ASCO Board of Directors Holds March Meeting in Portland, Oregon

ASCO Board of Directors Holds March Meeting in Portland, Oregon

The Board of Directors of the Association of Optometry Schools and Colleges, staff, and invited guests gathered in mid-March for their annual Spring Board Meeting. This year’s Spring meeting was hosted by Dr. Fraser Horn, ASCO President and Dean of the Pacific University, College of Optometry.

A sampling of issues discussed and presented:

• An update from the NBEO on recent testing issues and concerns
• Recent news and metrics on the public awareness campaign Optometry Gives Me Life (OGML) including brainstorming ways to reach undergraduates
• Considered expansion of OGML marketing to Canada if funding is secured
• Voted to adopt a new Ocular Surface Disease Educators Special Interest Group
• Adopted new Binocular Vision and Perception Core Competencies and approved changes to the Low Vision Entry-Level Core Competencies
• Elected Dr. Mark Colip as President-elect for fiscal year 2026
• Approved 2025 Special Recognition Awardees to be presented in June during ASCO’s Annual Business Meeting
• The results from the 2025 ORMatch Residency Match process
• Discussed the recent changes to national policies affecting optometric education and ASCO with regarding to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Stay up-to-date with the latest ASCO news by visiting https://www.optometriceducation.org.

The Board of Directors will next meet on June 24th prior to Optometry’s Meeting in Minneapolis, and ASCO’s Annual Business Meeting will be held on June 25.