History of NACAC

The Beginning Years
On March 23, 1937, representatives from 19 Midwestern colleges*—who called themselves College Field Workers—gathered in Oak Park (IL) with a distinct goal in mind: to provide students greater access to higher education. Crafting the Code of Ethics, which has since developed into the  Statement of Principles of Good Practice (SPGP), this visionary group founded the organization which now represents more than 9,800 college counseling and admission professionals. In 1941, the group donned the name Association of College Admissions Counselors, officially becoming the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) in 1995.

Continual Growth
The group grew throughout the 20^th century. The first national conference was held in Lake Geneva (WI). Membership in NACAC rose quickly, with 47 members attending the national conference in 1947, 575 in 1958, and more than 2,000 in 1967. Throughout this time, the organizational structure of NACAC developed. The first executive secretary was hired in 1960, and in the same year, the first office opened in North Shore Hotel in Evanston (IL). In 1967, the first Assembly met at the national conference in Minneapolis (MN). In 1988, the State and Regional Presidents’ Council was formally established. With a desire to have a voice in the policy of higher education, NACAC hired its first Washington liaison in 1981. In 1987, NACAC moved to Alexandria (VA) and purchased the current office four years later.

Committed to the high standards of ethical and social responsibility that inspired its founding, NACAC has been at the forefront of driving professionalism and inclusivity in the admission counseling field throughout its history. The Code of Ethics, now the SPGP, was revised in 1958, 1993 and 2005 to continue to serve the profession in admission decisions options, recruitment, enrollment, admission, financial aid, and testing. In 1993, the SPGP was revisited to provide clear guidance for admission professionals. The revisions clarified that colleges and universities would ensure financial aid awards and scholarships and that housing options would not be used to sway students’ college decisions prior to May 1. It also included that secondary schools and independent counselors would not submit more than one application for early decision plans. In 2005, NACAC approved a statement that clarified the policies for monitoring adherence to SPGP. These latest revisions address the procedure through which the organization will address schools or members whose practices do not comply with the SPGP.

Through its history, NACAC has stayed up-to-date not only with the internal ethics and operations of the organization but also with the issues facing students and admission professionals nationwide. Topics discussed at NACAC’s conferences throughout the decades have included:

• Serving World War II veterans
• Ensuring access for disadvantaged students
• Addressing the rising costs of higher education
• Encouraging minority presence on college campuses
• Providing for the unique problems and concerns of underrepresented students in higher education, including students of color, adult students, and gay, lesbian, and bisexual students
• Using technology effectively.

NACAC continues to meet annually to explore topics related to college admission and student service. It is these topics—and the needs of students, counselors and schools—that guide the ethics of the organization.

NACAC Today
In 2006, NACAC now includes 23 state and regional affiliates and continues to lead the nation in serving students in transition to postsecondary education. Building on the work of 19 driven professionals in 1937 and many thousands of admission and guidance professionals in the following years, we continue to work collaboratively in providing the best possible assistance to students throughout the nation. Please explore our Web site to learn more about our current programs and policies.

*Founding colleges: Augustana (IL), Beloit (WI), Carleton (MN), Central YMCA (IL), Cornell College (IA), Denison (OH), DePauw (IN), Dubuque (IA), Grinnell (IA), Illinois Wesleyan (IL), Knox (IL), Lake Forest (IL), Lawrence (WI), Milwaukee Downer (WI), Monmouth (IL), North Central (IL), Ripon (WI), Rockford (IL), and Wabash (IN)

View NACAC's Presidents of Record and Executive Directors of Record.

Sources:

Biemeret, Susan K. (1994). Program Insert for NACAC Conference in Chicago (IL), 50-year Anniversary.

Susan Biemeret is a college consultant at Adlai E. Stevenson High School (IL).

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