Countless studies have shown that what happens outside of classrooms plays a crucial role in whether students attend college and continue in college to graduation. High school guidance counselors, admissions officers and campus student service officers all play a part in matching the right student to the right campus and then making sure the students feel a part of campus life.
The three organizations that represent professionals who provide those services are headed by women who speak passionately about the obligations of their professions to the recruitment and retention of students of color in higher education.
What follows is part of a roundtable discussion they recently had with Black Issues In Higher Education. Dr. Carmen Neuberger is executive director of the American College Personnel Association. Gwendolyn J. Dungy is executive director of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Joyce Smith is executive director of National Association of College Admission Counselors.
How will the changes in affirmative action policies affect the way your members do their work?
Smith: It's directly affecting our work [in admissions]. We have always held a firm belief that affirmative action practices are needed in the college transition process. As it pertains to students and their opportunities for access, it will greatly affect the color and class of who goes to college.
Dungy: There's a sea change because of what's going on in Texas and California - and I'm not sure if it's all negative. One positive piece I see in relation to our members is that it will give them an opportunity - not opportunity as much as an incentive - to really develop partnerships between secondary schools and colleges.
What we've done often is we waited until they get to our door and then we begin to work with students. But we have not taken as much advantage as we need to take in helping faculty and helping counselors work with students to prepare them for the admissions criteria they'll have to face. So, I think that is an opportunity.
