NACAC Plans New Digital Resources for Guidance Counselors

According to data from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), public school counselors across the board feel “stretched thin” in their jobs, with many only able to devote 19 percent of their time to one-on-one college advising. To help, the NACAC announced a partnership last week with the College Guidance Network (CGN) to provide school counselors with access to new digital resources featuring content for students navigating the college application process.

The announcement said the two organizations will deliver a live monthly professional development series this spring for NACAC members. The two organizations also aim to expand content on CGN’s digital platform, CGN School, where users can access on-demand video content and other resources for expert admissions advice.

“CGN School, for the first time, has provided a trusted information platform where I can direct my students and their parents," said Diane Campbell, head of counseling for Liberty Common High School in Fort Collins, Colo., and a CGN customer, in a public statement. "I feel confident that families are receiving quality and reliable information from truly the best in our profession. Every topic imaginable regarding college planning is accessible. It also gives us expert FAQ support that frees up scarce time to spend with students. This is a must-have resource for all counselors."

According to the announcement, the partnership aims to bring expert advice to students who don’t have personal college guidance counselors, and to give counselors additional tools to help guide students through college applications. It said details on additional resources available to members remain pending, with development set for the summer.

“Counselors are in a difficult place with enormous demands on their time, and a college application process only getting more complex,” Jon Carson, chief executive officer of CGN, said in a public statement. “A state-of-the-art digital content platform helps level the playing field and shoulders more of the routine knowledge dissemination work while giving every school access to top national experts.”