Admission Practices Committee

Chair: Kathleen VossGeorgia Institute of Technology (VA)

Vice Chair:  Amy Moffatt, Towson University (MD)

Committee Members:

  • Candice Ashton, Sandy Spring Friends School (MD)
  • Corey Fischer, Fredericksburg Academy (VA)
  • Mike Nixon, University of Maryland (MD)
  • Julia Ross, Professional Tutoring, LLC (VA)
  • Jake Talmage, St. Paul's School for Boys (MD)

What We Do

The Admission Practices (AP) Committee is responsible for educating PCACAC membership and the counseling community at large about NACAC’s Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admission.

The Admission Practices Committee meets periodically, both online and in person to discuss education initiatives and trends around ethical practice in college admissions. We can provide and facilitate presentations related to ethical practice to school counselors and to both new and seasoned admissions officers. Based on the trends that we see in our region and nationally, we can suggest possible Guide updates to NACAC. Our committee is also responsible for creating education initiatives, such as the publication of Ethical Navigations, which will present a monthly hypothetical scenario and potential avenues to approaching the situation using the Guide.

At present, the Admission Practices Committee consists of experienced school counselors, college admission officers and independent counselors within PCACAC. We aspire to obtain equal representation of both secondary and post-secondary, as well as public and private institutions, which will include members from each of the 4 states within our region and the District of Columbia.

National Admission Practices and Affiliate Chair Meeting

Prior to the holidays, I (Kathleen Voss) had an opportunity to attend the National Admission Practices and Affiliate Chair meeting. The group meets quarterly to reconnect and discuss ethical issues in the field and ways that we can continue to support our members. Here are a few highlights from that meeting:

  • In September of 2023, the Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admissions was updated. Those changes are reflected in detail here. The updates include new language pertaining to Access and Equity, helping students find their college match, sharing information about students, providing accurate data on the school profile, and “optional” supporting application components.
  • During the December meeting, we discussed the recommended practice of releasing Early Decision commitments if the applicant has not received a sufficient financial aid award. New language has been reinserted into the Guide.
  • If a member has a question about NACAC’s recommended practice, or if they have a suggested revision to the Guide, they are encouraged to submit this form. The member will be contacted by an Admission Practice committee person for follow-up.
  • The National AP Committee and its Affiliates continue to navigate issues and recommend change. We are available to our members to educate and promote ethical best practices.
  • Our very own Jake Talmage provides interesting and helpful scenarios in PCACAC’s Ethical Navigations. These scenarios are timely and usually correspond to where we are in the admission cycle, or what we are seeing in the profession. We use the Guide as our guide and provide workable solutions to each issue. Ethical Navigations are sent to the membership monthly and can also be found below.
  • The PCACAC Admission Practices Committee is here for your questions and we hope to present a refresher session at conference this spring.

Ethical Navigations

PCACAC is excited to present Ethical Navigations, an educational effort to proactively explore issues that might face professionals involved in the college admissions process.

Our Members

PCACAC is proud to include over 800 members at colleges, schools and organizations who work with students and families from the region in navigating their transition to college. As part of membership, professionals involved with PCACAC agree that their institution will be in full compliance with the National Association for Admission Counseling (NACAC) and its Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admission. For questions about membership, please visit the Member Information section.