Counselor Summer Institute is in the Books!

As part of on-going efforts to provide school counselors and educators with high quality professional learning opportunities, the Counselor Community Engagement team planned and delivered another successful online Counselor Summer Institute, August 6-12. Free to all attendees, the institute provides counselors and educators training to support students and families through the college admissions process. Attendees are also eligible to receive continuing education units (CEU) for each event.

This year, over 17,000 counselors and educators from around the world registered for one or more of our twelve new sessions in three different topic areas, delivered in partnership with experts and leaders in school counseling and higher ed. An exciting addition this year were sessions focused on supporting the unique needs of international counselors. Here’s a breakdown of the events for the week:

Counselors Professional Knowledge and Guidance

Trends in College Admissions: Understanding the Changing Landscape

Engaging Parents in the College Admissions Journey

Promote Your Counseling Program and Build Beneficial Partnerships

Beyond the Ivies for International Counselors

Counseling for College and Career Readiness

It's All About Data

When I Grow Up: Career Exploration and Development

Options and Opportunities: Pre-College Credit in High School

Strengthening an International Student’s Application for International Counselors

Navigating the College Admission Process

Financial Aid 202: Understanding the Award Letter

Supporting the Transition to College for First-Generation Students

College Admissions 101 for International Counselors

The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive with 100% of respondents evaluating the sessions as Very Good or better, and the information learned would enhance the way they do their jobs. Here’s a bit of what our attendees shared after the events:

"Thank you for this professional development! Great information and definitely a great refresher as we kick off the new school year."

"Loaded with a plethora of contextual, applicable information from which to spring into planning and action! Thank you!"

"Phenomenal! College Board knocked it out of the ballpark with an amazing lineup of presenters!"

"The presentation was spectacular. We’re looking forward to seeing more informative presentations. Thank you."

A huge thank you goes out to the following guest presenters for developing presentations and sharing their expertise with our attendees:

• Dr. Vivian Lee, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University
• Dean Bentley, Executive Director, Financial Aid Engagement and Services, College Board
• Deborah Moore-Sanders, Director of Student Support Services, DeKalb County School System
• Tevera Stith, Director, KIPP DC
• Tony Warren, Education Consultant, Calhoun Intermediate School District, Marshall, Michigan
• Rose Mitchell, Professional School Counselor, Sycamore High School, Cincinnati, OH
• Gail M. Smith, Advocacy Chair, Georgia School Counselor Association
• Rodney Morrison, Associate Provost for Enrollment and Retention Management, Stony Brook University, State University of New York (SUNY)
• Joe Williams, PhD, Senior Director, Admissions Innovations, College Board
• Becky Konowicz, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admission, Director of International Admission, Santa Clara University
• Bryant Priester, Director of International Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment, Purdue University
• Morgan Volkart, Associate Vice Provost, Western Region and International Recruitment, Lehigh University
• Cassie Poncelow, School Counselor, Poudre High School, Fort Collins, Colorado
• Brian Coleman, 2019 National School Counselor of the Year, Dept. Chair, Jones College Prep (JCP), Chicago Public Schools
• Richard Tench, School Counselor, St. Albans High School, St. Albans, West Virginia
• Michael Clancy, Director of College Counseling, The George Walton Academy, Monroe, Georgia
• Susana de Urruela, Director of College Counseling Services, APDE Schools Guatemala
• Nikki Danos, Director of College Counseling Forest Ridge School, Bellevue, WA
• Emily Ferguson-Steger, M.Ed. Associate Director of Recruitment Management, University of Montana
• Janelle Rieman, School Counselor, Plainwell High School (MI)
• Ann Marano, College Bound Advisor, Irma L. Rangel Young Women's Leadership School, Dallas, TX
• Calvin Wise, Senior Associate, Office of Admissions, Johns Hopkins University
• Terri Tchorzynski, 2017 National School Counselor of the Year, Battle Creek, Michigan
• Allison Danielson, Product Lead, College Board Career Readiness, Access to Opportunity, College Board
• Samantha L. Wilson, Executive Director - Career Center, Texas A&M University
• Kevin C. Hudson, Assistant Director for College Opportunity, Princeton University
• Karen Dickerson, Campus Director of the Enrollment Center, Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)
• Eric Ahlstrand, Assoc Director of Admissions, Dartmouth College
• Sandy Baum, Nonresident Fellow, The Urban Institute
• Deanna Dixon, Dean of Admission, Smith College
• Rachelle Feldman, Associate Provost and Director, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Holley Nichols, Senior Assistant Director for Scholarships, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

A big shout out the Counselor Community Engagement (CCE) team, the guest presenters and many College Board colleagues for their efforts throughout the event.

We look forward to additional touch points with our summer institute attendees through our Continued Conversations Series –three additional events during the school year that provide unique learning opportunities about key topics requested by past attendees:

Lifesavers: From Signs to Strategies

No Labels!

Sudden Impact: Student Substance Use and Abuse

Anyone interested can still attend a sessions by visiting the summer institute homepage. Events have been recorded for listening at your convenience.