Where We Stand 2012: A Look at the Profession
by Mark H. Sklarow, Executive Director, Independent Educational Consultants Association
As we begin 2012, it seems to me that we’ve completed a year in which many in the profession took giant strides forward, some fell back, technology has begun to transform the field, and the very concept of what it means to be an independent educational consultant (IEC) has been opened for discussion.
To explain.
MOVING FORWARD and BACK
This past year began shortly after several independent studies examined independent educational consulting and discovered far more widespread use of IECs than ever believed (26% of high achieving students). As the year progressed, others conducted their own research and discovered the declining influence of school-based counselors and the growing role for IECs (many of these studies can be found in the new IECA Education Center Library).
At the same time, those in admission began looking at independent educational consulting and recruiting agents as sources of potentially appropriate students, domestically and abroad. They found a wide diversity in competence and ethics. As I wrote for the NACAC Journal of College Admission, IECs must earn their reputation every day and as IECA members and others moved forward under the glare of scrutiny, others fell back. For example, as 2011 came to a close, AIRC, an organization seeking to assure the public and admission community about agents (who accept per-head fees from schools), passed a series of new modest rules that underwhelmed many—and then proceeded to exempt all of their existing members even from these slight advancements! Such game playing helped IECA to emerge on the strength of our rigorous Principles of Good Practice and enhanced our reputation as a national, educational leader.
TECHNOLOGY
Changes in and comfort with technology have advanced the work of members and the Association itself. As IECs gained comfort with skype, gotomeeting.com, and other software, they discovered they could serve students beyond their community, even outside of the United States, without harming the advising function. Others discovered how technology could save them time on administrative, record-keeping, and financial management, freeing time for student advising.
Likewise IECA moved forward, harnessing new technologies and leading the way in the use of social media to both serve our members and promote the profession. Our mobile texts at conferences were a hit. Thousands (yes, thousands—including admission reps at colleges, programs, schools, national association leaders, and media reps) follow IECA on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Our blog connects members to the Association.
REDEFINING “INDEPENDENT”?
Sometimes a trend sneaks up on us. When I first came to IECA nearly 20 years ago, those seeking membership needed to demonstrate that they saw clients for whom they were paid by the family. On rare occasion we’d hear from an applicant who failed to meet that definition, yet much of their work seemed more similar to what we do than others. For example, we have several members who have delivered services through religious-based social service agencies (often paid on a sliding scale), or through government agencies.
Recently we’ve noticed a trend. At the IECA Summer Training Institute, 10% of the attendees expressed a desire to work as an IEC, but through a non-profit model. In just the past year we’ve seen an emergence of significant numbers who see, advise, and support students as any IECA member would, but they deliver their services through community-based organizations. Why? As local governments cut services and school systems see their property value-based taxes decline, school systems are decreasing the numbers of counselors to crisis levels. In many communities, organizations are stepping in, expanding their traditional role: Boys Clubs/Girls Clubs, Jack & Jill, Four H, and others are picking up the slack. They are bringing on IECs under contract. Finally in what may be a major trend (watch for a major news story this winter), many large corporations, looking to compensate for eliminating health care benefits, are adding school, college, and crisis counseling as employee benefits through HR providers.
These changes present a challenge. They are likely to dramatically raise public awareness. A rising tide raises all boats, and so it will bring about a significant increase in demand for competent, ethical IECS across the globe. IECA must be ready to welcome those who do exactly what our members have always done, but using new models to deliver services.
We start 2012 in an exciting and unique position. Our best days are truly yet to come.
Related posts:
- Nearly 100 Presenters will Examine Hot Topics in College Admission, Boarding Schools, Special Purpose Programs & Independent Educational Consulting
- As Successful IECA Conference Comes to an End, What’s Next for Association and the Independent Educational Consulting Profession?
- Information Dump: The Summer Training Experience for Upcoming Independent Educational Consultants
- As We Conference Next Week, the World Looks a Little Different
- Are the Long Days at STI Really Worth It? Without a Doubt!
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Tagged: changes in consulting practices, ethics, IECA members, IECA's Summer Training Institute, IECs, independent educational consultants, independent educational consulting
Nicely said, Mark. The important thing, as always, is to keep moving thoughtfully forward and always with the best interests of the client, fit and school in mind. Thanks very much for your leadership!
Best,
Dick
Yes – technology, growing demand from abroad for an American education, domestic economic pressures and what seems to be an even higher bar for college admissions at certain levels have shaped a good part of what it means to deliver quality services to our clients.
How do parents (and students) who hire IECs see our added value? I constantly challenge myself to offer the quality of service and knowledge base that needs to constantly evolve in an endlessly changing world.
Best,
Marla
AchieveCoach College Consulting
http://www.AchieveCoach.com