How to Support Your Colleagues and Students Impacted by Harvey

Hurricane Harvey and its subsequent floods have impacted more than 1 million students in 244 public and charter school districts statewide, according to the Texas Education Agency. And that total doesn’t take into account the region’s impacted college students or K-12 students in Louisiana who are starting to see flooding as a result of Harvey’s path.

Though the full impact of Harvey on students and schools will remain unknown for months to come, members of NACAC have been asking what they can do to help.

Here are some ways you can help your colleagues and the impacted schools in Texas.

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Professional Considerations: Admission Counselors Respond to Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey has left a lot of unknowns in its wake.

If and when students get to return to their schools, the schools will likely look significantly different: structural damage, fans to help dry out the building, missing book collections. And beyond the physical, the emotional impacts of this disaster could haunt them for years to come.

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Hurricane Harvey: Counselors Share Their Stories

Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Texas and Louisiana for the greater part of last week. The scale of the storm and flooding is unprecedented, impacting millions across 53 counties in Texas and parts of Southwest Louisiana.

Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas with winds of 130 mph on Aug. 22. The storm then moved toward the Houston metro area and lingered for several days, dumping nearly 52 inches of rain before hitting the coastal cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur with 26 inches of rain in 24 hours as it looked toward a second landfall in Louisiana.

While much of the focus has been on the homes that were lost, the storm has also flooded and destroyed schools, and has impacted more than 1 million students in 244 public and charter school districts in Texas alone, according to USA Today.

NACAC spoke with counselors in the impacted areas to learn about their experiences and find out how Harvey will impact their school and students in the weeks ahead.

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5 Social Media Tips for #nacac17

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NACAC’s 73rd National Conference in Boston kicks off in just a few days and there are so many ways to get involved. As the social media manager for NACAC I might be biased, but I think that getting involved with the conference on social media is one of best ways to connect with your colleagues and ensure you don’t miss a moment of the action.

But what are the best ways to do that? Follow these simple tips to get the most out of your national conference social media experience.

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#FinAid101: Share Your Tips on Twitter

Knowing the facts about financial aid can help college-bound students select a best fit school.

As students kick their college search into high gear this fall, NACAC encourages you to share your wisdom via Twitter.

Contribute your top tips using #FinAid101 and follow the hashtag to see advice submitted by colleagues from across the country.

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FAFSA Update: Data Imported From DRT Will Be Masked

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The IRS Data Retrieval Tool will be available to FAFSA filers this fall, but the tax information it imports will remain masked — even to students and parents.

According to a recent Federal Student Aid memo, the change will enhance security and privacy. But many financial aid professionals are worried the tool’s new constraints will discourage families and students from using it to import their tax information when applying for federal aid.

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#NACACreads: Upcoming Book Discussion Will Explore Student Mental Health

Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions are on the rise among youth at many competitive schools in the US and abroad.

Yet when kids struggle academically or emotionally, we often put the onus on them to change.

Join us Oct. 24 to explore the adjustments educators can make to help students prepare for college in more healthy and balanced ways. An hour-long #NACACreads discussion of At What Cost? Defending Adolescent Development in Fiercely Competitive Schools will kick off on Twitter at 9 p.m. (ET) featuring special guest and author David L. Gleason.

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Program Spotlight: NACAC Fairs Introduce Young Women to STEM Fields

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Women’s Equality Day, which will be celebrated Saturday, commemorates the day the 19th Amendment was certified to the Constitution in 1920.

The amendment granted women the right to vote, but the observance of Women’s Equality Day is not just about celebrating how far we’ve come. It’s about recognizing continuing efforts toward full equality of the genders.

American women are still underrepresented in many professions, including the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

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Regular updates on NACAC and the world of college admission counseling. For more information about NACAC, visit nacacnet.org.