August 2, 2004

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: District Superintendents

District Guidance Supervisors

Middle and High School Principals

Middle and High School Guidance Supervisors

Middle and High School Guidance Counselors

FROM: Jim Horne, Commissioner

Florida Department of Education

J. David Armstrong, Jr., Chancellor

Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education

Debra Austin, Chancellor

Division of Colleges and Universities

Jim Warford, Chancellor

Division of K-12 Schools

SUBJECT: Regional Admissions Workshops

You are cordially invited to attend one of seven regional admissions workshops planned jointly

by the Division of Public Schools, the Division of Community Colleges, and the Division of

Colleges and Universities. This is the nineteenth

year for these regional workshops. The

response in the past has been excellent.

A successful transition from middle school to high school and then to college is important to the

educational achievements of our students. Middle school counselors are in an excellent position

to help parents and students begin thinking early about the postsecondary options and how these

options can be affected by decisions made in middle and high school. The counselors can help

direct the attention of students and parents early to the requirements for entry into college and

the many alternatives students have today for obtaining a post-high school education. Often,

postsecondary admissions policies are viewed as complex and difficult to understand. These

workshops will help middle school and high school guidance counselors understand those

policies and keep up-to-date on state and institutional policies and procedures. With that

understanding, guidance counselors will be better equipped to meet the needs of their students

during this critical transition time.

August 2, 2004

Page Two

We strongly encourage you to participate in these workshops and join us in our efforts to

improve our service to the citizens of Florida through education. While the workshops are

designed to keep middle and high school guidance counselors informed about the philosophy and

various policies and procedures involved in transitioning from middle school to high school and

then into Florida's public colleges and universities, attention also will be given to motivating and

retaining targeted groups of students within Florida's public educational institutions. The

presentations will be designed to allow guidance counselors time to ask specific questions about

admissions and other related matters. Although the meetings are designed for middle and high

school guidance and counseling personnel, we encourage others who are concerned with

transition from middle school to high school and then to college to attend.

The State universities have graciously volunteered to host these meetings, which have been

scheduled in seven different cities around the state. Refreshments will be provided. The

locations and dates in the attached schedule were planned to provide geographic coverage of the

state early in the school year, when this information would be most timely. We have expanded

the fall workshops to include power point presentations by each of the presenters, information

packets that will address the most frequently asked questions, extended time to meet and talk

with specific admissions directors, and additional time for questions and answers from the panel

of presenters. Due to the length of the agenda, the presentations will start promptly at 8:15 a.m.

Please make your plans early and register as soon as possible so that the host institutions and

workshop planners may prepare adequate supplies of information packets and refreshments.

You may refer to the attached schedule of workshops to determine which site will be the most

convenient for you to attend. This year counselors must register through the internet for the

workshops at the following website: http://info.doe.state.fl.us/register/admissions/. Counselors

will receive a confirmation of their registration once they have completed the process.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Ms. Nell Kelly or

Ms. Lynda Page at (850) 245-0467 or Suncom 205-0467.

JH/JDA/DA/JW/nk

Attachments

SCHEDULE OF REGIONAL ADMISSIONS WORKSHOPS

FALL 2004

The seven geographic locations were chosen to make participation in the workshops as

accessible as possible. If circumstances make attendance at the closest workshop inconvenient,

another workshop site may be selected. Registration must be done through the internet at the

following website: http://info.doe.state.fl.us/register/admissions/ at least two weeks prior to the

workshop you wish to attend.

August 31, 2004

Location: FLORIDA STATE PANAMA CITY CAMPUS

4650 Collegiate Drive (Auditorium)

Panama City, Florida 32401

September 1, 2004

Location: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA

University Center, Banquet Hall, Room 1044

12000 Alumni Drive

Jacksonville, Florida 32216

September 2, 2004

Location: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Special Events Center; Tampa, Florida 33620

(Check with information booth for instructions on parking for the meeting)

September 3, 2004

Location: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

Student Union, Pegasus Ballroom

Orlando, Florida 32816

(Please park in Arena lots F-1 and F-2. Plan to arrive early for adequate parking)

September 8, 2004

Location: FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Building GC Ballrooms (Graham Center)

University Park 11200 SW 8

Street

Miami, Florida

(Park in lot #3, entrance through 107 Avenue & SW 16

Street)

September 9, 2004

Location: FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

Student Union, Ballroom (Room 203)

FGCU Boulevard, North

Fort Myers, FL 33936

(Check with information booth for instructions on parking for the meeting)

September 10, 2004

Location: FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

Lifelong Learning Auditorium, University Center

Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Signs will be posted on the campus directing counselors where to park for the

workshop (lots 10 and 15 are reserved as parking for this event).

A G E N D A

REGIONAL ADMISSIONS WORKSHOPS - FALL 2004

PRESENTATIONS WILL START PROMPTLY AT 8:15 A.M.

7:30 - 8:15 Registration and Browse

Refreshments

8:15 - 8:20 Welcome and Opening Remarks

Nell Kelly, Division of Colleges and Universities

8:20 - 9:25 State University Power Point Presentations

University of Admission Directors

9:25 - 9:40 New High School Graduation Options Power Point Presentation

Mary Jo Butler, K-12 Student Achievement & Articulation

9:40 - 9:55 Community College Power Point Presentation

Division of Community College and Workforce Education

Representatives - Beverly Sermons, Patricia Frohe, or Sara Hamon

9:55 -10:10 Bright Futures Presentation

Joann McGonagill

10:10 - 10:25 FACTS Presentation

Debra Dukes

10:25 - 11:10 Break Time

11:10 - 11:25 SAT Presentation

Linda Owens

11:25 - 11:40 ACT Presentation

Mary Hendrix

11:40 - 1:00 Questions and Answers

Admission Directors, Mary Jo Butler, Joann McGonagill,

Debra Dukes, Nell Kelly, Lynda Page, Community College

and Workforce Education Representatives - Beverly Sermons,

Patricia Frohe, or Sara Hamon

________________________________________________________________________

Sponsors: Division of Public Schools

Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education

State University System

College Board and ACT

Hospitality: State University System

College Board and ACT