Blogging from the IECA Summer Training Institute
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA
So many wonderful moments at today’s Independent Educational Consultants Association Summer Institute. Presentations included the Essentials of College and Therapeutic Advising, Advising for Athletes, Social Networking and Entrepreneurship.
Jim Bock, dean of admission and financial aid at Swarthmore College along with Philadelphia University’s Greg Potts and Richard Floyd of Ursinus College shared the view from the other side of the admission desk, while three representatives form The Pathway School met with the Special Needs consultants.
Bock shared that a group of university employees gather each morning over coffee to discuss news events, and just a few weeks ago they were discussing the front page article in The New York Times by Jacques Steinberg. At the time, they, along with Dean Brock, noted Steinberg’s suggestion to parents that if they were going to look for a consultant, they should look toward IECA as the association working to promote ethical behaviors.
The “coffee club” was excited to look up today and see IECA, the group they were discussing, right there in the building training new and aspiring consultants.
This evening I also had an interesting conversation with STI attendee Dan Hales about the need for consultants to know more about career colleges and other non-traditional options for students completing high school but for whom an academic college career does not seem appropriate. A great suggestion and one that deserves greater attention.
Related posts:
- Curious About IECA’s Summer Training Institute? Then, Read This…
- Summer Training Institute Participants: What Educational Consulting is All About
- My Return to Swarthmore and IECA’s Summer Training Institute
- Information Dump: The Summer Training Experience for Upcoming Independent Educational Consultants
- Summer Training Institute Becoming Just a Memory? Time for a Tune Up!
Mark,
Thanks for your daily posts on what’s happening at the Summer Institute this week. The information helps all of us stay abreast of what our newest colleagues are learning and supports those of us in back in our offices as we incorporate new ideas into our practices.
I agree with you and Dan Hales about the importance of members becoming knowledgeable about career colleges as a viable postsecondary option for those, who for any number of reasons, might not be traditional academic college candidates. I look to IECA to lead us as we continue to focus on all options available that will to best meet the needs of each individual student we serve.
Emily Snyder
Professional Member
Chair, IECA College Committee
Wow – this group really gets it. The Summer Training Institute’s 90 participants demonstrate passion for helping students achieve great outcomes and a great willingness to engage as partners with parents. They understand that our work is not about “getting students in” but instead about helping students understand themselves better, establish useful priorities, and take steps toward reaching produtive goals. They are eager to understand more about the business side of the equation, but first and foremost they want to serve students well and ethically. This understanding of “the IECA way” bodes well for the families they will guide. We can also anticipate positive growth for IECA as the bright, capable and empathic members of this STI class begin to contribute to our Association as members.
What fun to be here! This group of participants is motivated, energized, and engaged. It is always a pleasure to see that the future of this profession is secure due to the wonderful people who are attracted to it and the willingness they have to learn from those who do it every day.
The faculty is being drained of every ounce of information we collectively possess and we are thrilled to share it all.
In our profession we are finding career colleges on the rise with young grads today. Great information! Thanks