Summer Institute Day 3
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA
A long and busy day in Swarthmore (is there any other kind during the IECA Summer Institute?) as day three comes to a close. Particularly tiring for me with three presentations and joining all the faculty in moderating a marketing lab with our mentoring groups.
I led a lively elective on—no surprise here—using social networking and blogging to improve communication with and between clients and colleagues. Following this I joined Jane Shropshire to lead a session for consultants working on therapeutic placements that focused on the key differences they may experience in working in the profession, as compared to college and school consultants.
Then off to a general session on Professional, Legal and Liability Issues. It was late in the day but the attendees remained interested and engaged throughout, an indication (the staff feels) of the overall level of seriousness of purpose and personal commitment they have demonstrated to learning.
Of course the rest of the faculty were busy as well. Jane also hosted a sizable breakout where some 40 attendees explored boarding school consulting, a very significant growth in interest of such work. Matt Baker ran a general session on marketing, followed by the marketing lab. Bar Clarke led a session on how to visit and evaluate special needs programs while Charlotte Klaar ran a well-attended and reviewed breakout on “The College Essay” which concentrated on the limits consultants should provide students.
Guest presenter Troy Onink of Stratagee joined Lloyd Paradiso to offer a session to a packed house on the Essentials of Financial Aid. Finally, as the clock ticked toward 5:45, a faculty Q&A produced a good, insightful give and take.
Imagine all that just today! And several of those general sessions were two hours each. Tonight offered the opportunity of a night off, and a crowd was seen heading for the train into Philadelphia. We hope the attendees have fun, but not too much. Somehow tomorrow’s schedule is just as busy!
We have missed Steve Antonoff who missed his first Summer Institute due to some medical complications from surgery earlier this summer. We’re happy to announce that he’s doing well. Finally, it takes a real expert, a professional who understand adult learning, curriculum design, and an unyielding commitment to excellence to put together every academic and logistical aspect of the Institute. That was Sue DePra, IECA’s Director of Education. In one word: amazing.
Related posts:
- Summer Training Institute Participants: What Educational Consulting is All About
- Opening Day of Summer Institute: Becoming an Entrepreneur & Attendee Insights
- Blogging from the IECA Summer Training Institute
- Summer Training for Consultants Demonstrates Diversity of Profession
- Executive Board Meeting Details
Fabulous presentations today and all week..just a quick note about Troy Onink’s company and website…I just referred to it and it is spelled Stratagee (not Strategee)-tricky I know but an important correction. As I am currently taking the Financial Aid course through the UCLA extension College Counseling certificate program, I thoroughly enjoyed Troy’s presentation and wished it went on for another hour. What an informed professional!
Diane Overman, hopeful future Associate member and 2009 IECA Summer Training Institute participant
Looking forward to Day 4′s discussions! You were very engaging and informative yesterday, Mark, and I’m sure I speak for the group in thanking you for a job well done. I’m especially appreciative of the information about business structures and plan to research this further. Thanks!
Mark and everyone at IECA -
I returned home from the STI last night, and my brain is still full of everything I learned; I hope not too much spills out as I go forward. Thank you all so much for the presentations and the smaller group discussions – what an interesting and lively group! I liked all the tips about starting an E.C. business and particulary the ethics portion. Best of all, I am still laughing (for some reason……) Pam Pik
I am back in Pittsburgh and will be meeting with my colleagues tomorrow to discuss our next plan of action. STI was the best opportunity for our team to gain more knowledge in our field. I want to appreciate you all for the hard work you put into this excellent training program.
Jonathan Marek, http://www.mavconsulting.net