NACAC Conference in Baltimore

I recently attended the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) National Conference in Baltimore. Over 5000 high school counselors, college admission professionals, independent counselors and exhibitors attended. Over the course of four days, I was able to connect with hundreds of professionals who are committed to helping students gain knowledge and information and navigate the often rocky or overwhelming transition to college.

I attended my first NACAC National Conference in late September 2001 in San Antonio, TX. Yes, right after 911 I flew to Texas. Even though the attendance was drastically reduced, I was none-the-less hooked. Why you ask? The opportunity to network with thousands of colleagues from all over the world, to attend presentations facilitated by talented and knowledgeable professionals and to learn about the latest trends and issues in the profession are key reasons why attending the National Conference is critical to my success as a school counselor. In addition, many counselors take advantage of the numerous college tours in the surrounding area offered before, during and after the conference.

Okay, so call me a conference geek, but attending a professional development opportunity like a national conference is like no other. Many of my peers are either resistant to or unable to get out of their offices for such things. It baffles me as to why this would be the case. Yes, I understand that attending such an event can be a financial challenge when budgets have been severely limited and many counselors have lost their jobs. There is also a burden for the school counseling office when someone is out for multiple days at a time. No one fills in to do my job when I am out, unlike a substitute teacher who is hired when a teacher is out. Others may argue that students suffer as a result of my being out as they will have to wait to see me, unless of course it is an emergency. Still others are just not conferences goers.

I would argue that I am a better school counselor as a result of my presence at the conference. The cutting edge information that I receive, relationships that I develop with colleagues on both sides of the admission desk across the world and product updates are irreplaceable and in fact allow me to give my students an edge over their peers in other schools in which counselors do not attend. Yes my students may not get an immediate answer to a question when I am out, but I feel they benefit more by what I bring back to them.

Professional development conferences also allow me to grow as a professional and give my school some much needed attention that it is often lacking. Monson High School is on the map because I attend a national conference. Additionally I often present sessions about issues that affect school counselors. In Baltimore I presented about resources that can help school counselors improve their services and how to use data to improve their college counseling programs, both topics which have relevance and direct impact on student success. As a result of my presentation, I obviously have had to do research which helps me grow professionally.

On a more personal level, national conferences also give me an opportunity to connect with friends whom I have met at previous conferences. I may only see these associates just once a year at the conference, but the friendships and relationships are crucial to making the conference more than just learning about what is new in my profession.

So what did I learn in Baltimore? There were no real hot button topics this year. Standardized testing and colleges going test optional are still a buzz for some. Others were focused on the economy and how students will be able to afford higher education. But the tried and true sessions such as finding a college for the B/C student or using technology to develop “the list” are still big draws.

Next year I will be in St. Louis, September 30 – October 2. I’ll figure out some way to pay for it and yes, my students will miss me for a couple of days, but they will survive just like they did this year and undoubtedly will be better because I was there. Will I see you there?

A PARENT’S GUIDE TO ALCOHOL, OTHER DRUGS AND YOUR COLLEGE BOUND TEEN

Do you have a child going off to college this fall or in the foreseeable future? Then you need to become educated about the challenges and issues that your child will face in regard to drugs and alcohol on college campuses. While asking about the drug or alcohol scene may not be on the top of your list of questions during a college tour or information session, it should be. Consider the following statistics:

• 43% of college students report drinking in a high risk manner at some point in their college career; 20% report drinking in a high risk manner often.
• Within the past year, 32.3% of college students have used marijuana, 6.5% have used amphetamines, 7.5% have used hallucinogens, 3.7 have used cocaine and 3.6% have used designer drugs such as Ecstasy.
• Drug and alcohol abuse has been the cause of tragedies such as date rape crimes, hospitalizations, suspensions/expulsions and even death
• Even those who do not engage in high risk behaviors are affected by student drug/alcohol use and abuse
• 60.5 % had study or sleep interrupted
• 53.6% had to care for a drunken friend
• 20.1% of women had an unwanted sexual advance and 1.3% have been a victim of a sexual assault or date rape
• 13.6% had property damaged
• 9.5% had been assaulted

While some campuses might be dry or the social scene may not provide the opportunity or acceptance of alcohol and drug use, most colleges are faced with the challenges of providing programs and incentives to discourage on-campus use and abuse and work hard to avoid the negative publicity that comes with the label “party school.” We often hear of riot situations where extensive damage occurs. This then results in arrests, suspensions and expulsions and even death, all because of behavior fueled by drunken students.

Since students may want to attend a school with a well-known party environment, it is up to parents to make sure the college is a good match.

Here are some things you can do:

Ask questions - Is there a culture of partying that starts on Thursday and carries over to poorly attended classes on Monday morning? What percentage of incidents that are part of the campus police log were drug or alcohol related? Does the institution accept advertising revenue from businesses that sell alcohol? Is there a Greek system and if so what is the policy about drugs and alcohol and initiation rituals?

Visit the campus - While most parents do visit a prospective campus, when you do visit are you looking specifically for clues about the drug and alcohol scene? Talk to numerous students and resident advisors. Wander through the residence halls checking out displays, bulletin boards and campus newspapers. Look for off campus bars or liquor stores in close proximity to the campus. Find out what programs exist late at night or on the weekends to provide alternatives to the drug and alcohol scene.

Provide factual information - Make sure your child is informed about the harmful effects of drug/alcohol abuse. Discourage dangerous drinking games or hazing activities that involve excess.

Be supportive - In addition to teaching your child about the negative consequences of drug and/or alcohol abuse, it is also imperative to offer him/her support around making good choices. Encourage him/her to seek activities and peers that will not be consumed with activities involving drugs or alcohol.

Be a positive role model - Make sure that as a parent you are modeling healthy and acceptable behavior. What is your belief system and level of consumption of alcohol or other drugs? If you possess a permissive philosophy then it is more likely that your child will think it is acceptable to use such substances.

Talk with your child - Parents are a key influence on the values and beliefs that their children possess. Listen to what your child has to say about drugs and alcohol. Find out what concerns s/he may have. Make it clear what you expect from your child and be vigilant about maintaining contact with him/her so you know what is going on.

Remember that parents are often unaware of the severity of a child’s drug/alcohol problem. Only three percent of parents think their child would have five or more drinks in a row during the past month. The reality is that thirty-three percent of teens do have five or more drinks in a row last month. While you may think now that your child is an adult, off at college and on his/her own, your responsibility is not over. Don’t let your child make mistakes that a little bit of effort, education and perseverance could have prevented.

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Links:

http://www.factsontap.org/