ACCA is committed to fostering the careers of graduate students interested in college counseling. An ACCA membership brings opportunities for state and national leadership, networking with professionals, employment information and support, and continuing education assistance.

One of the three member-at-large positions on the ACCA Executive Council is reserved for a graduate student and all the other offices and committees of ACCA are open to graduate students as well. College counseling employment opportunities are advertized by various state college counseling divisions, on the ACCA listserv (ACCA-L), and through publications like the ACCA newsletter (Visions). ACCA sponsors grants and awards to cover fees to support attendance at national conventions (ACA and ACCA) and many state divisions offer assistance to students as well.

Networking is an important activity for future college counselors and ACCA provides that in spades! State and national conferences, workshops, ACCA-L – all provide opportunities to meet with college counselors, exchange ideas, foster mentor relationships, and discover resources. After all, graduate students are the future of the college counseling profession!

ACCA Research Grants are open to all ACCA members, including graduate students. This could be an important financial resource for support towards your research project.

ACCA Emerging Leader Grants:

ACCA strives to recognize and support individuals who are master’s level and doctoral level graduate students, as well as new professionals, considered to be emerging leaders within our profession. To this end, we provide Emerging Leader Grants to a select group of recipients each year to support the cost of attendance at the American Counseling Association Annual Conference. During the years that ACCA holds a conference, we also select a group of recipients to receive grant support for attendance at the ACCA Conference. Emerging Leaders are asked to:

• Serve on one of ACCA’s twelve committees for at least a year
• Write an article for publication in our newsletter, VISIONS
• Attend the business meeting scheduled during the conference
• Attend Emerging Leader training during the conference

Application packets are made available well in advance of appropriate deadlines for each conference so please check back in the fall for additional information. Application packets for Emerging Leader Grants require the following materials:

• Narrative outlining scholarly activities (such as presentations, publications, research interests) and professional/volunteer service (within college campus community, professional organizations, committees, etc.) contributing to the future of the college counseling profession
• Curriculum Vita or Resume

Other materials may be required based on the conference for which an individual is applying to be an Emerging Leader.

If you have questions about Emerging Leader Grants in between conference and application times, please contact the ACCA Graduate Student Committee Chairperson.

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Just for You!

Check out this link to find employment opportunities in college counseling: www2.kumc.edu/people/llong/picc/
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Check back on this site from time to time – we will be adding new resources for you!