International ACAC Executive Board Applications Now Open!  

It’s the most wonderful time of the year….

Remember the highly talented Nepali students whose scholarships were revoked this past April due to an administrative oversight? Here’s an update on how they’re doing:

Students have made their first attempts at carving pumpkins, and experienced their first snowfall. Some have built rockets in the desert for an Embry-Riddle course project and nearly all have found on-campus work. Roman Shrestha at U of Denver says, “I’m so happy to share that I got appointed as a lab assistant for my Chemistry professor. It is a great feeling to start my freshman year with this position.”

On the other side of the globe, the students at SUNY Korea are amazed at Korean efficiency as they watched a whole football field constructed within days. Students at NW Qatar are testing their journalism skills and sharing their stories, including this one by Krishna Sharma. Shashwat Maharjan just won Central Michigan University’s American Mathematics Society’s Annual Integration Bee - as a freshman!  

by Barbara Chen

In 1998, every Friday a mystery guest would come and read a book to my daughter’s entire kindergarten class. This ritual was the source of great excitement as each week, students would try to figure out who would be coming in to read, and what type of book they’d chose. The mystery guest was usually a parent, aunt, uncle or grandparent of one of the students. The teachers loved this tradition because it exposed students to a variety of styles of books from multiple English-speaking countries. Books and authors previously unheard of were now sought after in the weekly library visit, and given as birthday gifts. In a nutshell, this was story-time on steroids.

Chatter That Matters, December 2018 

Though the Trump Administration is not moving forward with a proposed ban on visas for Chinese students at American schools, it is pursuing a change in rules to limit the amount of time a student can stay on a visa.The status quo is that student visas are valid for the “duration of status,” meaning as long as the program of study lasts. The administration has not specified how long the time limits would be.

The University of Birmingham will begin to accept the Gaokao, meaning students who score at least 80% on the exam, as well as meeting other criteria, including English proficiency, will be eligible for direct admission without a Foundation year. This is part of a broader trend of Anglophone universities using the Gaokao as part of the admissions process.

President’s Corner : Celebrating Success & Looking Ahead
by Aaron Andersen, International ACAC President

NACAC and International ACAC: How we work together

Did you know...

International ACAC is an affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). NACAC has guided the evolution of college admission counseling into a recognized profession since its founding in 1937, and over the years has issued charters to affiliates—23 currently—that share a common mission to serve and support the needs of the admission counseling professionals and the students they serve. NACAC and its affiliates work together to broaden geographic representation through partnership programs, activities, and operations.

As Ronn Beck, director of international recruitment and admission at Salve Regina University (CT), recounts:

Getting Involved with International ACAC

by Johanna Fishbein, Past-President, International ACAC

We always tell our students that it’s important they get involved in their community; whether that’s service, activities, sports, and much more - universities value involvement. Well... we at International ACAC feel the same way; we want our members involved!

We fully recognize that time is not something readily available, so there are many different ways to get involved - some that require much more of a time commitment than others. In February of 2018 we held a webinar on Getting Involved with International ACAC which you can access here. As we look to 2019, here are some ways you can consider getting involved:

Getting Involved: The Benefits of Board Service

by Kristin Dreazen, President (2016-2017)

As a brand-new international admissions counsellor in 2001, I had no idea what to expect when I went to my first OACAC Conference at Clark University. I had been to other ACAC conferences but, leaving campus after that week, I knew that OACAC was something really special. I was welcomed and made to be ‘part of the family’ and those members I met all those years ago are still mentors and friends.  Since then, what is now International ACAC contributed so much to my own personal and professional development that when the opportunity to give back in the form of Board service presented itself, I felt compelled to get involved.

Being part of the incredible – and ever-changing - group of people that makes up the Executive Board, first as a Delegate and then as part of the Presidential Team, was an amazing experience.  I gained a deeper understanding of the Association and the membership – now, so different than when I joined; was given the opportunity to shape the future direction of the work done on behalf of the members; and had the privilege to represent their voices in NACAC’s Assembly as it debated and voted on matters dealing with commission-based agents and the revamp of the SPGP (among other things).   

Having finished my service on the Board just a few short months ago, it’s still hard to quantify exactly what it has meant but in the short term, I am grateful for the time spent in conversation and at work with such a smart, dynamic, hard-working, and collegial group of colleagues on the Board. 

Association Annual Award Winners: In Their Words

Last Spring the International ACAC board placed their votes for three awards that honor leaders in our field. These include the Distinguished Service Award, the Rising Star Award, and the Peter Hauet Lifetime Achievement Award. This year the awards went to some inspiring individuals who have made big contributions to International ACAC over the years.

Jenny Tassell and Christine Grover were selected for the International ACAC Rising Star Award for their service to their students and our community, especially due to their tireless work in organizing the recent International ACAC Regional Institute in Panama City.

Jenny writes, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this great honor.  There is really no other association like International ACAC.  I have been lucky enough to have some amazing mentors who have encouraged me to keep pushing myself towards goals that have seemed too challenging at times.  Fred Johnson, Juan Camilo Tamayo, Ray Marx, Meg Mahoney, Christine Grover, and Jolynn Vallejo to name a few.  Everyone in this association wants its members to become more involved and they will encourage you every step of the way. 

In Panama it all started with helping to create the Panama School Counselor Association (PASCA).  With the amazing counselors in Panama we worked hard to help Panama become a place that was easy to navigate and welcoming to all university reps that came here.  We created the PASCA website which has become a model for other countries. 

What characteristics do colleges seek in an applicant? Ask Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.

Written by Barbara Carletta Chen

A recent article on CNBC’s website revisited Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos’ 1998 Letter to Shareholders in which he shared his three essential interview questions for new hires. The article struck a chord; not because I am seeking a job with Amazon, but because it was published on August 1^st, the day The Common Application went live for the 2018-2019 application year.

Calling all members with an interest in UK Advocacy

A UK All Party Parliamentary Group is currently conducting an inquiry into international students in the UK. Details of the inquiry:  

http://www.exeduk.com/appg-for-international-students/inquiry

The Advocacy and Outreach Committee are keen to submit a written response to this by the deadline of 3^rd September.

The focus of the response will be from high school and independent counsellors as our UK HE members views will be represented by UUK. We will however work with UUK to ensure our responses are coordinated as much as possible. In order to capture the views of high school and independent counsellors AOC have developed a brief survey for high school and independent members:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BPMQ2LT

Admissions Practices Committee In Depth

In the past few months you may have heard a lot about the NACAC and International ACAC Admissions Practices (AP) Committee. So how does this whole AP thing work? Our wonderful Vice President of Admissions Practices, John Wilkerson, has written a blog post to explain it all! We hope you, the membership, will find this helpful and as always, if you have any questions, let us know! Happy reading. - Johanna Fishbein, President of International ACAC

International ACAC members’ commitment to ethical and principled conduct in our work is regularly displayed.  As massive shifts in global dialog unfold, and civil discourse and behavior are often less prevalent among influential world leaders, the importance of conducting our work with integrity and reliability cannot be overstated. 

Late last year, the NACAC legislative assembly unanimously agreed to adopt a new incarnation of the Statement of Principles of Good Practice (SPGP).  Now titled, SPGP: NACAC’s Code of Ethics and Professional Practices (SPGP: CEPP), the standards of consideration and behavior set forth in the new document provide clearer guidance and increased transparency regarding the ethics and governance of the work of association members.   As a membership organization, the code of conduct and the bylaws that govern them are written by and voted upon by NACAC members. 

Review Updates to our Bylaws

Approximately every three years, the Executive Board reviews and, in many cases, recommends updates and amendments to the International ACAC Bylaws.  This year we undertook this process and will be presenting an amended bylaw document at the General Membership Meeting in New Orleans on Wednesday, July 11. 

You can see the amended Bylaw document here.  We offer a few notes on the changes you’ll see:

• Many fall under the area of ‘clean-up’:  fixing spacing and formatting, listing VPs and committees in alphabetical order, making sure that we are consistent in the use of names and titles across the document (and the International ACAC Policies and Procedures).
  
• All references to NACAC’s Statement of Principles of Good Practice (SPGP) are updated to reflect the new document’s name:  Statement of Principles of Good Practice:  NACAC’s Code of Ethics and Professional Practices.
• The Standing Committee list is updated to include the Professional Development Committee.
• Updated the names of two Vice Presidents and the corresponding Committees to better reflect the work they do.
• Amended Article VII, Section 13, regarding the removal of an Executive Board member to align with laws governing not-for-profit organizations in the Commonwealth of Virginia (where we are incorporated).
• Added Article XI, Section 1b, regarding the calling of special meetings, at the suggestion of NACAC.

Prior to the meeting in New Orleans, we invite members to read through the proposed changes and contribute to the public feedback period, which will close on July 6. 

8 Summer Activities in New Orleans!

Staying for the weekend after International ACAC? We’ve got you covered. While New Orleans is famous for its food and music, there are many other ways to take in our great city. Whether it be the World War II Museum, one of our great art galleries, or an outdoor adventure, there are so many great ways to spend a day in New Orleans. Here are 8 of our favorite summer activities.

Running of the Bulls: This is hands down one of the best festivals in town. South Louisiana is home to over 300 festivals per year, and San Fermin in Nueva Orleans is a highlight every summer. Lucky for us, this year’s festival will take place right after International ACAC. SFNO is a recreation of the encinerro from Pamplona, Spain. However, our version is a little safer in that instead of running from bulls, you’ll be running from roller derby girls! Don’t get too complacent though- these bulls still pack a punch!

Our Favorite Restaurants Close to Tulane and Loyola

Welcome to New Orleans! We are so excited to host the International ACAC Conference here at Tulane and Loyola. It is going to be an amazing few days, especially for those of you who have never visited our city before. New Orleans is ranked time and time again as one of the best food cities in the world, so picking one spot is always tough. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite restaurants close to our Uptown campuses that we hope you get to try during your trip! Bon appetit!

Saba: Just a few blocks from Tulane, Alon Shaya has just opened his brand-new restaurant and it does not disappoint. Similar to his previous restaurants, Saba offers incredible modern Israeli food which would make sense as Saba means grandfather in Hebrew. The pita and lamb hummus will probably change your life forever.

Clancy’s: Located Uptown just on Annunciation Street, Clancy’s is tucked in a residential neighborhood but is home to amazing Creole cooking. Drawing influences from French cuisine, Clancy’s serves up delicious plates of everything from veal to tuna to lemon icebox pie. They also have an extensive drink menu.

How to Win in Dodgeball
-or- 
at least look cool trying

By Tracey Grimm
Lincoln School, Costa Rica

It can be said, in no uncertain terms, that the International ACAC Dodgeball Tournament is a highlight of the annual conference. What started with only 12 rag-tag teams at the TCU conference in July of 2006 has morphed into the epicenter of entertainment for higher ed folks and college counselors alike. Seriously, where else will you find cow costumes aplenty, David Zutautas on the mic and a gaggle of overly-competitive Jesuit university reps eager to trash talk anyone who mentions the fact that they were out in 1st round last year? 

INTERNATIONAL ACAC SCHOLARS 2018

By: Harvey A. Miller Jr, University Counselor, United World College Costa Rica; Tina MacDonald, Associate Director of International Admission, Bentley University; Joe Tavares, High School Counselor, Jakarta Intercultural School;

Efua Adabie is unapologetic about pushing her students to venture outside their comfort zones.  As the founding principal of a high school in Ghana for high-achieving, low-income African girls interested in STEM fields, Efua challenges students to innovate and solve problems that exist on the African continent.  

Efua is a role model for taking on new challenges herself. With limited resources and no formal training, she has successfully created a college guidance program that has helped students at her high school go on to universities in Ghana as well as Minerva in the U.S. and University of Edinburgh in the U.K.

International Counselors react to next year’s ACT changes

By Robbie Jefferiss, University Advisor, United World College of South East Asia

On September 7th 2017, most counselors in Asia didn’t even make it to their desk before they were inundated with forwarded emails or stopped in the hall by panicked students.  “Did you hear the ACT is cancelled? What are we gonna do?”

The unexpected and sudden announcement by Hobsons - Naviance on January 23, 2018, that they were pulling out of the international market came as a surprise to everyone. While complaints about Naviance had been increasing over the years, its impending death caught international counselors off guard. On June 30, 2019 Naviance will be gone.

The five stages of grief proposed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book On Death and Dying seemed to sum up what many counselors were voicing on Facebook and in email messages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

For many counselors, Naviance is the only software platform they have used. Some had been using Naviance (and for the really old-timers, its predecessor, “The College Counselor-TCC”) for 20+ years. When founders Steve Smith and Shaun Fanning launched Naviance, it quickly became the platform of choice and revolutionized the way counselors did their job. Unfortunately, after Hobsons bought it out, Naviance lost much of its lustre.

International ACAC Members on Capitol Hill participating in Advocacy Day (Left to Right: Anne Ostro Richardson, Brendan Graham, and Juan Camilo Tamayo)