Membership
SACAC is a dynamic and growing association of over 1400 college admission professionals in the nine states of the Southeast and the Caribbean. Membership is $50 per year for the first member at an institution or organization and $20 for each additional member. Benefits of membership include...
Professional networking
Association activities allow members in high schools, colleges, independent counseling, and other education organizations to build professional relationships and friendships. Members are also invited to become involved in committee work and to take advantage of other governance opportunities within SACAC. Additional local activities and networking takes place throughout the Southern region through State and Area Initiatives.
Annual spring conference
The annual conference provides broad opportunities for professional development, relationship building, shared information and access to the latest in products and services. Discussion topics cover a wide range and have included standardized testing, rising college costs, writing effective letters of recommendation, legislative concerns regarding education and ethnic issues facing admission professionals. The annual business meeting of the association is held during the three-day conference.
Pre-conference workshops
These workshops have explored topics such as understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), international student admissions, the nuts and bolts of financial aid, and counseling students interested in the performing arts. A college admission mid-level workshop is often offered, focusing on management techniques, travel planning, recruitment strategies and how to move up in the admission profession. A Counselors of Color workshop is planned for the 2010 conference.
Drive-in workshops
These college admission counseling workshops are shorter versions of the annual summer seminar but have flexible content depending upon the area or state in which they are held. They also reflect special circumstances in the counseling profession that may be timely and appropriate. Funded by the association with a nominal registration fee, they are open to high school counselors who live within a two-hour drive of each location. They are held in various areas of the southern region.
Summer Seminar
This seminar for secondary school counselors offers a faculty of seasoned professionals to share ideas and to present strategies for effective high school counseling.
Dry Run
This three-day workshop for new college admission officers provides an introduction to the essential elements of the admissions process, including high school visits, interviewing techniques, group presentations and transcripts and test interpretation.
SAIL
This brand new professional development opportunity will begin in the summer of 2010, in tandem with Dry Run. SAIL is designed for mid-level college admissions professionals and promises to be a wonderful opportunity for SACAC members.
College fairs
Two hundred or more postsecondary institutions participate in SACAC's College Fair generally held in conjunction with the annual conference. NACAC also sponsors fairs in the SACAC region. (See the NACAC site for fair information.) Local students and parents as well as secondary school counselors obtain information on specific colleges and universities.
Participation scholarships
The Counselor Participation Fund supports the involvement of many secondary school counselors at the annual spring conference and summer seminar through donations of member institutions and the association's budget.
Continuing education units
For each full hour of participation in content sessions at conferences and workshops, NACAC will award one-tenth of a CEU as approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
Mentorship program
The SACAC mentorship program matches counselors and admission officers new to their fields with experienced professionals.
Extending the Dream grants
SACAC funds grants to members for special projects, particularly those designed to serve underrepresented populations. Examples of projects funded in the past are Camp College for at risk students, PACT workshops for parents of middle school students, and resource centers in city schools with a low percentage of college-bound students.
Southern Scope
The association newsletter, published at least three times a year, provides features on current professional resources, activities, trends and ideas.
Membership directory
A list of addresses, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses of all members is available in the Members Log In portion of our website to encourage direct contact and cooperation.
Advocacy
Especially through its Government Relations Committee, SACAC seeks to influence state and national policy regarding the transition from secondary to post-secondary education.
