Have you ever attended a National College Attainment Network (NCAN) Conference? I’m referring to NCAN’s very own annual national conference that takes place in a different state every year as the organization aims to reach as many of its members as possible.
As someone who had never been to an NCAN conference before, I couldn’t wait to open the doors and discover what “Uniting for Equity” was all about while being surrounded by so many inspiring higher-ed leaders.
Day 1
Today was the day #NCAN2023 in Dallas, TX began, starting off with checking in at the registration booth, which I’d like to add was very fast and easy with all the new technology that was used. By signing into an iPad, I easily printed out my name badge
that came with its own #NCAN2023 lanyard and picked up my swag bag with all the goodies to prepare for this week. Best believe I grabbed a purple “first-time-attendee” ribbon to stick to my badge and proudly show colleagues around me that I’m a newcomer
this year ready to learn!
I think it’s safe to say we were all struck with a mix of emotions as we kicked off conference with the Welcome Plenary session that included a moving story told by Poet Joaquin Zihuatanejo. Zihuatanejo set the tone for the rest of conference as he described
his journey from a struggling young teenager living a nomadic life to earning his full ride to college and becoming an award-winning teacher as well as Dallas’ first-ever Poet Laureate. His passion for poetry and powerful storytelling left us inspired
to continue being part of the positive impact education can have on all students across the country.
The rest of the day was spent exploring exhibitor booths run by several member organizations, workshops, roundtable discussions, and a Fireside Chat plenary about what systematic changes should be made to have more equitable postsecondary and employment
outcomes for students. I hope you had a chance to take a snack and coffee break in between sessions after taking part in a packed day, I know the opening reception became a great way to end the day with a cold beverage and some networking.
Day 2
After heading over for a cup of coffee and some breakfast, it was time to get into day two’s workshops and roundtable discussions about college and career readiness. Listening in on sessions led by organizations from different states brought a wider perspective
and strategies on how to apply effective methods that best help students pursue their postsecondary education.
One of the most interesting parts of this day was the plenary session on “A Ban on Race Conscious Admissions: What Now?” where we heard from leaders in organizations including Common App, Educate Texas, and the Texas Association of College Admissions Counselors (TACAC). Government Relations Co-Chair
at TACAC, Narietha Carter-McClain’s passion for the discussion around the hurdle students are facing this year after the
SCOTUS decision on affirmative action fueled the room with engagement. I could tell it was a long-awaited talk we all needed to have as we learned how to continue college access
and success efforts for underrepresented students of color striving to pursue their postsecondary education.
With a taste of some local food trucks outside the hotel and an entertaining NCAN-exclusive poetry event at the Latino Cultural Center with Joaquin Zihuatanejo, day two came to an enthusiastic end!
Day 3
Realizing today would be the last day of conference was a bittersweet moment, as I was sad it was coming close to the end but also excited to have learned so much and met new peers I’ve connected with within the past few days.
The closing plenary session, led by our very own Board Member Jarian Kerekes who proudly represented our organization by wearing NCAN merchandised socks, brought student voices into the discussion about “Why College,” discussing how their experience with member organizations who supported them positively impacted their lives. Each student spoke about their journey to and through college
and the role NCAN member-organizations played in helping them discover their career paths. It was inspiring to see three primary examples of how much all of the organizations in the very room I was sitting in help a multitude of students pursue their
postsecondary goals through college and career advising.
The last part of #NCAN2023 came with a Better FAFSA Training led by Federal Student Aid (FSA) with an informative presentation highlighting all the changes that were coming to the new
financial aid application. There was an overwhelming amount of insight on all the new terminology, questions students would be asked, and how to identify dependency status for each student. After taking a quick snack break, FSA did a walk through
with all of us, guiding us through the FAFSA prototype that was released and showing us what the form would look like while pretending we were a student or parent trying to complete the application. After an intense speed-round Q&A session with FSA,
I got to hear the answers to several questions about what to expect for the upcoming new FAFSA application and how to best prepare for the changes.
With all the knowledge, support, and resources gained throughout conference, I felt inspired and supported by everyone I was surrounded by striving to make a difference in the lives of aspiring students in higher education. Overall, this was a welcoming
and moving learning-experience that I’ll never forget! I hope you’ll join us at #NCAN2024 coming to Anaheim, CA next September!
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