2019 Conference Chats

Following the success of last year's new initiative, we were thrilled for the return of Conference Chats. In 2019, Conference attendees had the opportunity to see seven of their colleagues give a "TED-Style" talk during lunch on Wednesday and Thursday. An entirely different approach from the standard Conference education sessions, Conference Chats are a mixture of informative and inspirational, big picture concepts and specific examples, that all come together to form a narrative. These individuals are making a profound impact in our profession; their presentations will be personal and concise, allowing you to gain an entirely new perspective on issues and ideas. Below you will find Chat recordings, along with Chat descriptions and presenter information.

ADMISSIONS OFFICES OF THE WORLD - YOU CAN TAME YOUR APPLICATIONS QUEUE! 

Carolyn Ford
Director, International Undergraduate Recruitment       
Western University

Every year, many universities face the challenge of processing a high volume of applications in a timely manner. Their admissions offices are in essence a factory, one whose output is decisions, but with a critical difference: where a factory controls the timing, quality and volume of inputs, an admissions office has less control over the timing, quality and volume of applications received. This chat offers a brief introduction to the use of queuing analysis for admissions offices to better understand their measures of performance (waiting times, service rates, length of queue) and their operational domain (quality, quality and efficiency, or efficiency only). Guidance counsellors and applicants are also very interested in the timeline to application complete and evaluation. With the help of queuing champions on campus, these techniques can provide better work-life balance for admissions staff and less application period stress for guidance counsellors and applicants. 

 

DON’T GET BURNED: LESSONS FROM SURGERY RESIDENCY

Shannon O’Hagan
Assistant Director of International Recruitment
University of Missouri

Burnout is a hot topic with medical residency programs across the U.S. with significant resources devoted to researching, treating, and preventing it as if it were a disease. Although professionals in international education face different challenges than physicians, we are also susceptible to burnout. As a former burnout victim, I will share personal experiences as well as research-based lessons learned from leaving international education, working with a surgery residency program, and returning to international recruitment. The International ACAC conference presents a great opportunity to reflect on your well-being and develop burnout prevention strategies.

 

HOW THE BUS TOUR CHANGED MY LIFE

Cory Miller
University Counseling Coordinator
Branksome Hall

"As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person." This is a story about how our professional and personal lives can converge. It is an example of how individual relationships can be transformational. It is about the importance of walking the talk about doing our utmost to provide access to opportunity for students.

 

IMPOSTOR SYNDROME: WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE WE'RE GOOD ENOUGH?

Marco Dinovelli
Senior Associate Director
Rutgers University-New Brunswick

You are doing great in your job. You continue to excel professionally and consistently receive praise for the work that you do. Your peers are always telling you what a difference you are making and how important you are to the field. . . . So why can't you shake this feeling that you just aren't good enough and one day everyone will figure out what you already know, "You are a fraud!"

 

MAPPING FUTURES: LOCATING POTENTIAL AND MAXIMIZING IT

Katrina Edmunds
Associate Director of Guidance
Institut Le Rosey

Who are you and how good do you want to be? What are you going to need to get there? What ought you pick up along the way? With the world of careers in flux, this little counsellor believes it has never been more important to understand who you are and where you want to go. With AI coming right up into the university counseling space, we add value by helping people find the answers to these questions. Through incorporating Floyd Woodrow's (the youngest British soldier ever recruited to the SAS) North Star into the mapping process, I have found a useful tool to use in the counseling process. 

 

TO GO DEEPER, GO WIDER

Kim Zwitserloot
Director International Recruitment
University College Utrecht

By being a generalist you sacrifice depth for breadth. We have all heard this, whether it is as an argument against studying liberal arts and sciences, or as an argument for specialization in your career. But is it true? My own experience tells me that it's not. You can go deeper, by going wider.
 

 

UNICORNS, MILLENNIALS AND THE SILICON VALLEY

Michael Sexton
Vice President for Enrollment Management       
Santa Clara University

A quick look at the rapid pace of change in, arguably, the most creative place on the planet. What do these new and growing companies look for in employees and how do universities prepare them to compete? How do admission offices recruit and identify adaptable students who best fit this dynamic environment?