Counseling professor invited to White House-called conference

October 19, 2015
Categories: General News Tags: Cato College of Education

College of Education professor Sejal Foxx will represent UNC Charlotte at an upcoming event to strengthen school counseling and college advising; it is being convened by the White House.

She will join delegates from 35 states representing K-12 schools, nonprofit organizations, research interests, policymakers and other stakeholders in an effort to increase the number of traditionally underserved students succeeding in post-secondary education.

The gathering at the University of North Florida will be the third of its kind and was organized under First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative. That program supports President Obama’s Opportunity Agenda.

The Obama White House has been proactive in recognizing the importance of school counselors; it held a ceremony earlier this year to celebrate the American School Counselor Association Counselor of the Year.

While this level of support has not been the norm in the past, Foxx, director of the School Counseling Program at UNC Charlotte, said things are trending upward. “We know the impact that school counselors can and do have on student achievement. and for our nation to recognize this is truly a shift in the right direction.”

The convening will explore ways for school counselors to align goals nationally and measure outcomes; also, there will be discussions aimed at supporting the broader goals of the Reach Higher Initiative centered around:

  • Exposing students to college and career opportunities 

  • Understanding financial aid eligibility that can make college affordability a reality Encouraging academic planning and summer learning opportunities 

  • Supporting high school counselors who can help more kids get into college

School counselors are well positioned to make these things happen, said Foxx. “We train our students to be advocates, leaders and to build strategic partnerships. School counselors know their students, families and barriers that impede access to post secondary education.”

In many ways, the process is already in motion, she added.

“Across our nation school counselors are hosting FASFA nights, Instant Decision College Days and through academic planning advocate that students take rigorous courses that will lead them to be college ready,” Foxx said.

As many as 475 delegates will descend on Jacksonville in early November for the three-day conference. The chance to network, learn from and contribute to the process is a valuable prospect for Foxx.

“School counselors are trained to collaborate, and this work is no different. We must tap into and use our resources wisely,” Foxx said. “There is no need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to ensure that all students have access the programs that do exist.”