Chief Delegate’s Report from NACAC Conference 2013
By Anne Kremer, former NACAC Chief Delegate
DePaul University
As delegates within IACAC, our responsibility is to represent the organization and membership of Illinois at the NACAC Annual Conference by attending the NACAC assembly meeting, vote for candidates nominated for board positions and on issues or recommendations for changes to NACAC policies and/or procedures brought to Assembly. This year was a big year with much discussion surrounding the Report of the Commission on International Student Recruitment with many voices and opinions shared inside the assembly. Your Illinois delegates were well informed on the issues and slate of candidates and did an outstanding job representing our membership. It was an honor to serve with them and I cannot thank them enough for their time and dedication to their role: Todd Burrell (Southern Illinois University), Anita Carpenter (Downers Grove South High School), Sacha Thieme (DePaul University), Lianne Musser (Lyons Township High School), Rob Walton (Northwestern University), Brad Kain (Homewood-Flossmoor High School), DJ Menifee (Knox College), Tony Minestra (Elmhurst College), and Amy Thompson (York Community High School).
2013 NACAC Assembly
The 2013 NACAC Assembly took place on Saturday, September 21st in Toronto, Canada. All 23 state and regional organizations were represented.
The slate of candidates for the NACAC Board of Directors was very competitive. The following candidates were elected during the 2013 Assembly:
President Elect
Jeff Fuller
Director of Student Recruitment at the University of Houston, Houston, TX
Elected Directors
Marie Bigham
Director of College Counseling, the Greenhill School, Addison, TX
Kim Chaffer Schroeder
Associate Dean of Admission, Transylvania University, Lexington, KY
Tom Weede
Vice President for Enrollment Management, Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Appointed Directors
Jim McCorkell
Chief Executive Officer of College Possible, St. Paul, MN
Statement of Principles and Good Practice
The 2013 assembly adopted the following changes to the Statement of Principles of Good Practice effective immediately.
SPGP Mandatory Practices Article I.A.3.
Insert the words “in the United States. Members who choose to use incentive-based agents when recruiting students outside the US will ensure accountability, transparency and integrity.” to read:
Members agree that they will: not offer or accept any reward or remuneration from a secondary school, college, university, agency, or organization for placement or recruitment of students in the United States. Members who choose to use incentive-based agents when recruiting students outside the US will ensure accountability, transparency and integrity.
There was much discussion regarding this change to the Mandatory Practices section of the SPGP as NACAC consists of domestic (US) and international members. Although the SPGP still states members will not offer or accept any remuneration for the recruitment of students, if a NACAC member organization chooses to do so, the SPGP now permits this kind of recruitment practice so long as the process ensures accountability, transparency and integrity. After much discussion and time dedicated to interpreting the recommendations of NACAC’s Commission on International Student Recruitment, the Assembly voted, given the realities of a changing, global landscape, that the language should pass.
NACAC delegates can anticipate further discussion regarding a “double standard” set between domestic (US) and international (non-US) recruitment practices thus allowing US universities to use and pay agents to recruit international students, but international universities (non-US) are not allowed to use the same practices within the US when recruiting US students. The new requirements will take effect after a one-year moratorium during which NACAC’s Admission Practices and International Advisory Committees will continue to interpret and refine the implications of the Assembly’s vote for US colleges and universities that recruit students from countries outside the US.
Read a full report of what transpired during the 2013 Assembly.
An interpretation of this SPGP Mandatory Practice.
Best Practices Article II.B.2
Change the word “and” to “or” between “written” and “electronic” and add the words “ Postsecondary institutions should not require a commitment from a student until the financial aid award and housing options, if any, have been provided.” after the word “policies.” to read:
All postsecondary members should: allow students a reasonable amount of time (at least 72 hours) 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.
Best Practices Article II.B.20.
Add the words “on a case-by-case basis, and when requested, grant flexibility on the institutional response deadline to admitted transfer students awaiting additional admission notifications” after “students.” to read:
All postsecondary members should: on a case-by-case basis, and when requested, grant flexibility on the institutional response deadline to admitted transfer students awaiting additional admission notifications.”
Status of Motions from 2012 Assembly
The delegates received updates on two motions that were proposed under New Business during the 2013 Assembly in Denver.
Last fall during the Membership meeting it was recommended to the board that they provide funding for a public high school counselor to attend the national conference, Guiding the Way to Inclusion Program, and Critical Components Program. At the December 2012 Board of Directors meeting, a motion was approved to advance $57,500 to the Imagine Grant Committee to support funding for counselors to participate in a local or national education or training opportunities as a pilot. Each of the 23 affiliates received $2500 and was charged with finding a deserving counselor or counselors to attend the aforementioned programs. In January 2013, the Imagine Grant Committee awarded $50,000 to 49 grant recipients. In addition, the Common Application provided a sponsorship of $80,000 to help support hotel, travel and registration fees for 76 secondary or independent counselors to participate in the 2013 Critical Components program. The grant application cycle for 2014 began in August and recipients from each affiliate will be awarded in January 2014.
As for the motion to explore the terms of “guidance counselors”, “guidance programs” and “guidance offices” in all of its reference and publications to make language more inclusive and pertinent to the profession, the Professional Development Committee has agreed to offer a position statement about this issue. However, due to staff and committee leadership changes this delayed the focus of this issue in 2013. This issue will continue to be on the agenda for the Professional Development committee in 2013-2014.
