Note: The Issues & Advocacy section is temporarily undergoing construction. If you have trouble finding a page or document, please contact legislative@nacacnet.org.
Members in Action
NACAC members advocate for students at the federal, state, and local level. Here are some examples:
Michigan ACAC held their annual Legislative Advocacy Day to raise awareness of, and engage in discussions surrounding, the importance of college counseling. Attendees heard from policymakers, advocates and researchers throughout the day
and were invited to a viewing of the film Race to Nowhere, followed by a panel discussion, in the evening. Following the event, participants reached out to the State Board of Education to advocate for graduate coursework and professional development opportunities related to college counseling. Michigan ACAC also completed two rolodex projects in conjunction with the event to encourage legislators to attend and, subsequently, thank them for coming or provide them with informational materials. The event was sponsored by the College Board. Pictured are Michigan ACAC Government Relations Committee Co-Chairs Sarah Summerhill (left) and Patrick O'Connor (right) at the Legislative Advocacy Day.
Southern ACAC and
Potomac and Chesapeake ACAC held an Afternoon on the Hill as a part of their joint annual conference. Approximately 40 advocates from the two affiliates visited the offices of their U.S. Senators and Representatives to introduce their ACACs, discuss NACAC’s goal of including of provisions of the Pathways to College Act in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and urge Congress to keep the subsidized student loan interest rate at 3.4 percent. Pictured on the right are members of the
Georgia delegation of Southern ACAC at the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol.
Minnesota ACAC held its annual Day on the Hill last month to advance their
2012 Legislative Agenda, which included thanking legislators for their support of the Minnesota state grant program, raising awareness of the high student-to-counselor ratio in the state, and expressing support for legislation that would promote college readiness and school counseling services. Nearly fifty attendees participated in a training session and heard from Senator Mary Jo Maguire and Larry Pogemiller, a former State Senator and current Director of the Office of Higher Education. Advocates then met with nearly 75 legislators to discuss MACAC priorities. Pictured above are
Senator Chuck Wiger (DFL, MN District 55) and three MACAC members (L-R): Alan Stage, Chris Franken (MACAC President-Elect), and Kaylene Mrozinski.
Iowa ACAC held its annual Visit the Hill event in conjunction with the Iowa School Counselor Association last month to advocate for school counselors language in the upcoming education legislation, a commitment to keep the State of Iowa Tuition Grant for private colleges at its current level or above, and increased funding for Iowa Community Colleges. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds spoke about the Governor’s recommendations for World Class Schools to seventy participants- including admission representatives, counselors and students- many of whom later made visits to their state representatives and senators. Pictured on the left (left to right) are Iowa School Counselor Association’s Government Relations Chair Lisa Thompson-Gillespie, Iowa ACAC Government Relations Committee Chair Julie Fopma, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, and Heidi Hesse, a member Iowa ACAC’s Government Relations Committee.
See More Members in Action: Archives
Financial Crisis
Check out NACAC's Effects of the Financial Crisis page, which includes videos and resources related to the economic strain on college access and success.
Resources
Advocacy Toolkit: provides tips for scheduling and meeting with lawmakers, materials for use during state advocacy events, and information about advocating for NACAC priorities.
NACAC Advocacy Handbook: provides information about advocacy basics, federal and state advocacy efforts, and resources for preparing advocacy materials.
NACAC Knowledge Center Advocacy page: provides materials from your colleagues to assist in your advocacy efforts.
State Higher Education Finance FY 2010: produced by the State Higher Education Executive Officers to track state spending on higher education and national trends in enrollment and revenue.
Take Action at the Federal Level
What can I do to join in on the national effort to advance NACAC goals?
Take Action at the State Level
What can I do to advance NACAC goals at the state level?