, conference Social, exhibits, admission to the Counselors College Fair (exhibiting is extra), and covers all events from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday.  Visit our Conference page at www.pcacac.org/conferences to view the Conference-at-a-Glance and register using our online Conference Registration Form.  The Conference Registration Form is for individual registrations or a group of PCACAC members from the same institution. Please download and review Registration Fees & Details before completing registration.  Registration is open through Monday, April 10, 2016.  We do not offer on-site registration.                                                       

PCACAC members automatically receive a $50 discount toward their conference registration upon accessing 2017 Conference Registration form.  To enjoy the benefits membership has to offer, visit the Membership Information section on our Home page at www.pcacac.org and click on Join or Renew.

RESERVATIONS - Kingsmill Resort

The Kingsmill Resort has set aside guestrooms at discounted rates for PCACAC Conference attendees.  Call the resort's reservation desk directly at 800-832-5665 and indicate you are a PCACAC Conference participant to receive the special rates.  Rooms at the special PCACAC rate are limited, so be sure to reserve before April 8, 2017.  If booking on behalf of several individuals from your institution, please only reserve rooms for individuals that have confirmed they plan to attend.  Rooms begin at $139/night (single or double occupancy) and a charge for one night along with State and local taxes will be made at the time of reservation.

We truly look forward to seeing you there.

---

Any questions? We are happy to help.
Visit the PCACAC Conference Page: www.pcacac.org/conferences
General Information: Rosemary Martin, Conference Planning Committee Chair, rmarti2@umd.edu
Sessions: Robyn Lady, President-Elect & Conference Sessions Chair, ralady@fcps.edu
Registration: Annie Hilten, PCACAC Executive Assistant, info@pcacac.org, 434-989-7557

Statement from PCACAC

Dear Friends,

Potomac and Chesapeake ACAC joins our colleagues at NACAC in opposing this past Friday's executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Many of you have seen NACAC's response, sent via email to all members on Monday. NACAC stands firmly against the executive order and will continue its advocacy on behalf of its members and their students. International ACAC has also published a statement opposing it, as have several other affiliates.  

At NACAC's Legislative Action Center, you can email your members of Congress to oppose the ban. Colleges who are still accepting applications from the affected countries can publish that information on the International ACAC site. 

NACAC will hold its winter meeting in early March, and your PCACAC leadership team will be there. We expect this to be a major topic of discussion. We will keep you informed of NACAC's efforts as they develop, and we will continue to support you as you counsel your students.

Anthony Ambrogi, President, Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling

Mike Oligmueller, Past President, Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling

Robyn Lady, President-Elect, Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling