2025 Annual Business Meeting Spotlights Strategic Planning, Fundraising

ACUI leadership offered members an overview of activities during the past year and an update on what to expect in 2025–26. Topics included implementation of a new strategic plan, completion of a successful fundraising campaign, and an overview of the year’s events and educational programming.

Strategic Plan

ACUI’s new 2024–29 strategic plan reiterates the Association’s mission, vision, and values that are supported by a planning process that included an environmental scan, data analysis, and multiple engagement opportunities with members and stakeholders.

• ACUI’s mission: To support college union and student engagement professionals in their service to students and in the advancement of campus community.
• ACUI’s vision: To advance campus community to positively change the world.
• ACUI’s values: Community, inclusion, learning, and innovation.

Examples shared of initial successes associated with the plan’s four strategic pillars (advancing the field through education; revitalizing ACUI regions; retaining and growing membership; advancing active dialogue and civic engagement) included the creation of an Active Dialogue Institute, a plan to restructure regional leadership organization, and the development of an engagement and volunteering calendar.

Investing in Our Profession Campaign and Certification 

The 2025 Annual Conference in New York City marked the grand finale of the Investing in Our Profession campaign that was designated to support the Student Affairs & College Union Certification Program, which enhances career pathways and mobility for aspiring leaders, and elevates the credibility, integrity, and visibility of the profession. Scholarships provided through this campaign assist members in preparing for and achieving certification. Since the initiation of the certification program, 100% of the members taking ACUI’s preparation course have passed the student affairs and college union certification exams. 

By the end of the conference, it was confirmed that the original $200,000 goal had been exceeded with $216,327.54 raised, marking it as the largest single fundraising campaign in Association history. 

Programs & Events

ACUI had strong attendance at several events throughout the year, including IPDS: New Professionals Seminar, the Student Organizations Institute, and the Women’s Leadership Institute. Closing the Gap had a record year, with a 71% increase in cohort participant applications from 2023 and a 43% increase in mentors.

A new, virtual Community College Summitt set the groundwork for a potential in-person experience in the future, and the inaugural Active Dialogue Institute was recognized for its timeliness and importance.

ACUI also announced a new professional development resource, the ACUI Training Hub, that will include a library of over 70 micro-courses on a variety of professional related topics, with most courses being completed in 15 to 30 minutes and 100% self-paced. Members will be able to quickly and easily learn about key components in business, management, and leadership topics.

All eight ACUI regions held in-person Regional Conferences with more than 100 participants. The regions play a critical part in the success of the larger Association, which is why Pillar #2 of the strategic plan is focused on reengaging and supporting members at the local level through active and revitalized regions. 

ACUI and DEI

ACUI leadership also acknowledged the political climate that is affecting the work of ACUI and its members. After extensive discussions on this issue, the Board of Trustees said the Association would remain “true to our values, following all applicable legal statutes, and ensuring that barriers do not exist for members participating in ACUI programs.” 

With this framework, the Association will be reviewing its current programs and services as it relates to DEI using the following guiding principles: 

• ACUI’s mission is to support college union and student engagement professionals in their service to students and in the advancement of campus community. 
• ACUI’s vision is to advance campus community to positively change the world. 
• These values guide our work: Community, Inclusion, Learning, and Innovation. 
• ACUI will abide by legal statutes and other legal parameters that we understand to affect ACUI as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 
• ACUI will be conscious of DEI limitations put into place for our member institutions and strive to provide programs in which all members can take part. 
• ACUI will consider financial implications in the programs and services that we provide. 
• ACUI is and always has been an inclusive organization. 

Association Finances

An external firm, Blue & Co., annually audits the Association’s finances, and recently reported that the Association received a clean review of finances for fiscal year 2023. The 2023 audited financial statement reflected a positive change in net assets of $570,000, and a current annual operating budget of $4.2 million. The Association also has over $3 million invested through an investment firm, including nearly $500,000 in endowed funds. Fiscal year 2025 is budgeted to carry a $35,000 deficit, representative of the current economic recovery of higher education.