Building Connections. Advancing Equity. Promoting Success.

Member Benefits

In This Section

Regional Meetings

Advancing Equity

NCAN members can attend Regional Meetings free of charge, non-members pay $50.

March 22 - Tampa, FL
March 29 - Santa Barbara, CA
April 12 - Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
April 19 - Washington, DC

Goal 2025

THE BIG GOAL: To increase the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by the year 2025.

Goal 2025

Visit Lumina Foundation's Goal 2025

For more information about how to adopt GOAL 2025, contact tdetrich@luminafoundation.org.

Program and Professional Development
-Provides training and technical assistance in areas important to the field of college access and success to help staff do their jobs with accuracy and efficiency.

Phone and Web-based Services:

Building Blocks Toolkit
The Building Blocks Toolkit provides hands-on, step-by-step information for organizations that wish to start or expand a college access program. Toolkit examples include: a program readiness and capacity assessment questionnaire; an overview of program services offered by college access programs; and tips on how to add new program components.

Member Only Portal on the NCAN Website
The NCAN website hosts a Member Only portal which includes the Building Blocks Toolkit, member resources, government relations information, a member message board, and more. The general NCAN web site also links to all member program pages, the National College Access Program Directory, the Pathways to College Network Online Library, event information, and NCAN publications.

ConnectEDU Partnership
NCAN partners with ConnectEDU to offer innovative technology services at deeply discounted member-only prices. ConnectEDU’s data driven solution helps students bridge the transitions between high school, college and career and supports all of the adults who work with them, including their parents, counselors, school administrators, and mentors.

Some key features that will be available to NCAN members include:  Tracking of Program Services, Curriculum Planning, Career Assessments, Test Preparation, Application Processing, Financial Aid Planning, Employer Mentoring, Tutoring w/Essay writing, Resume Assistance, Scholarship Search, and Custom Tracking and Reporting. In addition, ConnectEDU solutions leverage social media tools to deliver important messages.

For more information on ConnectEDU, or to learn about webinars demonstrating their services, please visit: http://www.collegeaccess.org/ConnectEDU.aspx.

Technical Assistance
NCAN members may request technical assistance regarding programs and/or operations.

Opportunity to Nominate for NCAN’s Awards of Excellence
The NCAN Board of Directors developed the NCAN Awards of Excellence to recognize excellence in college access organizations, staff, and executive or board leadership, and to recognize a Champion of College Access. All nominators and nominees, except the Champion of College Access recipient, must be NCAN members or board members in good standing.

Event-based Services:

Annual NCAN Conference
The national conference is a unique professional development opportunity for college access practitioners as well as an ideal venue to network with colleagues. In addition, the conference offers major presentations by researchers and policy makers, a variety of professional sessions, seminars and workshops, and social events. Based on membership type, NCAN members receive a discount or complimentary registration.

Advisor Training 2010
In the summer of 2010, NCAN will host a two-day advisor training that is free for members and includes room and board plus a travel stipend.

Regional Meetings
Each year NCAN holds a series of Regional Meetings that are one-day, topic focused events. The 2010 regional meetings will have a retention and data/evaluation focus. All staff members attend free of charge (non-members attend for a fee.

Executive Directors Roundtable
This meeting is an opportunity for Executive Directors to network, to participate in the policy process, and to be advocates for college access. The Roundtable is held in Washington, DC, and includes visits with Congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.

Current Issues and Public Advocacy
-Keeps member organizations abreast of current events, research, and policy, to help members stay better informed, save time, and participate in the legislative process.

NCAN Daily E-Briefing and Discussion Listserv
NCAN provides the NCAN Daily Update to members through its online discussion list. This daily digest includes policy issues, government resources, new research findings and other articles of interest to those associated with the field of college access and retention.

Member Webinars
NCAN hosts member calls that are open to all staff at member organizations. These calls cover topics including professional development, policy updates, and research presentations. Presenters are experts in their area and are usually from outside of the NCAN staff. These calls also allow members to raise any questions or discussions that are general topics or NCAN business.

Advisor Discussion Listserv
This listserv provides updates, networking opportunities, and a discussion platform specifically for advisors and about topics of interest to them.

Legislative Tracking
NCAN is actively engaged in monitoring important legislative, educational and economic trends as well as issues related to student financial aid, college admission, and tuition increases. Updates are sent through the Daily E-Briefing, the Government Relations webpage, and policy summaries.

Advocacy
Members have access to the CQ Press Political Contact Suite to access current contact information for elected and appointed leaders at the federal level.

Networking and Communication
-Connects members with colleagues, experts, and funding opportunities to help them improve and expand their organizations through shared information, partnerships and more.

Networking through NCAN Services
The NCAN Discussion Listservs, in person events, Directories, and connections bring NCAN members together and connect them experts from the field.

NCAN Member Directory
The NCAN directory lists all organizational, affiliate and supporting organization members.  A helpful tool for networking and sharing ideas, the directory is provided to all new members.

National College Access Directory
All regular members are listed in the National College Access Directory, allowing students and community members to search for the programs by location and service-type.

Newsletter
AccessUpdate, the newsletter of the National College Access Network, is dedicated to reporting on issues pertinent to the field of college access.  Focusing on helpful fundraising techniques, practices that work, and member activities, AccessUpdate is an important communication tool for NCAN members. NCAN members have the opportunity to write guest articles, be featured in the newsletter, and submit entries for the “Member Activities” section.

National College Access Network | 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 632 | Washington, DC 20036 | phone: (202) 347-4848 | fax: (202) 530-4292