The dual focus on a professional identity and on student development as a foundation for college counseling is a distinctive characteristic of the association.
ACCA strives to support and enhance the practice of college counseling, to promote ethical and responsible professional practice, to promote communication and exchange among college counselors across service areas and institutional settings, to encourage cooperation with other organizations related to higher education and college student development, and to provide leadership and advocacy for the profession of counseling in higher education.
ACPA’s decision reflected the “intent to serve those with a primary identity in student affairs.
The ACCA-L listserv, open to anyone interested in college counseling, provides an electronic forum for discussion of issues.
One of the major, sustained initiatives within ACCA has been advocacy for college counseling ACCA in 2001 published the second edition of the College Counseling Advocacy Booklet to support members in their advocacy efforts in response to the trends of outsourcing and budget constraints within higher education and the need to educate the general public, students, parents, and administrators about the value of counseling services on college campuses.