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 Government Relations Committee (HGRC)
For Equity and Access Resources, click HERE (members-only resource).
June 2021: Your HECA E&A and GRAC Committees want to keep you informed about some important topics happening at the federal level. The US Department of Education announced actions to increase equity in education this week. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact Scott Garbini at [email protected].
Recent HGRC Activities: Six HECA members participated in the first PNACAC Oregon Virtual Advocacy Day April 7, 2021. With support from NACAC, 21 legislators in Oregon met with constituents to discuss and learn about issues in higher education.
Other HGRC Activities: HECA Government Relations Committee in partnership with the American Council on Education, has signed a number of letters recently. Topics include: support for international students, support for The Dream Act, and support for the American Rescue Plan Act.. Click HERE to see other initiatives the HGRC has been following.
What can you do? Write to your federal legislators thanking them for their hard work! Pick the topic you are the most passionate about. We will have a template available soon. In the meantime, please direct any questions to Marie Morris, [email protected], or Scott S. Garbini, [email protected].
Also, a message went out on the listserv regarding the recent and ongoing violence targeted at Asian Americans.
In keeping with HECA’s mission statement to “promote equity and access to higher education for all students”, HECA condemns the growing incidence of violence and discrimination against Asian American students, as well as students from Asian countries, occurring in US schools and postsecondary institutions. We stand by our students and colleagues who are Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islanders, and against all acts of violence and hate, and we urge our fellow citizens to do the same.
Here are some resources to educate and act:
Mission
To Establish a national presence for HECA by educating legislators on the work IECs do, HECA’s code of ethics, and our membership guidelines and vetting process. Committee members work to raise the profile of IECs, especially HECA, within NACAC and its affiliates.
What We Do & Why
Stay appraised of legislation being discussed in different states and nationally, which could impact HECA’s members and/or mission, and work with NACAC and its affiliates and other organizations where appropriate.
Goals
To educate legislators locally and nationally on the work HECA members do, our mission, our standards and ethics principles, our vetting process for members, and our professional development opportunities supporting an organization of credentialed professionals.
Educate HECA members regarding pending legislation where appropriate and enlist support.
To work with NACAC and its affiliates where appropriate.
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 or questions, please contact Marie Morris 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, Communications Committee Chair
Daniels Educational Consulting
[email protected]
Marie Morris
President
[email protected]
Maureen Chang
Standards & Ethics Chair
[email protected]
Toni Marie Teeter
Business Partners Manager
[email protected]
Toni Marie Teeter
Exhibits Manager
[email protected]
Virginia Buege
Operations Manager
[email protected]
Scott S. Garbini
President-Elect
[email protected]
Dr. Jerry Daniels
Communications Chair
[email protected]
Lisa Hatch
Webinar Manager
[email protected]
Jodi Glou & Melissa Mieyr
2023 Conference Chairs
[email protected]
Aralyse Johnson
Special Projects & Events Assistant
[email protected]
Cheri Barad
Past President
[email protected]
Teo Salgado
Secretary
[email protected]
Sandy Lawrence
Membership Chair
[email protected]
Ellen Kuppersmith
Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
Andrea Bass Pierson
Communications Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Todd Weaver
Treasurer
[email protected]
Chris Holzwarth
Professional Development Chair
[email protected]
Brenda Gerhardt
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Chair
DEI@hecaonline.org
Colleen Reed
Community Coordinator
[email protected]
Stephanie Davis
Social Media Assistant
[email protected]
Ellen Kuppersmith & Audrey Slaughter
College Fair Co-Chairs
[email protected]
