Welcome to Dakota ACAC
The Dakota Association for College Admission Counseling (Dakota ACAC or DACAC) is a non-profit professional association for secondary and post-secondary institutions and professionals in North Dakota and South Dakota. In 1993, Dakota ACAC was granted a charter as affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). NACAC conducts an annual conference, tracks government relations issues affecting college admissions, develops ethical guidelines for dealing with college-bound students in the admission process and encourages leadership development at the national and regional levels.
Dakota ACAC is a two-state affiliate serving the Dakotas and its governing structure is divided into three entities, Dakota ACAC and two state councils, Council for College Admission in SD (CCASD) and Dakota ACAC-ND (DACAC-ND). While part of the larger Dakota ACAC affiliate, the two state councils have operated separately since the early 1970’s, primarily responsible coordinating planning days, college fairs and other programming within their respective state.
Dakota ACAC oversees the annual conference and activities related to the NACAC, such as Government Relations, Membership and Professional Development.
BYLAWS
(approved April 2023)
REGISTRATION IS OPEN - new location, new ideas.
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Join us in Dubuque for the MIDWest ACAC Spring Conference
Early Bird (3/1-4/19)
Post-Secondary Admission Professional - $150
High School Counselor/Grad Students/Independent Education Consultants/CBOs - $75
Late Registration (4/20-5/3)
Post-Secondary Admission Professional - $200
High School Counselor/Grad Students/Independent Education Consultants/CBOs - $95
Register for the MIDWest Conference
Hotel Costs
(All hotel blocks will be released April 19!)
Hotel Julien: $119/night - Call to book with group rate: 798-7098 or 563-556-4200
Holiday Inn Dubuque/Galena: $119/night
Grand Harbor Resort: $129/night - Call to book with Group Rate: (563) 690-4000
As we finalize the schedule we are looking to our colleagues to share their wealth of knowledge with others in our community. We encourage you to submit a session proposal.
Proposals are due March 8!
Check out the tentative conference schedule/additional details
including a pre conference golf outing
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Sunday
2-5pm Optional Golf Outing (Registration opens March 1, 2024 here)
4-7pm Check-in and Happy Hour/Dinner On Your Own
Monday
7:45-8:45am Continental Breakfast
7:30-8:45am Conference Registration & Sponsor Tables
9-9:30am Opening Session
9:45-10:45am Session Block A
11am-12pm Session Block B
12-1pm Lunch (Included)
1-2pm Keynote Speaker
2:15-3:15pm Session Block C
3:30-4:30pm Session Block D
4:30-5pm Sponsor Tables
5-6pm State Meetings
6-8pm Dinner On Your Own
8-10pm Monday Evening Social
Tuesday
8-9am Continental Breakfast & Sponsor Tables
9-10am Session Block E
10:15-11:15am Session Block F
11:30am-12pm Closing Session
Annual Conference
As part of its mission to further professionalism in the college admission process, Dakota ACAC hosts an annual conference for school counselors and college admission professionals. In even-numbered years we join with three other ACAC affiliates (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin) for a joint spring conference called MIDWest. In odd-numbered years a conference is held for the Dakotas, with the location alternating between each state.
Round up 'yer teams for the 2023 DACAC Conference in Deadwood, SD! Y'all won't want to miss out on this rootin' tootin' good time of professional development, networking, and more! The 2023 DACAC Conference will be held at the Deadwood Mountain Grand April 30 - May 2, 2023!
Conference registration has closed.
SUNDAY, APRIL 30
3:00-4:30 PM- Conference Planning Committee Meeting (planning committee members only)
4:30-6:00 PM- CCASD Board Meeting (CCASD board members only)
6:00-7:30 PM- Welcome Reception & Conference Check-in/Registration, Event Center - Concession Bar
MONDAY, MAY 1
7:45-9:00 AM- Conference Check-in/Registration & Breakfast Buffet, Event Center Big Stage
8:20-8:55 AM- Newcomer’s Session (for new attendees or new to admission profession), Event Center 1
9:00-10:15 AM- Conference Opening & Keynote Speaker Erin Fagnan, Event Center Big Stage
10:15-10:25 AM- Break
10:25-11:25 PM- SESSION ONE (session details here)
11:25-11:35 PM- Break
11:35-12:35 PM- SESSION TWO (session details here)
12:35-1:45 PM- DACAC Business Meeting / Lunch Buffet, Event Center Big Stage
1:45-2:45 PM- SESSION THREE (session details here)
2:45-2:55 PM- Break
2:55-3:55 PM- SESSION FOUR (session details here)
3:55-4:15 PM- Snack Break, Event Center Big Stage
4:15-5:30 PM- State Council Meetings
5:30- Dinner On Your Own & Evening Networking SocialDACAC-ND Council Membership Meeting - Event Center 2
CCASD Council Membership Meeting - Event Center 3
TUESDAY, MAY 2 - REP YOUR SCHOOL!
8:00-9:00 AM- Breakfast Buffet, Event Center Big Stage
9:00-10:00 AM- SESSION FIVE (session details here)
10:00-10:10 AM- Break
10:10-10:30 AM- Conference Closing
Keynote Speaker: Erin Fagnan
Sergeant First Class Erin Fagnan is the first female from South Dakota to attend and graduate from the United States Army Drill Sergeant Academy while serving in the South Dakota Army National Guard. She graduated on the Commandant’s List – putting her in the top 10 in her class of 107 students. Erin has more than 13 years of service with the SDARNG, where she currently serves as an Officer Candidate School instructor. She is also a combat veteran, having deployed with the 200th Engineer Company to Afghanistan from May 2011 – May 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In civilian life, Erin has spent most of her career as an engineer for the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). In May of 2022, Erin followed her other passion to the veteran non-profit arena with Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). While at Team RWB, Fagnan served as the Individual Giving Manager and Associate Director of Veteran Engagement. While Erin valued her time at Team RWB, when the opportunity to return to engineering arose, she realized her passion for providing safe water to drink remained too strong to ignore. Erin returned to DANR, where she currently works as an engineer with the South Dakota DANR Drinking Water Program in Rapid City. In Erin’s free time, she loves adventuring with her husband, Brian, and participating in endurance competitions.
Erin is a native of Aberdeen and attended Northern State University, graduating magna cum laude with a double major in chemistry and environmental science. She also holds a master’s degree in civil engineering - with environmental emphasis, from the South Dakota School of Mines. Erin has completed the John Maxwell Team Leadership, Coaching, and Speaking Certification Program and is a U.S. Army Level 2 Master Resilience Trainer. With her desire to empower others to live their best lives, Fagnan started her company, Powerfully Equipped, LLC., to promote resiliency through speaking engagements.
Questions? Contact Seinquis Leinen, DACAC President - seinquis.leinen@ndsu.edu.
Professional Development
An important component of Dakota ACAC is bringing professionals together for continued education and networking through various workshops and programs. For example, each year, CCASD hosts an Admission Counseling Institute for new admission representatives in August and sponsors a series of workshops for school counselors in September.
Get Involved!
DACAC provides fantastic professional development and networking opportunities for counseling and admission professionals at any stage of their career. There are leadership opportunities within the DACAC Executive Board or each State Council. We rely on the great work of our many volunteers across the region to carry out the mission of Dakota ACAC. To learn more about the opportunities to get involved, contact the DACAC President.