Articles

Dear ACCIS Members,

It is hard to believe that it has only been five short months since we gathered in Baltimore.  Much has occurred in each of our offices and schools since that time.  The same is certainly   true for ACCIS.  The Board of Directors and Executive Committee recently completed two days of meetings in Dallas on the beautiful campus of Southern Methodist University thanks to the gracious hospitality of Ron Moss and his staff.

Our gathering marked an important milestone in the short history of ACCIS, as it was the first strategic planning meeting of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.  In addition to important dialogue about our governance structure and long-term financial sustainability, we also discussed a number of exciting new ACCIS initiatives.  The Executive Committee left Dallas energized by our time together.  We headed back to our respective schools reinvigorated by the synergy of our collective commitment to the continued growth and vitality of our organization, and rededicated to our mission: 

"ACCIS supports the essential work of college counselors in independent schools by affirming our unique leadership role in educational communities where we serve the young people in our care."

ACCIS is in great shape as we head into the second half of this academic year, and the Executive Committee is excited to share the following update on our progress.

·         The Board of Directors announced plans to initiate a search for ACCIS' second Executive Director. Our fearless and indefatigable Marty Elkins will step down in September after nearly four years at the helm.  Bill Chace from the ACCIS Board will head the search committee for her replacement, and Ali Bhanji, from the Executive Committee, will assist him.  Further information will be posted on the ACCIS website as the process gets underway in earnest this spring.

·         Webb Trenchard of the Loomis Chaffee School joined the Executive Committee and will serve as Chair of the Research Committee.  He announced plans to begin work on a document library to enhance the resources currently available on our website as well as other initiatives to further inform the membership about trends and related research.

·         Plans are rapidly falling into place for the 2010 Summer Institute in Atlanta, hosted by Agnes Scott College and Emory University - registration materials are now available on the website.

·         Southern California was announced as the location for the 2011 Summer Institute.

·         Our first Summer Colloquium will be held at Colby College - registration materials are now available on the website.

·         Tentative plans for an ACCIS-sponsored Audit Review Team, a Mentor/Training Camp, and a Counselor Fly-in Program were presented - further details are now available on the website.

·         The total ACCIS membership has now grown to nearly 200!  We have member schools in 34 different states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

·         The diversity of our organization continues to grow; our membership increasingly represents every conceivable type of school under the NAIS umbrella. 

·         Plans were discussed for a major upgrade of the ACCIS website and e-list service.

As you can see, there is a great deal going on - an incredible amount of work being done by wonderful colleagues across the country.   But, there also exists ample opportunity for you to get involved!

We invite you to take a careful look at the committee structure or the project descriptions described on the website (www.accisnet.org <http://www.accisnet.org/> ) and find something that matches your skill set or can help you helps you discover new skills and talents.   Make ACCIS stronger.  Be in touch and let us know what ideas and questions you have and how you would like to get involved.

Best wishes for a great spring,

The ACCIS Executive Committee,

Marty Elkins, Executive Director (New Hampton)

Ali Bhanji, Internal Review (Potomac)

David Bonner, Treasurer (KLHT)

Matt DeGreeff, Communication (Middlesex)

Betsy Dolan, Founding Schools (Exeter)

Eric Monheim, Organizational Advancement (Sidwell Friends)

Maria Morales-Kent, Vice Chair (Thacher)

Stuart Oremus, Program Coordinator (Wellington)

Burke Rogers, Program (St. George's)

Webb Trenchard, Research (Loomis Chaffee)

Dear ACCIS colleagues and potential members,

You are heartily invited and encouraged to attend the Third Annual ACCIS Summer Institute, held this year at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, GA from June 20 to June 23.  The ACCIS Summer Institute is a special opportunity to learn, share, grow, and reflect on the issues that affect our increasingly demanding and important role in independent schools. 

Unlike most other professional opportunities in college counseling, the Summer Institute brings together professionals who all share a common awareness of the specific responsibilities and pressures that exist within independent schools.  Because of this, our meetings, sessions, and informal conversations are able to focus on aspects of college admission that go into far more depth and specificity than one might find at other conferences. 

This year’s Summer Institute will share many of the characteristics of past Institutes – professional development sessions on a wide variety of pertinent topics, insightful and enlightening keynote speakers on the central theme of “Testing”, and the very popular “How do you do this?” small group break-out sessions where veteran and newer counselors exchange strategies and advice on best practices.  And in keeping with the casual nature of the event, social fun and networking opportunities will abound – southern hospitality will be the order of the day!

Because this is the first Summer Institute to be held in an urban setting, we will take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time on other nationally regarded college campuses.  Emory University will host Institute attendees for a tour, drinks and dinner, and Georgia Tech will host some program sessions.  An optional Post-Institute College Tour to the University of Georgia, Morehouse College, and Spelman College is also in the planning stages.

We are pleased to announce that the cost of the Summer Institute for ACCIS member schools will remain $500 per person, which includes single occupancy in an air-conditioned dorm room on the Agnes Scott campus, most meals, transportation throughout the Institute, and VIP access to the ACCIS Social Suite.  Because Atlanta is a major airport hub, flights should be plentiful and inexpensive.  Agnes Scott is also on the Atlanta train line, so transfers should be easy.  The cost for current non-ACCIS members is $620, which includes membership dues for your school.

Space is limited and registration is restricted to the first 100 people to respond.  We ask that schools send no more than two members of the staff.

We hope that you can join us!

Gavin Bradley                       
Director of the 2010 ACCIS Institute   

Burke Rogers
Director of ACCIS Programs

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