The NACADA Technology in Advising Commission once again maintained a visible presence at the Orlando national conference.

The commission was able to provide information and networking opportunities for both new and existing members through the highly successful Commissions/Interest Groups Fair and our annual business meeting. Representatives of our commission steering committee were available to discuss our activities with a large number of interested participants during the Fair. More than 60 individuals signed on to our commission-sponsored TECADV-L listserv, while 15-20 volunteered to assist the commission with its varied activities. In addition, the fair helped to promote our commission projects and web site to those with a passing or general interest.

Our 6^th annual meeting attracted close to 50 interested members, many of whom have already been involved in our activities. The commission chair (Haberle) provided a brief overview of the group's activities during the past year, highlighting our proposal review process, electronic publication awards, and special projects. Commission representatives then focused session participants on two of our projects: 1) Commission Liaisons to Regions; and 2) the Advising Technology Education Center (ATECH) web project. The commission chair and chair-elect (Leonard) each facilitated breakout groups on the above projects. Each provided a brief overview of their specific project with members then being invited to ask questions and provide potential solutions that may assist these projects in their development. Participants were also asked to consider volunteering to take on a leadership or participatory role in the selected project, and indeed, close to 30 members agreed to get involved. Once again, the enthusiasm generated through both the Fair and the commission meeting highlights the interest and enthusiasm that our members have for these projects and for the focus of the Technology in Advising Commission.

Seven members of the commission's steering committee (Bellcourt, Bond, Haberle, Irby, Leonard, Lipschultz, and Smith) met prior to the commission meeting to discuss these and other commission activities. It was agreed that such items as a review of the commission's strategic goals, criteria for the inaugural commission service awards, and the pending commission survey to the NACADA membership would all need to be revisited after the conference via the commission's listservs. The group discussed at length the idea of revisiting the "conference within a conference" theme that was so successful at the 1997 Kansas City conference. In fact, the chair submitted a formal "Technology Showcase" proposal to the National Conference Planning Committee during the conference. It should be noted that the commission welcomed two new members to the steering committee (Bellcourt and Irby) just prior to the conference.

The 3^rd annual "Electronic Publication Awards" were once again presented as part of the traditional NACADA Awards Ceremony. Clearly, this stage has solidified the EPA award within the awards recognition program and has helped to make our commission among the most visible in the organization. As with last year, all nominees were highlighted at the Publications/Exhibits area through a well-designed poster and accompanying flyer developed by the NACADA Executive Office and the commission chair. The following web sites were recognized as part of the Awards Program:

Outstanding Publications

1. The Mentor: An Academic Advising Journal: Penn State University
   http://www.psu.edu/dus/mentor/
   
   
2. New Student Handbook: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
   http://sas.calpoly.edu/nsh99/
   
   

Certificates of Merit

1. Faculty of Arts Academic Advising: University of British Columbia
   http://www.arts.ubc.ca/advising/
   
   
2. Ralphie's Info Center: University of Colorado at Boulder
   http://www.colorado.edu/ralphie/
   
   
3. Sociology Department Advising Web Page: Western Washington University
   http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~socad/
   
   

A complete list of all EPA nominees with links is available on the commission web site at: http://www.psu.edu/dus/ncta/awards00.htm. More than 20 electronic publication nominations were reviewed this summer by the commission's selection committee, which for the first time included prior award winners participating in the review process.

Approximately 40 advising technology-related conference sessions were offered in Orlando, with several including Internet and/or other electronic presentations. Five sessions were selected as "commission-sponsored" based on the commission's annual review of proposal abstracts. The commission chair or chair-elect representing the commission introduced each of these sessions. In addition, congratulatory letters were sent to each of the presenters in advance of the conference. Here are the Technology in Advising Commission sponsored sessions with the main presenter identified:

"Accessing Information Technology - A Challenge for Advising" - Margaret Turner, University of North Carolina - Wilmington

"Assessment of Web-based Advising Systems" - Andrea Irby, North Carolina State University

"E-mail and Academic Advising: Power, Problems, and Policies" - Antoinette Morales and Karen Wittkopp, University of Michigan

"From Paper to 'Virtual': Revolutionizing Advising Administration Through the Use of Technology" - Jane Stringer and Cynthia Konecko, Temple University

"Making a Beauty of a Digital Beast: The Adoption, Care, and Support of an Online Audit System" - Mark Lee, Towson State University; Alicia Bredehoeft, Johnson County Community College; Kathy Jarret, Bryant College

The commission chair and chair-elect represented the commission on a variety of issues at NACADA's fall board meeting which preceded the conference. The chair was asked to lead the newly constituted Technology Services Committee, focusing on the development and oversight of an organizational plan for technology services and resources for various constituents. This group has already begun its work, with a committee listserv already developed and operational. Three other steering committee members (Bellcourt, Lipschultz, and Steele) were among a group of nine that volunteered to begin this group. The chair was also part of a team of commission and regional representatives that successfully proposed a description and framework for the formal institution of "commission liaisons to regions" in the NACADA structure. The chair-elect was asked to participate in a group of commission representatives charged with determining the appropriateness of developing a web template or guidelines for commissions and interest groups to follow in creating or enhancing their web presence. Commission representatives also engaged in ongoing discussions concerning the organization's strategic plan implementation, its proposed organizational structure plan, and legal issues related to commercial links from NACADA-sponsored web sites. The chair and chair-elect were also among a group that discussed a potential fee structure for vendors who wish to maintain links or advertise on the NACADA site. These individuals also participated in a review of an independent advising software package and provided guidance on some of the issues that need to be considered in potential partnerships or affiliations with software vendors.

The Technology in Advising Commission accomplished many of its goals in Orlando. We were able to successfully promote the causes of our commission and solicit numerous volunteers to become involved in our ever-increasing activities. We have revitalized our critically important steering committee through the addition of two new members who have each already made significant contributions to our efforts. One of our members has already begun working on a professionally developed poster display to be used at future national and regional conferences. Others have agreed to take on prominent roles in our electronic publications review process, commission liaisons coordination effort, and information systems project.

The leadership transition for the chair-elect continues to proceed extremely well, with the chair involving the chair-elect in all commission-related activities. And the commission continues to play a leadership role in all NACADA activities related to technology. The Technology Services Committee is just one example of this responsibility. Members of our commission are eager to meet the challenges that await us.