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Welcome to the Admissions, Orientation, and First-Year Experience Commission within ACPA. Members of the AOFYE Commission include professionals involved in the areas of admissions, enrollment management, first-year experience, orientation, and high school/college relations. The AOFYE Commission offers resources to its membership while defining issues, exchanging information, and sponsoring programs related to areas of interest within the AOFYE field.
COMMISSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENTAre you interested in getting involved in the AOFYE commission? AOFYE currently needs people willing to serve as peer reviewers for the upcoming awards and grant applications. Given the quantity of program submissions we receive, the Directorate Board relies on thorough reviews to assist in the selection process. |
| Registration Fees: | |
| ACPA Member | $ 299 per site |
| Nonmember | $ 499 per site |
Lessons Learned: The Impact of Natural Disasters on College Student Transitions
Date TBA
The transition to college is an important time in any student’s life. This annual rite of passage is a time filled of excitement and joy for new students. However, how is this transition impacted when natural disaster’s strike, especially right at the time that new students are arriving on campus. What happens when these disasters occur during a student’s first-year experience and how do they impact the student’s ability to transition successfully? Join the AOFYE Commission, in collaboration with the Task Force on Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness, as they partner together to offer a special webinar focused on how colleges and universities support new students during these unanticipated times of crisis.
To begin receiving communication from AOFYE, add yourself to the Commission:
How do I get involved with the AOFYE Commission?
There are many different ways to become involved in the Commission that allow for different degrees of personal involvement and time commitment. We welcome you to explore as many of the following opportunities:
Professional Development
Check out one of our webinars or twitter chats
Join our Directorate Board! Elections take place each November
Recognition
Nominate a colleague or program for one of the AOFYE awards
Submit a proposal for our annual Research Grant
Review proposals for our commission awards and grant
ACPA Annual Convention
Submit a proposal for an AOFYE sponsored program
Review proposals for our commission programs
Attend our Open Meeting to network with other colleagues in the fields of Admissions, Orientation and the First Year Experience
Visit our Commission table at the Convention Showcase
As we prepare for this upcoming academic year the AOFYE Commission outlined what we see as
Key Issues and Hot Topics in our profession.
Impact of Increasing Cost of Higher Education and Student Debt
The soaring costs of higher education are making it extremely difficult for students to attend and remain in college. The current economic situation is making it increasingly difficult for students to remain in college as families struggle to cover the costs of college attendance. This significantly impacts the ability of institutions to retain students and successfully support their persistence to graduation. Critical attention must be focused on how to ensure that access to a college education is not limited or revoked by the soaring costs of college attendance.
As a “band aid” measure to help pay for these increasing costs, roughly two out of three students take out loans for college and currently one out of five are defaulting on those loans. Students are also leaving college with significant debt loads that greatly reduce the amount they see from their first real paychecks. It is far too easy to borrow money for college and educating our students on financial wellness and student loan debt is crucial to the success of our students and the country’s economic debt. College students are facing trillion dollars in debt and attention should be devoted to helping our students navigate this troublesome issue.
Impact of Increasing Enrollment ofStudents on the Spectrum of Autism
More and more students are being diagnosed on the spectrum of autism and more of these students are enrolling in college. However, many institutions are still struggling to provide the appropriate resources and support to these students as they adjust to a chaotic environment which may be overwhelming. In the K-12 education system students are provided with an IEP (Individual Education Plan) for student success. A student who is on the spectrum of autism entering college may find it difficult to interact and engage socially with other students. In addition, other students may struggle to understand those on the spectrum of autism and how their daily needs may be different. Students serving in leadership roles such as Resident Assistants, Peer Mentors, and Orientation Leaders are expected to help all students adjust to life in college. However, in order to assist students on the spectrum of autism, these student leaders require special training on how to provide an inclusive environment for these students and ensure that their adjustment and persistence is just as successful.
Awareness of College Students who are “Homeless”
There is a systematic way of tracking students who are homeless or experiencing some level of hardship in the K-12 education system. However, once students have graduated out of the K-12 public education system there are a limited number of, if any, systems in place to assist these students in higher education. More assistance is needed to identify students who fall into these categories as well as provide the resources which are crucial for their success in college.
