VP Mike Bartini

Greetings from the New England Regional Office. Springtime is upon us, which means that colleges and universities are busy diving into the spring admissions cycle. The admissions process is not immune to the state of our economy, which has admissions offices rethinking their strategies for how best to build next year’s incoming classes. Another effect of the economy on education can be seen in the stimulus legislation. State governments also find themselves considering the future of education in our area based on provisions in the
stimulus bill.

In New England, our commitment to providing professional development for educators is as strong as ever. We have two events planned for this summer. The first is the 41st Annual Institute on Financial Aid Administration, a five-day event that offers a unique opportunity to learn the basics of financial aid in higher education in an informal, interactive environment. The second will be the 2009 Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions, an annual meeting jointly organized by Harvard University and the College Board, offering more than 40 sessions on admissions topics, ranging from how admissions decisions are made to standardized testing and budgeting/cost analysis. Registration for both events is available now, and we hope to see many of you at these valuable institutes this summer.

Finally, as we’ve reflected on this year’s successful New England Regional Forum, it is time to begin planning for 2010. We want to hear from you and encourage you to consider submitting a topic for next year’s meeting. Please visit www.collegeboard.com/neforum regularly for the most up-to-date information on submitting a session proposal.

In an informal survey, attendees at the New England Regional Forum rated highest in importance their interactions with colleagues from across the region and the valuable information gained from the sessions.

The surveys were distributed at College Board President Gaston Caperton’s plenary sessions at each forum and were designed to collect feedback about the forum, particularly in today’s difficult economic climate. About 90 people at the New England Regional Forum completed the survey.

“It is affirming to see how much our members value the forums and in-person meetings,” said Mary Carroll Scott, vice president of membership. “The question for us is, how do we accomplish that effective communication and professional development in difficult economic times, when it’s all the more important to share ideas.”

Nationwide, attendance at the regional forums was down from 2008, with many people saying the economy was hindering opportunities to travel and attend professional development programs.

New England participants also strongly agreed in large numbers that the quality of the regional forum presentations is high and that they use the information to improve their work.

In related research conducted through an e-mail survey, about 60 percent of respondents indicated that the workshops and sessions are what primarily draw them to the regional forums. Thirty percent said interaction with colleagues is their primary motivation.

A few of the sessions that respondents found the most valuable were “Testing 101,” “Technology: A Double-Edged Sword for Students, Admissions Officers and College Counselors” and “Their Space: Adolescents Online and Under Stress.”

Click here to see events and workshops in the New England Region.