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fter what I would assume most of us would categorize as the most unusual, challenging, and exhausting 18-24 months of our professional careers, not to mention personal lives, there seems to be some progress in addressing the worst of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped the world. That is not to say we are out of the woods yet, for with a very uneven distribution of vaccines that benefits some countries and regions much more than others, we can hardly claim victory over one of the most impactful global medical crises of the past century.
But, if we are in fact turning the corner, what does that mean for the profession and for ACUHO-I?
For campuses, we will (hopefully) see mostly full campus residences and the revenue stream that these generate. This will allow us to start to replenish the financial reserves that were depleted during the height of the pandemic. More importantly, it will allow our residents to have a more traditional campus experience and our staff to focus on the traditional developmental needs of our students.
In order to assist our members with the transition back to more normal operations, the Re-Entry into Fall 2021 Work Group was formed to collect and analyze data and to share those results to inform the decisions being made. Rather than doing its work and concluding with a comprehensive final report, the work group will be sharing their findings on an ongoing basis, with the aim of providing member institutions with the information they require on an as-needed basis. In addition, issues likely to have longer term impacts on campuses and the profession will be identified. Then the focus will shift to developing mechanisms to research and create resources that members can utilize.
For ACUHO-I, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, our goal is to provide the information and services our members need in as timely and appropriate a format as possible.
For ACUHO-I, as has been the case throughout the pandemic, our goal is to provide the information and services our members need in as timely and appropriate a format as possible. For the short term, this means a continuation of the virtual conferences and institutes, webinars, roundtables, and just-in-time straw polls to share information and provide opportunities for connection. Unfortunately, it will not mean an immediate return to in-person conferences and activities, since the reality is that many of our member campuses will have very limited professional development dollars available for the upcoming year. However, please be assured that we will return to face-to-face events and activities at some point in 2022, barring any unforeseen change in the environment.
For those coming closer to the end of your academic year than the beginning, I offer best wishes for the successful completion of your current term and the opportunity to recharge and recommit to the essential work we do for our residents, now more than ever.
— Pete Galloway, ACUHO-I President
Talking Stick magazine takes its name from the symbol of international friendship presented to ACUHO-I in 1973 by the Ohiat Band of the British Columbia Indian Nation. The talking stick, or speaker’s staff, is hand-carved, and the inscription explains, “It is a sign of authority carried when proclamations are to be made or a meeting of chiefs is in session. It is a token of common heritage both to Canadians and Americans.”
