(Washington, DC) March 8, 2007 – Building on important gains in 2007, state and federal governments can take further strides toward strengthening college preparatory programs for the burgeoning number of students interested in postsecondary education by supporting graduate training for school counselors, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Members of NACAC, who are attending the association’s 26th annual Legislative Conference in Washington, March 9-12, urge Congress to assist states in developing graduate coursework to train current and future admission and counseling professionals to provide high quality postsecondary advising to students and families.
“Congress turned the tide in support of college access programs in 2007,” said Kimberly Johnston, NACAC president and Senior Associate Director of Admission for the University of Maine. “Reducing student loan interest rates, boosting funding for financial aid programs like the Pell grant, and establishing new programs like the College Access Challenge Grant program contributed to a positive environment for college access. However, increasing demand for higher education and insufficient support for high school students seeking postsecondary opportunities threatens to overwhelm our school counseling and college advising community. NACAC members have identified the development of graduate-level coursework at colleges and universities as a way to educate current and future professionals about the increasingly complex college access field.”
In addition to advocating for the development of graduate coursework in college admission counseling, NACAC members advocated for increases in federal programs that support college access and success, including:
- Increased funding for the Pell grant and other student aid programs
- Increased funding for GEAR UP, TRIO, and the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program
- Additional funding for states to offer college preparatory curriculum to all students
About NACAC:
NACAC is an Alexandria, VA-based education association of more than 10,500 secondary school counselors, independent counselors, college admission and financial aid officers, enrollment managers, and organizations that work with students as they make the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The association is committed to maintaining high standards that foster ethical and social responsibility among those involved in the transition process, as outlined in the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice.