WACAC Annual Conference
The largest event WACAC hosts for our members is our annual conference, held each spring. The conference helps our members unwind, rejuvenate and reconnect – and make the most of professional development opportunities during the three-day event. Extensive Pre-Conference Workshops and a one-day Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access workshop are held in conjunction with the conference.
WACAC Annual Spring Conference 2010 - Come Together!
It is time for us to come together, to share our concerns and ideas about the future of our profession, the future of our institutions. Members of our profession serve our students, families and institutions well. This conference will give you both practical training and insights into how to turn challenges into opportunities, but will also give you a wider view of what is happening now and what the future holds. At the same time, you will meet new people and establish new networks, while greeting and reinforcing friendships with your valued colleagues. While many would say we can’t afford it . . . we would say we can’t afford not to attend. We hope you agree.
Early Registration (through April 12)
Members - $145
Non-Members - $190
Regular Registration (April 12 through May 15)
Members - $175
Non-Members - $220
Late Registration (May 16 through May 28)
Members - $250
Non-Members - $295
On-Site, Walk In Registration
Members - $280
Non-Members - $325
Local Counselors’ Day (through May 15)
Members/Non-Members - $120/$165
Local Counselors’ Day (May 16 though May 28)
Members/Non-Members - $195/$240)
On-Site, Walk In Registration
Members/Non-Members - $225/$270
Conference Housing Information
2010 WACAC Conference-At-A-Glance
To register as an ATTENDEE click here
To register as an EXHIBITOR click here
Pre-Conference Workshops
IDEA Workshop: The 2010 Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Workshop is designed to assist educational professionals at all levels to work successfully with diverse populations whose needs in the college admission process differ from those of the majority population. All innovative high school guidance personnel, energetic enrollment management, admission, outreach and recruitment staffs are welcome to attend this exciting institute where dialogue, collaboration and cross-cultural awareness abound.
NACAC Certificate Training on College Admission Testing: Testing:
Creating a College-Going Culture: What Counselors Need to Know: Part of the Irvine Grant/College Board counselor training series, which offers best practices and research-based strategies for new and experienced counselors. The Nine Principles of Building a College-Going Culture provide the conceptual framework. Counselor leadership and advocacy skills are emphasized.
Counselors will analyze their school’s data in key areas such as curriculum, testing, and college-going rates. Counselors will be asked to take an inventory of college counseling activities at their school sites, identify areas for attention and improvement, and then create an Action Plan using the 9 Critical Principles and the College Counseling Sourcebook as a resource
Using and Creating New Technology for Admission Offices: Participants will have the opportunity to learn new strategies, gain skills, and share best practices about the fast changing world of electronic marketing and communications. In this hands-on pre-conference workshop, you will learn to create websites, host social media content, and other tolls related to technology. Participants are required to bring their own lap top to the session, as they will walk away with basic skills and a starting point to implement new technology in their perspective offices.
A Guide to Visual and Performing Arts: Secondary, community college and independent counselors will gain skills to advise their diverse artistic student body in selecting the right fit type of college and prepare their students for an arts based college application. The workshop will be a combination of interactive and breakout sessions for both the audition process as well as the portfolio component. Each participant will be included in both a mock audition and portfolio review similar to what a student applying the visual and performing arts programs are asked to do during the application process.
Selective College Admission: A Case Study Program: This workshop will offer participants the opportunity to evaluate several generic applications from a selective college’s perspective. Working together, we will walk through the evaluation of the application and make decisions as a committee. In the end, you will have a better understanding of how your students can better represent themselves in this competitive process as well as how the ideas of fit and match go beyond simple questions of GPA and test scores.
Creating a College-Going Culture: What Counselors Need to Know: Part of the Irvine Grant/College Board counselor training series, which offers best practices and research-based strategies for new and experienced counselors. The Nine Principles of Building a College-Going Culture provide the conceptual framework. Counselor leadership and advocacy skills are emphasized.
Counselors will analyze their school’s data in key areas such as curriculum, testing, and college-going rates. Counselors will be asked to take an inventory of college counseling activities at their school sites, identify areas for attention and improvement, and then create an Action Plan using the 9 Critical Principles and the College Counseling Sourcebook as a resource. 20 scholarships are available for counselors from public and charter high schools to attend.
A SAMPLING OF SESSION TOPICS OUT OF A TOTAL OVER 70 . . . YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS!
What’s New for Students / Counselors in the 2010-11 Common Application
Communicating to the Digital Mindset Generation in Today’s Recruitment Cycle
Representing the Underrepresented
Stealth Applicants: Realities and Myths
Analyzing Your Data and Putting It To Work For You
What Are Your Plans For RE-tiring?
The Developing Brain of Teenagers During the College Admission Process
If We Knew Then What We Know Now
Implementing a Regional Model of National Recruitment
Helping Students with Learning Disabilities Prepare For College
Effective Marketing In A Down Economy
Interviewing In The Digital Age
Building Trust: Working With Latino and Asian American Students and Their Parents
CCC-Your First Choice-Transfer Admission Guarantees and Honors Programs
Universities Facebooking A Void
Rational and Irrational Concerns About College Admission Testing
The 5 And 6 Year Plan is the New 4 Year Plan
College Admission Ethics
Trends In College Pricing
Engaging Students Online: Leveraging Online Events In The Enrollment Process
Deans and Directors Roundtable
New Media Recruitment and Rhizomatic Thought
Planning Ahead To Pay For College
Guiding Your Future Engineers
Small Public High Schools With First-Generation Students: Addressing College Access
WACAC Olympics Returns
This year’s conference will feature the reemergence of the WACAC Olympics. The modern Olympics will test mind, body, and spirit in an effort that will encourage all interested WACAC Olympians to COME TOGETHER and compete with and against their colleagues. While the core of each team will be made up of members from college admissions offices, each Olympic team will have representatives from the high school and independent counselor membership as well. You are encouraged to recruit your own high school and independent team members. Watch for a mailing with team registration details. Begin training now for events that include: College Catalog Discus, Timed Table Display, Dress for Success Relay, Mascots Challenge and Admissions Phone Call Memorization. For more information, contact Joe Romano by email: jromano@bcp.org.
WACAC Conference Scholarships
Each year, the WACAC Executive Board offers a limited number of scholarships to encourage new membership and to invite young professionals from secondary and postsecondary counseling/recruitment fields to preview our profession. Each scholarship will include conference fees and on-campus housing (double occupancy) to graduating college seniors, graduate students, high school counselors, and two year and four year counselors/recruiters.
In addition to the new professional scholarships, there are a limited number of matching grants (that’s called “tuition reduction” in college lingo!) for first-time secondary and postsecondary counselors/recruiters. The matching grant will only cover the conference registration fee but can help defray some of the costs associated with attending the conference.
For more information about Conference Scholarships, click here
WACAC Student Scholarships to Honor Counselors
WACAC will offer $500 scholarships to one high school student and one community college student from San Francisco to honor counselors for their efforts to support student success.
For more information about Student Scholarships, click here