Ask the average person to imagine a college campus and they are likely to think of a large, complex institution educating an elite group of students; something like Oxford and Cambridge in England, the Ivy League schools in the United States, and the large university centers in Canada, Europe, and Australasia. In reality, the vast majority of students are educated on smaller college and university campuses that have a limited enrollment, and perhaps even a smaller number of students who live on campus. Typically, these smaller institutions have very specific and unique missions which provide a special experience for those who attend, but who also face a very different set of issues and challenges from larger schools.
For the past two years, ACUHO-I has put a particular focus on these smaller institutions. In 2019, an ex officio Executive Board position was created by incoming ACUHO-I President Von Stange to serve during the 2020 board cycle. The express purpose of this position was to work collaboratively with small-school housing professionals and Association staff and leaders in order to strengthen our relationship with this group and deliver programs and services increasingly demanded by this portion of our membership, with the goal of ensuring that they have the best opportunity for success. With the onset of COVID-19 and the need for both campuses and the Association to address immediate concerns, this position was extended for the 2021 Executive Board cycle as well.
This publication is one of many initiatives that we have undertaken to better understand and address the needs of our small college and university members and institutions. During the development of our current strategic plan, focus groups were held with small-school representatives to inform the goals and objectives in the plan. As one outcome of this feedback, a Small College/University Experts in Residence Program was created and, out of that group, came a number of initiatives and programs. In April, 2021 ACUHO-I hosted the Small College and University Symposium where almost 250 professionals gathered, virtually for a day of learning and sharing. There has been a series of virtual roundtables to provide an ongoing and consistent space for small college staff members to come together and share their concerns as well as their solutions. Finally, staff and volunteers continue to monitor all ongoing and new ACUHO-I products and services to ensure that the small school perspective is heard and, when appropriate, to create versions specific to these institutions.
We understand that while there are significant differences between the needs of small schools and large schools, there can also be significant differences between various types of small schools, depending on the mission of the institution. There is no “typical” small college. Rather, their ranks include HBCU, HSI or tribal colleges, and religiously affiliated institutions, as well as those that are arts-focused, STEM or career-oriented, or other areas of emphasis. It is our intent to look at the needs of all these types of institutions, and to provide support, and to help develop networks so that members can feel connected to ACUHO-I and to each other.
When looking at the volunteer leadership of ACUHO-I–whether that be the Executive Board, Foundation Board, or committee chairs–it is often noted that most of those individuals work at large campuses. However, many of us have small-campus experience, either while earning our undergraduate and graduate degrees or at earlier stops on our career paths. These experiences were influential in making us the professionals that we are today and they play a role in the decisions we make as an association.
We hope that the information in this edition of Connections will provide a helpful resource for those currently working on a small campus, as well as provide encouragement and support for the special role that your institutions play in the higher/tertiary education process for our students.
