Crafton Hills College Counselor Sara Sosa Presents at 2026 Inland Empire/Desert Regional Counselor Conclave
Publish Date: Feb. 23, 2026
Crafton Hills College Counselor and Academic Notice lead Sara Sosa was recently invited to present at the 2026 Inland Empire/Desert Regional Counselor Conclave, held in Riverside on February 23, 2026. The annual event brings together counseling professionals from K–12 schools, community colleges, and universities across the region to share best practices that support student success and academic persistence.
Sara presented the session “Reframing Academic Notice (Probation): Equity-Centered, Career-Connected, and AI-Informed Counseling Strategies”. The interactive session explored how institutions can reframe academic probation, now referred to as Academic Notice, as an opportunity for student growth rather than a punitive label.
The presentation highlighted how Crafton Hills College has redesigned its approach to supporting students experiencing academic challenges by implementing proactive outreach, technology-enabled engagement, and strengths-based counseling strategies. The session also explored how emerging tools such as AI-supported communication can enhance, rather than replace, student-centered counseling support.
Participants examined strategies to normalize academic struggle and strengthen student persistence through relationship-centered advising, clear communication, and coordinated campus support systems. Sara shared how Crafton’s approach reframes Academic Notice as a checkpoint for connection and support rather than a signal of failure, helping students reconnect with resources and realign their academic and career goals.
The session drew strong participation from counseling professionals across the region, with approximately 65 attendees, generating thoughtful discussion and the exchange of effective practices among institutions.
“This session created an opportunity for colleagues across educational systems to reflect on how we support students during challenging academic moments,” said Sara Sosa, Counselor at Crafton Hills College. “By reframing Academic Notice through an equity-minded lens, we can help students see these moments not as setbacks, but as opportunities to reconnect with their goals and support systems.”
The presentation also included a collaborative discussion activity where participants explored effective strategies used at their own campuses to support students on Academic Notice, including early alert systems, targeted outreach, counseling interventions, and cross-department partnerships designed to strengthen student persistence and recovery.
Crafton Hills College serves approximately 7,200 students and offers more than 50 academic and career programs designed to prepare students for transfer, career advancement, and lifelong learning.
The college leads innovative efforts to support student success through equity-focused counseling practices, integrated student support services, and collaborative partnerships that strengthen educational pathways for students across the region.
