2026 International ACAC Conference Session Proposal Form

Counselors remain the single most influential factor in international student decision-making. Yet, for universities, the critical question has shifted: what truly influences the counselor? For decades, the partnership between universities and K-12 counselors has served as the fundamental conduit for international student mobility. That relationship is now entering a new era, redefined by digital fatigue, heightened administrative pressure, and evolving student expectations. In this session, we will learn first-hand from counselors and university professionals. Rather than offering generic outreach tactics, our lively panel will share best practices, and evaluate their own experiences to move toward resilient, co-created ecosystems. Participants will gain tangible, evidence-based frameworks to move beyond transactional recruitment and build sustainable, high-impact counselor partnerships that prioritize student success. We will look at some proprietary data from over 4,000 students and 200 counselors to identify the specific drivers of institutional trust.