Guidance and Admission Assembly Council Meeting Recap with Chair Patricia Smith
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GAAC Chair Patricia Smith is director of guidance services for Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida. |
Last month, council members discussed the National Association for College Admission Counseling's report on the use of standardized tests in admissions and recommended that the College Board work to make sure higher education institutions know and follow the guidelines for appropriate use of test scores
in admissions.
"We were pleased that NACAC found the College Board exams to be fair and equitable," said Patricia Smith, chair of the Guidance and Admission Assembly Council and district support for guidance services for Hillsborough County (Tampa, Fla.) Public Schools. "I am sure we will continue to have discussions about how we can work together for the appropriate use of the exams and scores."
Smith, who is in her second year as chair, said larger issues regarding testing, admissions and assistance to low-income students will continue to dominate the council's work this year. She has worked in counseling for nearly 30 years and has been a part of the College Board for almost that long. Having served in a variety of positions, both in her school district and with the College Board, she said she has benefited from the viewpoints of so many colleagues from around the country.
"The reports by regional representatives lead to a lot of the improvements that we are able to make in terms of programs for students,"she said.
A recent recommendation from GAAC members was approved by the Board of Trustees late last year, allowing fee waivers for students taking SAT Subject Tests™ in ninth and 10th grades. This recommendation originated with counselor members, who noted that students are taking courses in these subjects at younger ages and should be able to use their fee waivers and take the tests during those years.
Regional representatives noted in December the difficult economic conditions and reduced state budgets across the country. One of the requests was that the College Board make every effort to alert members to pricing changes in programs as early as possible.
GAAC members also discussed concerns about Score Choice™, the new SAT® score-reporting policy. "It has been approved," Smith said, "so our conversation now is about implementation and how we can make it as smooth as possible. We will be looking at how counselors can explain the system to students and families and whether the communications to colleges are clear."
In a broader discussion about advocacy, the council considered how to bring relevant research — such as the reports by the Task Force on Admissions in the 21st Century, the Task Force on College Access for Students from Low-Income Backgrounds, the Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education and the Rethinking Student Aid study group — to the forefront of national work in these areas.
"We want to have more people informed about these findings
and influence new leadership, particularly to make the financial aid process easier," Smith said. "Especially in this economic climate, more students and parents are going to be looking
for financial aid and more will be falling into the federal guidelines for eligibility."
GAAC also will consider suggestions for helping school districts and institutions to work more efficiently during this financial crisis.
"One of the great strengths of this and the other councils is the gathering of brilliant minds — creative thinkers who are passionate about this cause," Smith said. "It's been intellectually and professionally rewarding for me to lead this group. We have more work to do this year."
