Brief History of the Elements of Enrichment Committee

In July 1995, Dennis Heitzmann, then AUCCCD President, convened a task force at Penn State University to address the growing threat to college and university counseling services from managed care organizations.

The task force was charged with developing programming for the AUCCCD national conference that would help counseling center directors anticipate and respond strategically to this emerging issue. The sessions presented at the national conference in Newport, Rhode Island, drew large audiences and reinforced the need for timely programming focused on issues of national concern.

Following that conference, AUCCCD continued the task force, with subsequent meetings sponsored by immediate past presidents at their home institutions.

Evolution of the Committee

As the Elements of Enrichment Task Force evolved, AUCCCD established a more permanent committee structure and a stronger ongoing relationship with the Governing Board. Standard programming, including the New Directors Leadership Institute, was also developed.

Over the years, E-of-E has addressed a wide range of issues affecting college and university counseling centers, including managed care, benchmarking and standards of quality, national data collection, and maintaining counseling centers' viability and relevance.

Mission and Structure

In 1999, the committee established the following mission statement:

E-of-E continued to meet mid-year between AUCCCD national conferences to identify pressing issues in the field, plan leadership development programming, and develop sessions for the annual conference.

The committee's structure and role within AUCCCD also continued to evolve. Changes over time included inviting guest directors to participate in mid-year meetings, placing greater emphasis on diversity-related issues, and creating a three-year leadership cycle with apprentice chair, chair, and past chair roles. Committee members also moved to three-year terms, with the option for one renewal.

Continuing the Work

Today, the Elements of Enrichment Committee continues to serve AUCCCD as a trend monitor, think tank, and program provider for college and university counseling center directors.

E-of-E continues to grow and evolve in response to the changing needs of the field while remaining grounded in the committee's original purpose: helping AUCCCD leaders anticipate challenges, strengthen leadership, and develop meaningful programming for the profession.

Questions? Contact the AUCCCD Office.