A Message from the NEACAC Governing Board
Dear NEACAC Members,
In this unprecedented time, we reach out to you with important updates regarding NEACAC spring programming. First, we would like to acknowledge the stress, pressure, and uncertainty our members are facing in their professional and personal lives. We would like to extend our thoughts, compassion, and best wishes to all our members.
Due to the rapidly developing COVID-19 outbreak, the guidance from the Center for Disease Control, and the travel restrictions at organizations within our affiliate, the NEACAC Governing Board has made the difficult decision to cancel the in-person meeting of the Annual Meeting & Conference and our spring college fairs. These decisions were not made lightly and are presented to you with heavy hearts.
Refunds
The decision was made to refund 100% of the college fair registrations and Annual Meeting & Conference attendee registrations. Additionally, all sponsorship and grants associated with these programs will be returned. Refunds will be made using the same method as the original payment. They will be made in the order in which registrations were received, and we ask for your patience as we process these funds. If you have questions about the refund, please contact [email protected].
The decision to cancel the Annual Meeting & Conference and the spring college fairs will have a significant impact on NEACAC’s 2019-2020 budget. We are extremely grateful to the past leaders of the Association for situating us in a way that these losses will not have a detrimental impact on our overall operations as a member organization. The Executive Board in consultation with the Finance Committee will be reviewing the budget to determine what readjustments and reforecasting need to occur.
Next Steps
Although the in-person conference will be unable to be held, the Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony will be conducted. In addition, the Annual Meeting & Conference Committee has been charged with investigating potential virtual opportunities. The IDEA Committee, Current Trends Committee, and Professional Development Committee will be reviewing their programming associated with AMC to determine the best course of action. The Governing Board voted to extend the current AMC Chair to oversee the 2021 conference as well as adjust the 2022 and 2023 chairs accordingly. We thank these volunteers for being willing to serve the Association in this extended capacity. More details to follow as we evaluate potential opportunities.
With these cancellations within the Association as well as the moratorium of on-campus visits this spring, NEACAC acknowledges the impact on prospective students beginning their college search. The Governing Board has also charged the College Fair Committee along with the Executive Director to explore the possibility of NEACAC hosted summer college fairs. More details will be provided as they become available.
The NEACAC Executive and Governing Boards would like to express our gratitude to the volunteers who have worked on programs that have been canceled. We would like to acknowledge the disappointment these cancellations must cause after the time and energy you have devoted to developing relevant and robust programming. Volunteers are the backbone of our Association, and we are so appreciative of all the wonderful work you have done. Additionally, we would like to thank our host sites for their collaboration.
We would also like to thank the following committees for their willingness to be nimble and flexible during this evolving situation including the Professional Development Committee for quickly adjusting and still presenting the Career Colloquium virtually, the Government Relations Committee for the decision to postpone the Vermont Day on the Hill, the Two-year Committee for being willing to reimagine their transfer forum, and the Nominating Committee for being willing to postpone the elections.
In order to assist our members during this difficult time and provide a space to stay connected, we will be continuing our Community Conversations series. The next conversation and registration details are listed below.
As the pandemic evolves, NEACAC will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions with our members and their students’ safety in mind. If additional programs need to be postponed or canceled, we will be sure to communicate with those affected and look for alternatives for programming.
Please know that NEACAC is here to support you during this difficult time. Reach out to us by emailing [email protected] to let us know what other ways we can help you.
Sincerely,
Erin W. Earle, Ed.D. President, NEACAC
Christina Doyle Executive Director, NEACAC
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