Strategic Plan 2015-2018

Inclusionary Community Statement

In all that IACAC does, we embrace and celebrate the diversity of our organization, the students we serve, and the communities we strive to educate. With that in mind, IACAC should work toward building an organization which recognizes diverse perspectives, including but not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, demographics and tenure in our profession.

Goal 1: Membership

IACAC will continue to grow and to diversify its membership in recognition that membership is the backbone of our commitment to professional growth, development, education and service.

• Continue to increase college and university, high school, community based organization, independent counselor, and out-of-state membership, in an effort to increase access and education for the membership we support and the students they serve.

• Expand the geographic footprint of our membership across the state.

• Nurture current members and develop strategies to encourage new membership across the constituency.

• Develop ties with graduate programs throughout the state to foster awareness of IACAC and grow future membership.

• Deliberately identify leadership in IACAC that reflects the diversity of IACAC membership including, but not limited to, ethnic diversity, geographic diversity, diversity of experience (high school/college/independent), and institutional diversity (public/private).

• Create a deliberate and effective plan to communicate with new members.

• Become more inclusive by expanding membership to those with advocacy for transfer admissions.

Goal 2: Fiduciary Responsibility

IACAC will continue to demonstrate fiscal responsibility in the management of the day to day and future operations, budget planning, and decision making to ensure the financial health and longevity of the organization.

• Adhere to the established policies and procedures set forth in the IACAC Fiscal Policy while annually reviewing policies to identify necessary updates and changes.

• Maintain best practices and build on the goals of transparency, oversight, shared responsibility, inclusivity, and role specification in the budgeting process.

• Seek out additional revenue streams, including applying for outside grants, to offset the cost of new initiatives or programming that supports the mission of the organization.

• Enlist the assistance of a financial planner to help identify areas of strength, weakness, and opportunity in our savings and investment strategies.

• Develop a plan to reinvest our financial resources back into membership and Illinois ACAC services in meaningful and impactful ways.

• Expand the number and types of grants offered by Illinois ACAC to both members and non-members of the organization.

Goal 3: Educational Opportunities

IACAC will continue to evaluate and strengthen current programs, explore new opportunities to meet the needs of our diverse membership, and seek opportunities to collaborate with other organizations to foster collaboration, community, and growth. 

• Explore the use of web-based content and webinars for professional development and information exchange.

• Design and develop innovative and relevant programs that seek to cultivate the leadership skills of our membership, and respond to future trends and issues.

• Collaborate with other affiliates/organizations to provide professional development opportunities that promote collaboration, inclusive community, and growth.

• Continue to serve our membership and others seeking professional development with quality programs such as the Annual Conference, Summer Institute, the Bus and Plane O’Fun and MMI.

Goal 4: Outreach

In partial fulfillment of its commitment to inclusion, access and success for all students, IACAC will engage and actively collaborate with related organizations, as well as with communities of students and families.

• Continue to operate Camp College – an on-campus mid-summer experience enabling rising high school seniors to learn about the college search and enrollment processes.

• Expand delivery of association services and opportunities to members in all geographic regions of Illinois.

• Continue activist legislative advocacy, especially with elected officials involved in higher education committees.

• Continue to host and staff Motivate Me, a one day campus experience for rising Chicago area male sophomores, with primary focus on empowering them to achieve greater levels of academic achievement and preparedness for life/education after high school.

• Explore focused activity to continue addressing specific needs of special populations – exemplified in 2015 by “Sharing the Dream,” a comprehensive one day conference for professionals serving DACA and other undocumented students.

• Promote visibility of the Speakers Bureau, to enable sharing of Association expertise with students, families and institutions.

• Consider stronger affiliation with other professional organizations in which the agenda touches on counseling, admission and related processes. Examples include Illinois School Counselor Association, Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Goal 5: Brand

IACAC will continue to be a source of expertise to college, high school professionals, and the community in all areas of college admission counseling.

• Maintain publications such as membership brochure and association website to inform and educate new members, parents, students, government officials and the media what we do as an organization.

• Create a public relations plan that communicates what we do as an organization and establishes IACAC as a trusted, professional and ethical resource for populations such as parents, students, government officials and the media regarding issues concerning access to postsecondary educational opportunities.

• Seek opportunities and develop outlets to share our knowledge with colleagues, parents, students, government officials, and the media.

• Maintain consistent communication with local, state and federal legislators educating them on issues surrounding student access, funding, college counselor training, as well as the importance of college counseling within our schools.