Update from Admissions and Client Experience Team (8/2024) 

As the new Admissions Manager, I wanted to reach out and formally introduce myself to those that don’t already know me. This fall will mark 13 years at Guiding Eyes during which time I have worked as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, both in residential and home training settings, and most recently as a Regional Guide Dog Mobility Instructor covering the Southeast. I connected with many of you recently on the Graduate Council Quarterly Call and look forward to working with all of you in my new role with Admissions and the Client Experience Team.

For those who missed the quarterly call, I wanted to provide clarification on the current Client Experience Team members and an update on wait times and communication.

As many of you know, we have shifted some of the Client Experience team members based on the needs of the organization. We will no longer be utilizing “Client Navigators” as we were previously. Instead of being assigned a particular team member as your point of contact based on geographic location, the Admissions and Client Experience team members will work together to assist returning graduates and first time applicants through the application process as well as provide ongoing support to our graduates.

Admissions and Client Experience are now overseen by Laura Peterman, Chief of Staff. The other team members are: Nikki Wentz, Admissions Manager; Elizabeth Lange, Admissions Coordinator; Meka White, Client Navigator; Melissa Carney, Community Outreach and Graduate Support Manager; and Danielle Cuenoud, Learning and Development Manager.

I want to acknowledge that many of our returning graduates and first time applicants are experiencing unprecedented wait times. This is due to a variety of reasons, including a backlog from the pandemic when placements were paused, overall dog availability, as well as a higher volume of applicants. We understand that these wait times can be frustrating as you wait to be paired with your next guide dog.

In an effort to improve communication through this process, we will be staying in more regular contact with our applicants. Once an application has been reviewed by the Student Selection Committee, the applicant will continue to have the decision of that review communicated to them. Additionally, we will be reaching out with routine updated Wait Time Estimates. These updates will occur every 3 months for qualified applicants that we anticipate training within 12 months, or every 6 months for those with anticipated wait times over 12 months. These contacts will serve as check-ins to monitor your wait time as well as provide an opportunity for you to communicate any changes that we should be aware of, i.e. change of address, new job, change in walking pace.

Wait time estimates are based on comparing the number of approved applicants that share your profile needs with the number of dogs that we have available. Your matching profile considers applicant preferences, environment, lifestyle, pace, handling, and other factors. Please keep in mind this is an estimate; it could change.

One of our main objectives as a team and organization is to provide ongoing support to our graduates. We recognize that communication is key to that and we hope this change in procedure will be beneficial for all. We will continue to work closely with our dedicated Graduate Council members to address the needs of the graduate community as a whole.

Just as a reminder, Graduate Council’s mission is to act as an advocate for our Guiding Eyes family and to assist the School with a wide range of projects. Members are always available for support and feedback and can be reached at: gebgradcouncil@gmail.com.

Feel free to reach out to myself, a team member, or council member with any questions or concerns.

Regards,
Nikki

Nikki Wentz
Admissions Manager
Guiding Eyes for the Blind
914-243-2226
nwentz@guidingeyes.org