The ACUHO-I Foundation’s 70th anniversary campaign continues with the announcement of its 1951 Club. Named for the year that the Association of College & University Housing Officers formed, this club is a new way to recognize campaign donors. Those who donate to the campaign will automatically become part of the 1951 Club. And just like the founding members relied upon each other for support in their work, members of the 1951 Club will be able to nominate an individual and dedicate their donation to someone who has offered them support and guidance over the course of their professional career. It’s a special way to thank those who have been instrumental in shaping career paths. Other benefits include periodic opportunities to engage with Foundation leadership, recognition on the ACUHO-I Foundation website, and unique Zoom backgrounds. Campaign proceeds will support a number of ACUHO-I’s strategic areas of focus, including diversity and inclusion initiatives, resources for historically Black colleges and universities, professionals working at small colleges and universities, and programs for live-in professionals. Learn more about how to be a part of the 1951 Club.
As many of our campuses prepare for closer to normal residential programs in the fall of 2021, questions remain about the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and what this re-entry will look like. In response to this ongoing need, ACUHO-I has assembled the Re-Entry into Fall 2021 Work Group, which will take the next step in exploring and making recommendations, identifying critical issues, and creating resources for campus housing departments. Work group members include chair Dan Pedersen (Northern Illinois University), Stephen Apanel (Bucknell University), Vicka Bell-Robinson (Miami University - Oxford), Josh Gana (University of Washington), Christina Lowery (University of Southern Maine), Frankie Minor (University of Rhode Island), Michelle Saldaña (Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles), Kendra Skinner (Southeast Missouri State University), and Gay Perez (University of Virginia). Learn more about this group and their charge.
Hear the stories that made the people in the new ACUHO-I podcast ACUHO-I Stories. Launched in March, the series kicked off with a conversation featuring Alvin Sturdivant, ACUHO-I past president and currently vice president for student development at Seattle University in Washington, discussing eminent leadership. Next in the series was a discussion about housing operations outside the United States featuring Rebecca O’Hare, head of partnerships and resident experience at Student First Group in London, England. She currently oversees the resident life program at the University of Limerick in Ireland and serves as the ACUHO-I Global Initiatives chair. Tune in using the player on our website or using your favorite streaming app.
The ACUHO-I Women in Housing Network and the ACUHO-I Research Committee will team up to host the sixth annual research poster series. The program will take on a virtual format for 2021, where presenters will display their research through a webinar-style format. Current plans call for the webinar to be held during the first two weeks of November 2021. Dates and times will be confirmed in August or September. Each presenter will be allowed approximately 5–7 minutes for their program, along with three minutes for questions and answers. Depending on the number of presenters accepted, the program may span multiple days.
Applications are now being accepted for research that furthers the discussion on women's issues, housing, and higher education, with a special focus on research that supports ACUHO-I’s research agenda. The program is an opportunity for individuals to present findings from original research completed as part of a master’s thesis, dissertation, or professional work.
ACUHO-I’s Campus Housing Index (CHI) is a powerful tool to help benchmark your operations, assess resources, and more. Find additional details on the process and access the Data Collection Worksheet online now to get started on the data gathering process. The collection period for data is open through July 30, 2021. As in prior years, campuses that complete at least 50% of the questions during this administration will unlock free Basic Access to the platform. Learn more.
OACUHO is preparing for two upcoming virtual conferences: the New Professionals Training Institute (NPTI) will be held May 17–21, 2021, and the spring conference will be held June 7–11, 2021.
SEAHO hosted its annual conference last February. Presented online, it welcomed more than 990 attendees, offered 30 programs, raised nearly $5,000 for the ACUHO-I Foundation, and hosted 47 corporate partners who gave $24,000 in scholarships to SEAHO members and institutions.
During the conference SEAHO also presented its annual awards. Among the recipients were the following: Academic Collaboration Award, Kevin Wogenrich, Virginia Tech; Charles W. Beene Memorial Service Award, Shylan Scott, William & Mary; James C. Grimm Outstanding New Professional Award, Ashley Owens, University of Richmond; Outstanding Contributions to Research Award, Brandon Brown, Birmingham-Southern College; Outstanding Corporate Partner Award, eRezLife; Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Sabrina Sturgeon, Virginia Tech; Outstanding Mentor Award, Falon Thacker, University of Central Florida; Outstanding Mid-Level Professional Award, Tiffany Conde, University of South Carolina-Columbia; SEAHO Founders Award, Jerry Adams, The University of Tennessee at Knoxville; SEAHO Humanitarian Award, Amanda Eagan, Virginia Tech; SEAHO PEACE Award, Kayla Harris, Virginia Tech; SEAHO Report Feature Article of the Year – “The Seven Deadly Sins of Assessment,” Paul Lentz, University of North Carolina-Greensboro; Resolution, Alan Thomas, University of West Georgia; Resolution, Dave Sagaser, Florida State University; Resolution, Pat Leonard, University of North Carolina-Wilmington; Resolution, Shannon Staten, Florida State University; Resolution, Steve Waller, Louisiana State University; and Resolution, SEAHO COVID-19 Response Award, University of Alabama.
WACUHO held its 2021 annual conference April 12–14. The virtual event drew 320 attendees from 44 institutions, with approximately half of the participants being first-time attendees. Thirty Corporate Partners also attended.
A number of award recipients were named during the event. Cindy Derrico at California State University Channel Islands was the recipient of the 2021 Charles L. Miller Award. Matthew Soto at California State University, Northridge, was the recipient of the 2021 Jim “JB” Brock Spirit of WACUHO Award. Angela Perry at the University of California, Santa Cruz, was the recipient of the 2021 Volunteer of the Year Award for her work with the Peers Empowering Parents Committee. Kohya Lu at California State University San Marcos was the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award. In addition, Myra Cheah and Lawrence Sahagun were winners of the new professionals case study competition, while the second place winners were Karina Ciocca and Alina Coronado.
The event also marked the beginning of terms for new members of the WACUHO Executive Committee. Laura Dorfman from University of California-Irvine will serve as the new president. Andy Garate from California State University-Fullerton will serve as president elect. Robin Gore from Pepperdine University will serve as vice president. Joshelyn Ramirez from California State University-Monterey Bay will serve as treasurer. Beth Little from California State University-Monterey Bay will serve as secretary. Savanah Headstone from the University of California-Santa Cruz will serve as member at large-North. Laura Merchant from the University of Southern California will serve as member at large-Central. Abdel Amador from San Diego State University will serve as member at large-South. Raul Mendoza from the University of California-Davis will serve as officer for equity, diversity and inclusion.
