2021 Virtual Summer Institute Schedule

Many thanks to our Presenting Partner, Compass Education Group

Sunday, June 27 5:00 - 5:45 ET / 2:00 - 2:45 PT First-timers Session If this is your first SI, or your first ACCIS event ever, we’re thrilled to have you join us to meet some of our member-leaders to answer any questions about ACCIS or Summer Institute before our official program kicks off tomorrow.

Monday, June 28

11:15 - 11:45 am ET / 8:15 - 8:45 am PT Opening/Welcome Join ACCIS Executive Director Emmi Harward and co-chairs Lisa Clay (The Out-of-Door Academy) and Lesley Klecan (St. Mary’s School) as we kick off our virtual Summer Institute.

12:00 - 1:00 pm ET / 9:00 - 10:00 am PT Keynote Speaker - Nicole Brittingham Furlonge, PhD Professor and Director of the Klingenstein Center, Teachers College Columbia University Thank you to Revolution Prep for sponsoring our Keynote! Listening as We Counsel: Responsive Practice for College Counseling Leadership How might listening play a transformative role in our practices? For this generative session, we will spend a good deal of time collaborating and listening with one another. As we do so, we will tune in particularly to equity, inclusion, social action, and belonging work in our schools and our college counseling practices. Drawing from Zora Neale Hurston's notion of the power of "hungry listening," Nicole will explore this ethical mode of engagement and its potential for creating enduring change in schools and, in particular, the systems and practices we design for student and family engagement in the college search process.

1:30 - 2:30 pm ET / 10:30 - 11:30 am PT Session 1

Beyond Borders: Promoting Access to International Universities Tiffani Hooper, United Nations International School and Maude Bond, The Cate School Higher education in the United States is one of the most expensive tertiary systems in the world. Countries like Canada and the Netherlands provide affordable options for students looking for quality education at a reasonable cost. These opportunities are crucial for low-income, first-generation, and international students in need of more moderately priced university choices and a potential path to citizenship. Whether it is a dual enrollment or joint program, a specialized degree or American university campus abroad, we will explore how to research and apply to higher education programs around the world, and examine the barriers for high-achieving, under-resourced students in considering international university options. 1 Session 1, continued 1:30 - 2:30 pm ET / 10:30 - 11:30 am PT

Parents of First-Gen Students: Creating Programming and Community Gabrielle McColgan, Castilleja School; Alyson Tom, Castilleja School; Alexis Richardson, Crystal Springs Uplands School; and Jasmin Taylor, Francis Parker School How can we better support the parents and guardians of our first-generation college students? Hear from three schools in different stages of implementing parent programming and community building to ensure that all parents and guardians feel empowered to support their children as they apply to college.

COVID-19 and International Student Challenges Moira McKinnon, Berwick Academy; Radha Mishra, Hun School; and Chris Miller, Sandy Spring Friends School Our international students have faced a unique set of circumstances throughout the pandemic. From remote learning in different time zones, to heightened challenges and stress around standardized testing, have these students been disadvantaged in college admissions? If so, how can we adjust our practices to support our international students in the best ways possible? This session will explore the dynamics facing students from multiple global regions, the impact of test-optional on their application process, and the challenges they may face in a post-COVID admissions world.

2:30 - 3:30 pm ET / 11:30 - 12:30 pm PT Break

3:30 - 4:30 pm ET / 12:30 - 1:30 pm PT Session 2

So.....Now What? Post-SPGP/CEPP/DoJ Ethics Landscape in College Counseling Jonah O’Hara, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School; Matt Lane, Branson School; Ruby Bhattacharya, Barnard College Is May 1 still a universal reply date? Do ED agreements mean anything anymore? What do you do when you see NACAC and affiliate members acting in their institutional self-interest, leaving students and families to pay the price? Two ACCIS members on the NACAC Admission Practices National Committee will partner with an affiliate Admission Practices Chair to discuss where we are today, what you can do, and how you can support your families.

DTA Today. . . and Tomorrow: Taking Data from Stats to Stories Janet Weller, Roland Park Country School; Gregg Murray, The Hun School of Princeton; Sandra Sohne-Johnston, St. Anne’s-Belfield School; Louis Trujillo, Saint Ann’s School; John Reilly, Trinity School Have you ever wondered how to make the data stories of our profession more accessible to your school community? Are you eager to hear key takeaways from the Data Trends and Analytics Committee's DTA Today webinars? Do you have data trend ideas you'd like the committee to explore? If so, the DTA Committee invites you to join a conversation about what we learned by hosting DTA Today webinars this year. In this interactive session, we'll share our stories, ask which ones you want to hear, and discuss what's next!

2 Session 2, continued 3:30 - 4:30 pm ET / 12:30 - 1:30 pm PT

Be You to Find Them: How Authenticity Enhances the Counseling Relationship Pamela Ambler, Pace Academy; Jessica Hardy, St. George's Independent School; and Julie Carter, Episcopal School of Jacksonville While the key components of what makes a healthy relationship - trust, respect, vulnerability, support - have not changed, the conditions of engagement are absolutely different during a double pandemic within the college search process. With the shared experience that “netiquette” challenges us to make meaningful connections, let’s discuss creative methods for building and maintaining authentic relationships with families to attempt an equitable college search. Presenters will discuss active listening, thoughtful surveying and assessments, strategic visibility as well as professional vulnerability. Bring your ideas as well!

Connecting with Students Where They Are (on Social Media) Berta Liao `Iolani School; Celeste Surís-Rosselli, The Baldwin School of Puerto Rico; Allison Camp, The Hockaday School; Jim Sargent, The Bush School; and Betsy Barry, Western Reserve Academy This past year has made even more clear the necessity of connecting with students through an inclusive, comprehensive communications strategy. Social media offers a more organic platform to spotlight a diverse range of educational and career paths, voices, and perspectives. How can we effectively utilize this platform? In this session, we will introduce teens' social media preferences and then focus on how we utilize Instagram to engage and educate. Besides sharing what works and what hasn't, we'll also delve into the mechanics of developing and implementing a social media communications plan. Come share your experiences and brainstorm exciting content to powerfully connect with your community!

Tuesday, June 29

11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET / 8:00 - 9:00 am PT Session 3

Finding Your People: The Importance of Connection, Mentorship, and Creating a Community Julia Baker, Moses Brown School; Juan Acosta, The Westminster Schools; and Matt Mettille, Menlo School After meeting 15 years ago in graduate school, these three ACCIS members continue to be close friends. Along the way, they have leaned on each other’s experiences, opportunities, networks, and friendships as a way to find joy and longevity in the field. They live in different parts of the country, work in different office settings, and seek out different professional opportunities. This session will illuminate the importance of peer mentorship and how camaraderie outside one’s own school can strengthen and lengthen the career of a college counselor in independent schools. We will also discuss the particular importance of mentorship and support as it relates to issues of DEI as panelists speak to their experiences in BIPOC and white allyship spaces with colleagues beyond their own schools. You will learn how to find others with shared experiences and how to get involved outside your immediate school community to advance DEI initiatives and stay energized in the profession. 3 Session 3, continued 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET / 8:00 - 9:00 am PT

Pack your Bags: College Counseling Overseas Anne Richardson, The American School in London; Chemeli Kipkorir, Shanghai American School; Bridget Herrera, American International School of Dhaka Have you ever thought about working abroad? Join a discussion with three college counselors who have ventured abroad, working in such diverse places as South Africa, the UK, Bangladesh, China, and Brazil. Explore the personal and professional joys, challenges, possibilities, and practicalities of working in multiple school systems, curricula, languages, and cultures with a globally mobile population.

From Idea to Implementation: Creating, Engaging, and Promoting a College Counseling Advisory Board Michelle O’Donnell, Lancaster Country Day School; Ellen Deitrich, The Hill School; and Corinne Logan, St. Joseph's Preparatory School Many college admission offices maintain their own advisory board, but what happens when the idea is reversed and high schools are the ones asking colleges for their insights and ideas? This session will feature three different schools that have created and implemented their own college counseling advisory boards. What was the creation process like, what were the goals, and how did it go? And what did the schools learn about different aspects of the community and their own departments by applying a DEI lens in their approach? Join us as we discuss our advisory boards and how feedback helped each school improve their work with different populations.

Stress, Anxiety and Student Psychological Health: Root Causes and Approaches for Success - A Case Study Jeffrey Durso-Finley, Lawrenceville School and Holly Burks Becker, Lawrenceville School Student psychological unease and stress in our schools seems to increase annually. College admission often gets blamed, but the sources of student stress generate from a more widespread set of forces and the solutions demand both similarly individualized and broad-based approaches. We've taken on this challenge in our programming and hope to share what we've learned in the recent past, proposed continued adjustments for the future, and how to support a college-bound generation that faces profound social and global stressors - while they simultaneously try to apply to college.

12:30 - 1:30 pm ET / 9:30 - 10:30 am PT Roundtables Roundtables are facilitated discussions among members to collaborate in finding solutions to issues and to crowdsource best practices. Topics for discussion are listed below; choose one to attend. Roundtable discussions will NOT be recorded.

Investing in Different College Counseling Office Structures Facilitated by Matthew DeGreeff, Middlesex School and Sam Bigelow, Middlesex School

Religious Mission Driven Schools - How to Keep Up Facilitated by Candy Navarro, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Roberto Dimas, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy

4 12:30 - 1:30 pm ET / 9:30 - 10:30 am PT Roundtables, continued

Navigating the NCAA Clearinghouse and Athletic Recruiting in COVID Times Facilitated by Nicholas Bell, Taft School and Derek Gueldenzoph, Kimball Union Academy

Benefits of Mindfulness in Navigating the College Process Facilitated by Sherri Riggi, Rutgers Preparatory School and Shelley Krause, Rutgers Preparatory School

1:30 - 2:15 pm PT / 10:30 - 11:15 am PT Break

2:15 - 3:15 pm ET / 11:15 - 12:15 pm PT Affinity Groups Affinity groups provide an opportunity for discussions within safe and supportive spaces defined by membership in a specific identity group. These are identity, NOT ally spaces. Affinity Group discussions will NOT be recorded. While these identities will be meeting during Summer Institute, in the future we want to offer affinity space for additional identity groups. If you are willing to facilitate discussions for an affinity group that is not listed, please contact DEI Committee co-chair Stacy Richardson.

Asian and Pacific Islander Affinity Group Black Affinity Group Latinx Affinity Group White Affinity Group - Anti-Racist Accountability and Learning Space

3:45 - 4:45 pm ET / 12:45 - 1:45 pm PT Session 4

Admission Testing and the Surging Test Optional Movement Matty Steiner, Compass Education Group; Eric Anderson, Compass Education Group In response to the pandemic, colleges have radically adjusted their admission testing policies. This session will explore the motives, trends, implications, and unpredicted “silver linings” of the complex and layered test optional movement. The presenters will also share their observations of how students are using their newfound agency – if/when to test, if/when to submit scores – as they redefine their relationship with the ACT and SAT.

Planning (& Scheduling) Your Communication Strategy for the Academic Year Becky Torre, Scoir; Gabby Riva, Scoir; Michelle Rasich, Rowland Hall Join Scoir staff and an ACCIS colleague to walk through best practices and tips for setting up an effective communication strategy with students and their families throughout the academic year. We'll address messaging themes and resources that can be included to help students to ensure there is effective planning for the college-going and admissions journey for all.

5 Session 4, continued 3:45 - 4:45 pm ET / 12:45 - 1:45 pm PT

Enriching Your College Readiness Program with Virtual Events: What We've Learned From COVID Ben Neely, Revolution Prep; Jawaan Wallace, Marlborough School; Chris Miller, Sandy Spring Friends School; Ed Devine, Xavier University COVID moved most events and programs from in-person to online without much forward thinking. Counselors discovered that some programs work well in the virtual space and others are better in person. Looking back on the last year, counselors have an opportunity to intentionally redesign their college readiness programs to have a nice blend of in-person, virtual, and hybrid programs. There are many things to consider such as engagement, participation and attendance. The design and execution of programs need to be re-evaluated as well. This will be a very interactive session where two college counselors, an experienced admissions representative, and a virtual learning expert will discuss how we can, and will, continue to use virtual learning for college counseling post COVID.

Beyond FAFSA Night: Advanced Training on College Affordability Cyndi Menegaz, SMARTTRACK College Funding; Kelly Richards, St. George’s School College counselors work hard to help their students discover and attend natural-fit colleges but the results can be disappointing when financial realities limit student options. Part of the problem is that counselors lack resources to educate parents about college funding beyond how to apply to FAFSA and private scholarships. While helpful, these strategies are rarely enough to make college affordable. In this session, attendees will learn from a college funding educator and a fellow ACCIS member how to easily and significantly improve their financial aid education modules. The result? More students attend their choice schools because families are better prepared to pay for it.

Wednesday, June 30

11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET / 8:00 - 9:00 am PT Session 5

Legislative Advocacy from the College Counseling Office Joe Freeman, Beacon Academy, Lauren Cook, Jewish Community High School of the Bay, and Alyson Tom, Castilleja School An introduction to the world of legislative advocacy through ACAC government relations, this session aims to educate members about what advocacy is, how ACCIS counselors can engage in it, what factors and considerations should be taken into account when participating from an independent school desk, and how advocacy can fulfill larger professional goals around access, equity, utilizing privilege for a greater good, and the development of transferable skills.

6 Session 5, continued 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET / 8:00 - 9:00 am PT

Growing Counselor Engagement through Resonant Leadership Tim Cross, The Lawrenceville School The concept of “employee engagement” originated in the corporate world but has gradually become a tool in education used to understand the physiological, emotional, and cognitive responses and/or connections that employees have with their institutions. Leaders of college counseling offices have the ability - and responsibility - to support engagement in their counselors because studies show that student learning outcomes correlate directly with educator learning and growth, an important element of employee engagement. Explore employee engagement in independent schools, the need to tailor support for counselors with an equity lens for personal growth, and the methods of authentic and resonant leadership needed to maintain a successful and inclusive office.

When Your Trustees Need Help Looking Beyond the College List: What Matters More? Blythe Butler, Catlin Gabel School; Bill Ouellette, Catlin Gabel School; and Michelle Rasich, Rowland Hall The annual college counseling report to the trustees is often expected to focus on a familiar slide deck full of admit rates, lists of colleges, and “deliverables.” Presenters will discuss how to meet expectations for these metrics and give board members an experience that highlights the richness and depth of the college search process using more inclusive measures. To help trustees think differently about how to measure success in multiple ways, we will share examples of an interactive workshop, panel discussions, statistical measures, and broadened ideas of what a board report can look like. Attendees are encouraged (but not required) to come prepared to share shifts in board communication practices that have worked well for them.

ACCIS's Commitment to Anti-Racist Action - Holding Ourselves Accountable Emmi Harward, ACCIS; Michele Davis, The Walker School; Stacy Richardson, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School; Lisa Clay, The Out-of-Door Academy; Andrea Pien, Friends' Central School; Frank Cabrera, Horace Mann School; Vicki Englehart-Thompson, St. Mary’s Episcopal School; and Amy Rogers, Miss Porter's School Last winter, ACCIS shared our Commitment to Antiracist Action to challenge the Association and our members to engage in much needed work. Initial recommended Action Steps were outlined as we reminded ourselves that our intent was a call to action and a beginning, not something to check off a list. We'll update members on where we are with those steps, additional items we've added, and seek feedback on more steps for the future. Come prepared to listen, share, and offer suggestions.

12:00 -12:30 pm ET / 9:00 - 9:30 am PT Break

7 12:30 - 1:30 pm ET / 9:30 - 10:30 am PT Roundtables Roundtables are facilitated discussions among members to collaborate in finding solutions to issues and to crowdsource best practices. Topics for discussion are listed below; choose one to attend. Roundtable discussions will NOT be recorded.

How Best to Support Students and Families in the Financial Aid Process Facilitated by Corie McDermott-Fazzino, Portsmouth Abbey School and Moira McKinnon, Berwick Academy

Common App Discipline Changes: What's New and How to Respond? Facilitated by Ann Selvitelli, Suffield Academy and Sonia Arora, Colorado Academy

Working with 9th Graders Facilitated by Jessica Landis, King School and David Volain, King School

1:30 - 2:00 pm ET / 10:30 - 11:00 am PT Break

2:00 - 2:30 pm ET / 11:00 am - 11:30 am PT Closing Join us to bring some closure to our three virtual days together as we celebrate making it through a college counseling year like no other and looking ahead to a new one!

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