NACAC’s commitment to leading change for DEI in the college admission profession continues to advance with a new report on diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in college counseling and admissions. As an extension of the Toward a More Equitable Future for Postsecondary Access report funded by Lumina Foundation, NACAC commissioned a report to examine the current DEI landscape in the field and accelerate our work on reimagining college admission through an equity lens.

DEI Challenges in the College Admission Counseling Profession, completed with support from Salesforce.org, provides insights and data on how counseling and admissions professionals experience DEI and how institutions and organizations can make changes to create an immediate impact.

Leading the conversation

NACAC’s research carries forward the recommendation from the Ad Hoc Committee on Leadership in College Admission to have NACAC focus on DEI for the profession and serve as a trusted source and leader of the national conversation. It also puts into action feedback from the CEO Listening Tour, during which members said NACAC must drive systemic change and focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Read the report to learn about:

  • Data about diversity among college admission counseling professionals
  • DEI practices applicable to college counseling and admission
  • DEI-related challenges and needs for furthering DEI practices and satisfaction
  • Recommendations for training, staffing, and other school and institutional practices

Key findings include:

  • Schools and institutions have implemented several DEI efforts in recent years, coinciding with recent high-profile attacks and hate speech against people of color in the United States.
  • Schools and institutions must examine student experiences throughout the higher education pipeline, including policy and practice intentions, student needs, and historical, systemic barriers.
  • Many schools and institutions have created DEI trainings, but few have made these trainings mandatory.
  • There is a current dearth of Black male representation in college counseling and admission spaces.
  • Increased diversity is needed in leadership positions, both within college counseling and admission, and in education more broadly.