In the aftermath of the “Varsity Blues” admission scandal, legislative action has come quickly. A bill has been proposed to the California State Legislature that includes a state registry provision for independent educational consultants and the formation of a “stake holder” task force. Representative Donna Shalala (D, Florida) has submitted H.R. 2006, the College Equity Act, which focuses on equity in college admission practices. It is important that independent educational consultants (IECs) are included in this national dialogue.

AICEP encourages all affiliated IECs and school counselors to reach out to their legislators with information about the standards and ethics that our professional organizations require of their members. As a profession, we do much to regulate our own adherence to ethical standards and practices, but the only entity that provides a verification of knowledge and consulting skill is the AICEP and its' certification assessment.

If you are a Certified Educational Planner (CEP), we are providing a tool for you to reach out to your own legislators.  Educating the public and our lawmakers about the growing number of CEPs, and the importance of certification that includes emphasis on continued professional development and re-certification every 5 years, will help focus attention on a process that has been in place for 20 years! Please refer to our legislator letter template for sample language.

We also encourage all experienced independent consultants and school counselors to consider certification at this critical time for our profession. There’s never been a better time to join the list of board-certified educational planners who are committed to the highest standards of our profession.

The news in the last 24 hours has been filled with reports and arrests of persons for abuses relating to college admissions.  Fake credentials, bribes, and unfair influence have no place in the college admission process. This abhorrent behavior on the part of all parties involved is completely antithetical to our profession.

As Chair of the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (www.aicep.org), I want to assure families that the vast majority of the admissions world operates in a fair and consistent way. College admissions officers make decisions each day that are ethical, holistic and fair-minded. The truth is that the vast majority of high school college counselors and Independent Educational Consultants (private college counselors) operate within clear ethical standards and work to find colleges that are a good fit for their students. These professionals focus on finding colleges where the student will not only be accepted, but will thrive and succeed.

This is a good time to increase awareness among parents of the importance of seeking a professional who holds the designation of Certified Educational Planner (CEP)™ to ensure they are engaging a highly qualified and experienced educational consultant. To be awarded this credential, the individual must meet substantial educational and experiential requirements and then pass a rigorous board-certifying assessment. To retain the credential, CEPs must continue to conduct evaluative campus visits and participate in ongoing professional development to meet recertification requirements every five years.

Parents looking for help from professionals who spend time on college campuses and strive to assure a match between the student and the college should seek a Certified Educational Planner. You can find a CEP in your area via our directory at aicep.org.

The college admissions process is complex and multifaceted. Parents should seek a professional who gets to know a student’s strengths and true interests and who also has a solid fund of knowledge about colleges. The CEP designation gives families the assurance they need that they are working with a qualified professional who is committed to maintaining the highest quality of service to clients.

Judith S. Bass

Chair, AICEP

New Commissioners Join AICEP 2018-19 Board

The AICEP Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of the following Commissioners to the 2018-19 AICEP Commission Board. Beginning at the annual meeting on June 5th and 6th, these new Commissioners will serve a three year term. Join us in welcoming:

Debi Hudson, MA, CEP currently serves as Director of College Counseling at St. Teresa’s Academy, an all-female, Catholic high school in midtown Kansas City. Previous experience includes college counseling at Rockhurst High School (Kansas City) and at The University of Tulsa Office of Admission. She is a past president of Great Plains ACAC and Missouri ACAC, a past member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and a former member of the reading committee for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. Debi earned her CEP credential from AICEP in 2015. Debi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of Tulsa and a Master of Arts in curriculum & instruction with an emphasis on higher education administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Jeana Kawamura, MA, CEP started Kawamura College Advisement ten years ago in Newport Beach, CA. She received her BA from Scripps College, a teaching credential from the University of New Mexico, and an MA in Education with an emphasis in Psychology from Pepperdine University. She also completed the College Counseling Certificate Program from UCLA. Jeana became a CEP in December 2013; she used the goal of obtaining the CEP designation as her roadmap at the beginning of her career. Jeana is a member of HECA, IECA, NACAC, and WACAC. She has visited over 225 colleges, many multiple times. As a believer in continuing professional development, Jeana attends conferences, workshops, seminars - whatever she can do to further her knowledge to share with students and families. She and her husband Matt have been married for 32 years and have two adult children. Jeana enjoys playing golf whenever possible.