On October 11, 2019, the Executive Board of the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling shared our Statement of Inclusivity. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to cultivating mutual respect, empathy and understanding amongst our members. As educators and professionals in admissions, we understand that a statement cannot resonate without action. Each of us, on an individual level, will decide our own course of action. Given the current climate, TACAC’s work within Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - now more than ever, is vital. As an organization, we are creating spaces and developing resources to support our members by focusing on:

• Social and Emotional Health Resource Center - We are creating a dedicated space on our website for resources and encourage you to submit suggestions on this Google Form.

• Diversity Book Series – The selection for November will be “The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us” by Paul Tough. Details of our upcoming discussion will be posted soon.

• Spark Joy Spotlight - We will be featuring members on our social media to share-out how they are sparking joy in themselves, colleagues and/or their students during this time.

To engage with the Inclusion, Access and Success (IAS) committee and share thoughts, please email [email protected].

 Statement of Inclusivity

The Executive Board of the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling is committed to creating a constructive climate for intellectual and scholarly growth, meaningful interaction, and common endeavors as we guide students through the college search process and support our members in their professional growth within the association. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are key to the work that we do.

As an organization, we embrace the diversity of our members and celebrate the expanding diversity of students and educators across Texas. Our mission to value diversity thrives on a plurality of backgrounds, experiences, viewpoints, and positionalities. We recognize that power imbalances, organizational/institutional bias, and systems of oppression can stand in the way of students and educators achieving their full potential. We are committed to cultivating mutual respect, empathy and understanding amongst our members. As an organization, we affirm all people regardless of their age, culture, intellectual and physical ability, ethnic origin, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military experience, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.

To these ends, we engage in the following practices and pursuits:

• Create an inclusive organizational environment that is broadly accessible and welcoming to individuals of diverse identities, experiences, and aspirations.
• Foster an equitable, intellectual and social climate that is inclusive and respectful for all members. We acknowledge that categories of difference are fluid and not necessarily fixed. We respect individual rights to self-identification and expression; we encourage activities, gatherings, and conversations in which individuals from all walks of life are empowered to lend their voice and fully participate.
• Provide resources and space for distinctive programming that further our diversity goals and our shared interests and ideals.
• Encourage our members to be conscientious, critical thinkers, as well as considerate, responsible leaders.