HECA: Advancing Excellence in Higher Education Consulting
Our Mission
To foster a culture of support for the HECA community to develop personally, professionally, and ethically.
Our Vision
In our actions, we strive to be a welcoming, collaborative, professional association that promotes volunteerism and integrity among our members.
Strategic Goals
Our organization aims to continue:
- enhancing our organization’s credibility and recognition both internally and externally
- fostering a culture of support for the HECA community to develop personally, professionally, and ethically
- expanding our efforts in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion
HECA Advocacy
Mission
The Advocacy Committee exists to actualize HECA’s wider mission of “promoting equity and access for all students” within the changing landscape of admissions, especially following the 2023 race-conscious admissions SCOTUS decision. The committee aims to ensure access and equity for students who encounter systemic barriers to higher education and professional development–especially marginalized, underrepresented, rural, first-generation, undocumented, disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, and financially disadvantaged students.
Method
Towards this purpose, the committee interfaces with HECA members, the wider IEC community, and beyond to increase awareness of these issues and provide the necessary tools to tackle them.
This Means …
Educating individual HECA members: Keeping our IECs up-to-date about the reality of educational equity (especially about relevant developments at the state and federal levels) and equipping them with the correlating resources they need.
Organizing policy outreach: Providing avenues for advocacy with legislators, national organizations, and local communities.
Promoting HECA’s organizational integrity: Enacting HECA’s ethical code and mission statement by seeking accountability and inclusivity on an organizational level.
Snapshot of HECA members who belong to ACAC affiliations
(approximate numbers)
WACAC 385
PNACAC – 110
NEACAC – 115
SACAC – 108
RMACAC – 67
TXACAC – 70
NYACAC – 65
PCACAC – 50
NJACAC – 49
PennACAC – 34
For more information, questions, or to become involved please contact the Advocacy Committee at [email protected]
Becoming an IEC
Are you considering the field of Independent Education Consulting?
Independent education consultants (IEC’s) assist students and their families in the college search and application process. Finding the right school and match between the college/university offerings and the student’s academic, social and personal needs enriches a student’s life and plays a major role in their future. The process of finding the right fit or ‘match school’ is of vital importance to the IEC.
If you are considering a future in Independent Education Consulting, there are many programs available to prospective IEC’s.
College Counseling programs recognized by HECA are the online UC Irvine, UCLA and UC Berkeley programs through their extension offerings.
- UC Irvine Program (HECA members receive a 10% discount on all classes)
- UCLA Program (HECA members receive a 10% discount on all classes)
- UC Berkeley Program
- UC Riverside Program
Numerous articles are available at our HECA website, such as the benefits of membership.
If you are seriously considering a career as an IEC, you might consider attending HECA’s annual conference (membership not mandatory), usually held in June. More than 350 HECA members, college representatives and exhibitors from all over the globe are in attendance. At the conference, you can network with education consultants who are established in the field, as well as provisional members who are starting their practice or in the process of receiving their certificate training. Of particular interest might be the pre-conference Professional Development Institute, which is offered in some years. You can access all conference information on the HECA website, including this year’s conference dates and locations.
If you have specific questions, please contact the Membership Chairperson at [email protected].
Leadership
Executive Board
Chris Holzwarth
Director, Professional Development Committee Chair
Beyond the Applause, LLC
[email protected]
Sandy Lawrence
Director, Membership Committee Chair
Sandra Lawrence Independant Educational Consultant
[email protected]
Dr. Jerry Daniels
Director, Marketing & Communications Committee Chair
Daniels Educational Consulting
[email protected]
Scott S. Garbini
President
[email protected]
Audrey Slaughter
Secretary
[email protected]
Maureen Chang
Standards & Ethics Chair
[email protected]
Deb Ryan & Manjiri Sethna
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Co-Chairs
DEI@hecaonline.org
Marie Morris
Government Relations Chair
[email protected]
Virginia Buege
Operations Manager
[email protected]
Jodi L.G. Glou
President-Elect
[email protected]
Dr. Jerry Daniels
Marketing & Communications Chair
[email protected]
Lisa Hatch
Webinar Manager
[email protected]
Toni Marie Teeter & Jigisha Doshi
Exhibits Manager
[email protected]
Cheri Barad
Sponsorships Chair
[email protected]
Aralyse Johnson
Special Projects & Events Asst
[email protected]
Marie Morris
Past President
[email protected]
Sandy Lawrence
Membership Chair
[email protected]
Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
Toni Marie Teeter & Jigisha Doshi
Business Partners Manager
[email protected]
Ellen Kuppersmith
College Fair Chair
[email protected]
Andrea Bass Pierson
Communications Administrative Asst
[email protected]
Todd Weaver
Treasurer
[email protected]
Chris Holzwarth
Professional Development Chair
[email protected]
Kathy Fine & Ruchi Saran
2024 Conference Chairs
[email protected]
Colleen Reed
Regional Coordinators Manager
communitycoordinators@
Stephanie Davis
Social Media Asst
[email protected]