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Welcome to the Admissions, Orientation, and First-Year Experience Commission within ACPA.  Members of the AOFYE Commission are professionals involved in enrollment management, orientation, admissions, and high school/college relations.  They are concerned with defining issues, exchanging information, and sponsoring programs related to their areas of interest.  We are pleased to have you as a colleague committed to these core areas of students' transition to college.  In an effort to familiarize you with the history, mission, and current activities of the AOFYE Commission, we have organized some information in the form of a few "Frequently Asked Questions."  If you need any additional information, please feel free to contact any one of our Directorate Board members.

Frequently Asked Questions?
What is a "Commission"?
How do I connect with other AOFYE members?
What resources does the AOFYE Commission offer?
How do I get involved with the AOFYE Commission?

What is a "Commission"?
The AOFYE is one of many Commissions within ACPA.  Commissions were established in 1961 to serve three basic purposes:

• To establish an organizational framework that would involve ACPA's members more directly in policy formation and professional development;
• To distribute responsibility among a greater number of individuals interested in specific areas of our profession; and
• To provide for broader-based participation in the planning and management of the Association.

Historically, participation in the annual convention through the sponsorship of programs was the major activity of each Commission.  Through the years, Commission have expanded their goals and objectives by sponsoring regional workshops, facilitating and funding research projects, recognizing programs, creating networking opportunities, participating in task force groups that focus on special issues, and producing a variety of publications.  Given the scope of these activities, Commissions now remain active throughout the year. 

How do I connect with other AOFYE members?
The AOFYE Commission sponsors several activities at the ACPA Annual Convention, including a Commission Open Business Meeting, a social with the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA), and a table at the Commission Showcase to which all Commission membership is invited.  Further, the Commission leadership will be announcing networking events at other national conferences that address the core areas of our Commission such as the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) Annual Conference and the Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience. 

However, one of the best ways to connect and network with other Commission members is through the AOFYE Mentoring Program. 

What resources does the AOFYE Commission offer?
The AOFYE Commission is proud to sponsor, publish, and provide numerous resources and services for our Commission membership and other colleagues in the areas of admissions, orientation, and the first-year experience:

Website:  The AOFYE web site serves as a clearinghouse for learning about, connecting with, and staying involved with the Commission.  For example, this page serves as an introduction to our resources and services, our online newsletter provides the latest news, and the other pages, such as awards/grants, detail professional opportunities or resources.

Newsletter:  Transitions, the newsletter for the AOFYE Commission, is published on a quarterly basis.  In addition to a special issue that features Commission activities, opportunities and business at the annual ACPA Convention, each of the other three issues has s special focus on one of our Commission areas.  These topics are addressed on a planning calendar, relevant to the needs of professionals during that timeframe.  Each issue of Transitions contains special features that highlight emerging trends and issues, literature in our field, and AOFYE professionals.  These features include: book reviews, spotlights on an outstanding professional or program in the field, and interviews with experts.  Transitions is published on the Newsletter page of the Commission web site.

Sponsored programs:  The AOFYE Commission is pleased to sponsor three to five sessions at the ACPA Annual Convention each year that address current issues in the areas of Admissions, Orientation, and the First-Year Experience.  These programs are reviewed and selected by members of the Commission as especially relevant or representative of the interests of the commission membership.  These sponsored programs receive a great deal of special attention and marketing efforts, including publicity on the Commission web site, distribution of promotional flyers at the convention, and recognition by a Commission Directorate Board member with a special certificate at the presentation.

Grant:  Each year the AOFYE Commission is pleased to sponsor a grant in the amount of $500 to promote: (1) original, descriptive or evaluative research; (2) philosophical studies; or (3) institutional assessment or evaluation on issues surrounding admissions, orientation, and/or the first-year experience.  All ACPA members, especially graduate students, are eligible and encouraged to apply for this research grant. Research at all stages will be considered, although priority will be given to projects that are further along in the research process (i.e., recently or soon to be completed).  The call for grant proposals is announced in late fall for a grant proposal deadline in January.  The grant recipient is announced and recognized at the AOFYE Commission Open Business Meeting at the ACPA Annual Convention.

Awards:  Each year the AOFYE Commission recognizes the outstanding contributions of ACPA members in the areas of Admissions, Orientation, and First-Year Experience. All institutions are encouraged to participate in this program by nominating deserving individuals or projects for the following awards: 

• Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award
• Outstanding Graduate Student Award
• Outstanding New Professional Award
• Outstanding Experienced Professional Award
• Outstanding Project Award

A call for award nominations is announced in late fall for a grant proposal deadline in January.  The award winners are announced and recognized at the AOFYE Commission Open Business Meeting at the ACPA Annual Convention.

How do I get involved with the AOFYE Commission?
There are many different ways to become involved in the Commission that allow for different degrees of personal involvement and time commitment.  We welcome you to explore as many of the following opportunities:

• Attend Commission events at the ACPA conference (check your program for specific scheduling and location information)
• Sponsored programs
• General Meeting
• Social with NODA
• Visit the AOFYE Commission table at the Convention Showcase
• Attend AOFYE networking events at other national conferences that address the core areas of our Commission
• Nominate a colleague or program for one of the AOFYE awards
• Submit a proposal for an AOFYE sponsored program at the ACPA Annual Convention
• Review proposals for AOFYE sponsored programs at the ACPA Annual Convention
• Submit a proposal on one of you research projects for the AOFYE Research Grant
• Contribute to the newsletter (contact the editor, Leanna Fenneberg, at fennebel@slu.edu)
• Contribute to the content of the AOFYE web site (contact the coordinator for our web site, Joe Connell at connellj12@wpunj.edu)
• Sign up to be a mentor or mentee
• Join the Directorate Board (application forms are available in late fall and due in January.  Contact the current Chair, Janelle Simmons, at jsimmons@nccu.edu for more information on this leadership opportunity)
• Contact the AOFYE Directorate Board with any input and ideas for the current activities and future direction of the Commission.