Whether your daily work is on the high school side or the college side, summer is the ideal time to look back and reflect on what work strategies were effective and which tactics could use some fine tuning. Staff retreats are no different; it’s important to make time to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life to look back on the past year, while keeping an eye toward the future. Your Iowa ACAC Executive Board held their annual retreat on August 6 and 7 at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. We welcomed 8 new Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs, while saying "farewell" to 5 valued committee chairs who rolled off the Board. 

I find myself telling students “don’t look for colleges the way I did” all the time. I was the student that did well in school, did not flinch at acceptance criteria, did not explore the options and just followed her sister to school without even talking to a counselor or scheduling a visit. I am so thankful that I got lucky enough to love the institution I enrolled at – so much that they sucked me back in as an admission counselor.

Each year, the state of Iowa accepts several hundred refugees from countries around the world.

The 2018 R.I.D.E. is in the books, and what a successful experience it was! Thirty-one professional school counselors from every corner of Iowa, and even a special guest from Minnesota, took some time for some “college knowledge” by participating in Iowa ACAC’s 15th annual three-day learning trek.

A school counselor’s perspective...

Subtitled: How to keep your Iowa ACAC Executive Assistant happy!

Campuses have been hosting events and visits for as long as most of us can remember. But, just because your institution’s visits and events have always looked a certain way, is that the way they need to stay?

Thank you to all the Iowa ACAC members who made it to Dubuque for the 2018 MIDWest Conference! Around 400 admissions professionals from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas attended, making it a great opportunity to learn, network, and have a little fun!

Although nothing beats human interaction and learning in-person, webinars can be a wonderful way to encourage and participate in continued learning and professional development without leaving campus!

This year I had the opportunity to attend the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NORE) in New Orleans. This was my first time attending the conference and I did not know what to expect.

Professional School Counselors, as your academic year winds down, may we suggest a summer to-do list for you?

My good friend Rachael stared at me in bewilderment and said, "You actually make the things you pin?"
"Of course. Isn't that the idea? I've never understood why people would take the time to plan for a project and then not complete it."

With warmer temperatures finally giving us a refreshing reminder of summer, it is exciting to get back outside and brainstorm about fun activities to do during this time of year. Here in Iowa, we are very fortunate to have a broad variety of natural recreation spaces, outdoor experiences, and organized events to partake in throughout the warmer months. All across our state are a variety of unique opportunities to enjoy. I hope this article gives you some fun reminders or new ideas!  

1) Let them see you have fun undefined.
When was the last time your staff saw you in blue jeans? Telling corny jokes? Laughing at said jokes? Maybe while sipping a cocktail? Let them know you’re just like them in many regards and have fun with your team (however suits your style) at the MIDWest Spring Conference.

Be a part of history!

Over 40 students attended L.E.A.P. 2018 at the Mount Mercy University Graduate Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This annual leadership conference for underrepresented and first-generation freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in Iowa, is organized by the Iowa ACAC Inclusion, Access, and Success Committee. This year’s participants included students from Iowa City, Postville, Muscatine, West Liberty, and Columbus Junction.