Summer Institute

Registration Rates:

Early Bird Rate: $250 - ends May 29, 2026

Regular Rate: $325

Registration Deadline: June 19, 2026

Refund Policy: Cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to PNACAC at admin@pnacac.org no later than 30 days prior to the start of  Summer Institute. A $50 processing fee will be deducted from the cost of your registration.

Register Now

Registration Vouchers

Want to register a new employee for Summer Institute, but they aren't onboarded yet? You have two options:

Option 1: Wait until they are identified and register on their behalf (or have them register).

Option 2: Want to get the registration fee paid before the fiscal year ends, but the new person won't be identified by then? Use this form you pay for a registration voucher! This allows you to pay now and then they can register later.

Registration Vouchers

Registration or payment questions? Please contact Ann Nault, PNACAC Executive Assistant, admin@pnacac.org.

PNACAC is pleased to offer five scholarships to support Summer Institute attendance.

Priority is given to:

• First-time attendees

• PNACAC members

The scholarship may cover:

• Summer Institute registration fee

• Campus housing

• Transportation

Timeline:

• Scholarship Application deadline: May 29, 2026

• PNACAC will notify applicants of their status no later than June 15, 2026

• Expenses will be reimbursed for scholarship recipients after the event.

SI Scholarships - APPLY TODAY

Wednesday, July 8

11:00 - 12:30 Check in
12:30 p.m. Lunch Provided 🥙

Afternoon Sessions

Enrollment Management 101: The Big Picture
What is Enrollment Management? How does admission work with other offices and divisions on a college or university campus? How does the daily work of an admission counselor relate to the institution’s mission and strategic plan? This session will give you a deeper understanding of the profession and its important role in higher education. 

Student Engagement and Relationship Management
Whether reaching out proactively to inquiries or following up after a 1-on-1 conversation, managing the relationship between students and your institution is critical to your success as an admission counselor. This session will offer advice on how to do this most effectively. 

Small Group Conversation and Reflection

5:30 p.m. Dinner Provided  🥙
7:00 p.m. Optional Evening Activity

Thursday, July 9

8:00 a.m. Breakfast Provided 🥞

Morning Sessions

Travel Tips: Look Like a Pro on the Road
Two road warriors are ready to pass down hard-earned knowledge and tips on how to maximize your impact and minimize your stress on the road. You'll leave this session ready to rock recruitment travel season.

How We Use Data
From recruitment planning, to financial aid modeling, to long-term strategic planning, enrollment professionals use data every day to make smart decisions. This session will cover the ways we analyze data to inform our day to day work. 

Admissions Marketing 101

When it comes to college and university marketing, what do we mean by "brand" and how can you use that brand to add impact to your work? This session highlights the most common types of higher education marketing, and will cover ways you can both be a good brand ambassador and use your unique knowledge to be a good partner to your colleagues on the communications team.

12:00 p.m. Lunch Provided  🥙

Afternoon Sessions 

Connecting with school counselors and CBOs 

Hear from colleagues on the high school side what makes up a strong relationship between them and an admissions counselor recruiting their students. Walk away with plenty of tips from folks who see many admissions reps, and hear emerging dynamics and technology that high school counselors and students are using in the college search process. 

Creating a memorable presentation 

Humans love stories. How do you prepare a stellar presentation that keeps prospective students engaged with storytelling? Learn how to adjust to the unexpected, and walk away from this interactive session with some great public speaking tools that will make you stand out for your audiences. 

Strategies for Growth and Standing Out
Hear from two professionals with different paths into leadership roles and hear their tips for how to stand out as a new professional and prepare for promotion. Topics will include how to signal you're ready for increased responsibility; specific skill sets and abilities that are needed for advancement into assistant or associate director level work; and specific leadership development resources you can tap into now.

Small Group Conversation and Reflection 

6:00 p.m. Dinner on your own (option to sign up for group dinner reservation)


Friday, July 10

8:00 a.m. Breakfast Provided  🥞

Morning Sessions

Difficult conversations 

What does sharing tough news or working through a challenging situation with students and families look like? This session will touch on strategies to make these interactions more positive or educational. We’ll also cover strategies to use when navigating conflict with a peer versus a supervisor within your own team.

Policy topics and impacts on your work 

Let’s discuss some national and regional policy trends that may impact the way we do our work. How do you keep track of the latest on your campus? In what ways (either as professionals or citizens) can we make our concerns and voices heard? 

Directors Panel

Ask questions and learn from folks currently in the role of dean, director or AVP at their institution. You’ll have the chance to submit questions to them both in advance and during this session.

Final Reflection and Survey Completion

Group Photo

12:30 p.m. Lunch Provided (boxed to grab and go, if needed)  🥙

Who should attend?

Staff working in college admissions offices with approximately 0-3 years of experience as recruitment professionals.

What is the format?

A combination of:

• Interactive workshops

• Panel discussions

• Small Group Reflection Time

What are the learning outcomes/takeaways?

• You will leave “road-ready” - having gained skills and knowledge to make you feel ready to hit the ground running in the next recruitment cycle

• You will take away new and strengthened relationships with colleagues in the profession

• You will leave with a deeper understanding of future professional development needs

What is included?

• On-campus lodging: single room with shared bathroom

• Five meals (one dinner on your own)

• A dedicated Slack channel just for your cohort to continue conversations after the Institute

Sample themes:

• Basics of admissions, recruitment, and enrollment management

• Understanding student demographics and territory management

• Travel tips and tricks

• Admission ethics and best practices

• Developing best practices in working with high school/college counselors

• Admissions Marketing

• Strategies for Growth and Future Career Opportunities