Diversity on campus strengthens our colleges and our country.

Yet a large number of qualified students from low-income and minority populations are still underrepresented in American higher education due to inadequate access to college advising resources.

Here are four ways college counselors can help increase access:

1) Expose students to a wide array of colleges. Free and open to the public, NACAC’s National College Fairs offer students and parents the opportunity to meet face-to-face with college representatives in more than 90 cities across the country.

2) Connect with access organizations. The NACAC Directory of College Access & Success Programs offers information and contacts for hundreds of programs throughout the US that help underrepresented students prepare for postsecondary education, gain admission to college, and graduate with a degree.

3) Promote college awareness and planning. NACAC’s Step by Step: College Awareness and Planning for Families, Counselors and Communities is a comprehensive college and career readiness manual. Download a free copy of the recently revised curriculum  for activities and exercises designed to build college awareness among elementary, middle, and high school students.

4) Collaborate with colleagues. Join a NACAC Special Interest Group​ (SIG). SIGs provide micro-communities within the association, and offer participants the opportunity to collaborate with members who have similar interests. The association has 26 SIGs, several of which are devoted to broadening college access.

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.