ACUI members elected a new president and three new at-large Board of Trustee members, and the current board has named Texas State University junior Ysenia Garcia as the incoming student board member. Yemi Gbajobi, chief executive of Arts Students’ Union at the University of Arts London, will serve as ACUI’s new president-elect. Joining her for…
ACUI members from Region I have selected long time ACUI volunteer Jennifer Puccinelli as its new regional director. Puccinelli, the human resource and risk manager at California State University–San Bernardino, first became a volunteer with ACUI in 1997 as a regional student chair. She has continued to serve in volunteer roles with the Association, most…
In just under 15 years, Miami University in Ohio has reduced carbon emissions from its campus buildings by over 60%—one contributing factor being waste reduction at busy places like the Armstrong Student Center. Armstrong building managers succeeded by increasing organic material composting through the use of artificial intelligence; in 2023, Armstrong turned nearly five tons…
Author Steve Chaplin Steve Chaplin is managing editor of ACUI’s The Bulletin and manager of the ACUI College Union and Student Activities (CUSA) Evaluation Program. A former newspaper writer, editor, and manager, he has volunteered as a student mentor as a member of the National Association of Science Writers, and received awards for his writing…
The State Of the College UnionPart fourEditor’s Note: This is the fourth installment in a year-long, four-part series entitled The State of the College Union that looks to analyze the most current and affecting issues facing ACUI’s members. The fourth part in the series, written by Mark Guthier and Rich Steele, is designed to examine…
It is a wonderful time of the year! Fall! I love fall—and not just the changing of the colors and the wardrobe. I love settling into the semester and then gearing up for some fun traditions: Homecoming, Family Days, Halloween, and of course, ACUI’s eight Regional Conferences. Like many of you, it was through a…
While this Bulletin issue is focused on what’s new in college unions, working on a college campus our jobs can sometimes feel like they are on a rinse-and-repeat cycle. Budgets are approved in July, we hold student staff training in August, welcome students to campus in September, do all possible to engage students in the…
Author Steve Chaplin Steve Chaplin is managing editor of ACUI’s The Bulletin and manager of the ACUI College Union and Student Activities (CUSA) Evaluation Program. A former newspaper writer, editor, and manager, he has volunteered as a student mentor as a member of the National Association of Science Writers, and received awards for his writing…
Like many organizations, ACUI’s finances were dramatically affected by the pandemic. A significant portion of the Association’s income is directly related to face-to-face events. Two years of virtual conferences in 2020 and 2021 were followed by a return to face-to-face events, including the Annual Conference. While not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, attendance has consistently…
College students across the United States converged on election polling locations, many located on their own campuses and in student center hubs, for early voting in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. They walked, marched in parades, arrived in campus shuttles, and took advantage of free Uber rides provided by their student government associations. In North…
“It feels bad here,” said University of North Carolina—Asheville’s Jessica Inman. “But we know it’s worse off-campus,” said the senior director of campus life about the devastation left by Hurricane Helene in this area of western North Carolina. Inman and her staff, working out of Highsmith Student Union, had been on campus since Thursday, September…
Linda Eldred passed away on August 29, 2024. Eldred served as an at-large member on the Board of Trustees in the late 80s, as Region 9 director from 1975–77, and as chair of the 1989 Conference Program Committee, leading the planning of ACUI’s 75th anniversary celebration, which received American Society of Association Executives Single Educational…
Over 40 college students from around the United States gathered at California State University–San Bernardino to experience four days of ACUI community building and leadership development designed to raise the curtain on new possibilities for their lifelong journeys. This journey, held last month, was ACUI’s annual I-LEAD®, the Institute for Leadership Education and Development, and…
About one-fifth of the U.S. undergraduate population—that is somewhere between 3.8 and 4.3 million students—are also parents, and nearly half of those identify as single mothers. For years, pregnant and parenting college students have been described as the “invisible students on campus,” even though they represent between 22% and 27% of the overall collegiate population….
Editor’s Note: This is the third part of a year-long, four-part series entitled The State of the College Union that looks to analyze the most current and affecting issues facing ACUI’s members. The third part in the series, written by Kat Paynter-Fanning and Adriane Reilly, once again focuses on a significant issue facing both student…
As it should be, this year’s Renovation & Construction edition of The Bulletin is all about students and meeting their unique needs regarding community. In higher education, a strong sense of community builds returns for everyone when students succeed, when they graduate, and when they graduate with the skills and confidence to follow their dreams. …
Writing in the first volume of the year of The Journal of Higher Education Politics & Economics, higher education professors Pietro A. Sasso (Delaware State University), L. J. Shelton (University of Arkansas), and G. Blue Brazleton (Northern Arizona University) share what the landscape looks like for a dozen pre-tenure higher education and student affairs faculty…
In my last Bulletin article, I mentioned the summer is a wonderful time for reflection and getting to know others through stories. Well, I have done quite a bit of unintentional reflection, and the person I have been asking questions to get to know a bit better turns out to be myself. My social media…
Each presidential election cycle in the United States includes a lot of hype, and 2024 feels unusually super-hyped to the degree that folks are either highly anxious about the outcome or numbed and avoiding thinking about the outcome. Polarization is no longer new, but the divide among our citizenship seems wider than most of us…
ACUI has been using strategic planning to guide the work of the association since the early 1990s. In mid-2023, the Board of Trustees began to create the 2024–29 strategic plan. The first step was to gather and analyze data, including the membership needs assessment, financial and membership information, the Regional Engagement Task Force recommendations, and…
ACUI is excited to announce the appointment of community of practice leaders for the 2024–25 term. Community leaders play a crucial role in our communities of practice, serving as the driving force behind our educational and community-building missions. Their primary responsibility is to actively engage with members within their specific area of focus, fostering education…
Four years ago, just prior to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, student union directors across the country were preparing for the aftereffects students were likely to feel, no matter their views, politics, or party affiliation. Even though social distancing and virtual-only operations were in place nationwide, Earlham College was one example of a campus that…
Emory University’s Charlene Hendricks was inspired enough by her experience at ACUI’s 2024 Annual Conference in Denver earlier this year that sought another career development opportunity by joining the 2024 cohort of Closing the Gap participants. For Jazzmyn Ivery-Robinson, it was the positive impression she got from her supervisor, Rochester Institute of Technology Associate Director…
Author Steve Chaplin Steve Chaplin is managing editor of ACUI’s The Bulletin and manager of the ACUI College Union and Student Activities (CUSA) Evaluation Program. A former newspaper writer, editor, and manager, he has volunteered as a student mentor as a member of the National Association of Science Writers, and received awards for his writing…
Over 20 ACUI members from 13 different institutions gathered in Atlanta earlier this month to attend the Renovation & Construction Seminar, an event that offered education sessions, tours, roundtables, keynotes, and expert panels. Guest speakers attended from Auburn University, East Carolina University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Georgia State University. Corporate sponsors for…
The past five years have been considerably tumultuous and ever-changing. The Association had to navigate significant challenges along the way, beginning with the decision in March 2020 to end the strategic plan that was in place at that time, and re-evaluate organizational priorities alongside external factors such as a worldwide pandemic, a major recession, and…
I always seem to especially enjoy those final closing few weeks at the end of the academic year. Things slow down, often very fast. There are fewer meetings and events, which can mean opportunities to clear out files—and possibly a path to cleaning off my desk. But not this year. This year, I had a…
Recently I travelled to the United Kingdom and Ireland, where I was able to visit seven college unions and connect with dozens of people across the field. This included two meetings of chief executives in the U.K. and the Celtic Connections Conference, which was a gathering of Irish and Scottish professionals. Besides making a few…
Refining data from an earlier, and larger, study published in 2021 from interviews about campus racial conflict with 35 students, faculty, and higher education and student affairs professionals split between a minority-serving university and a historically white campus, Blanca Elizabeth Vega takes a closer look at the institutional training on racial conflict a subgroup of…
A Tool for Use with Organizational Change, Employment Models, and Grad Students In this article, Dr. Michelle L. Boettcher and Dr. Cristóbal Salinas Jr. Provide an overview of their new book, “Law and Ethics in Academic and Student Affairs: Developing an Institutional Intelligence Approach,” as well as offering practical advice for using the Institutional Intelligence Model in…
The State of the College Union, Part Two Editor’s Note: This is the second in a year-long, four-part series entitled The State of the College Union that looks to analyze the most current and affecting issues facing ACUI’s members. The second part in the series, written by Ian Crone and Hank Walter, focuses on another…
The landscape for diversity programming and initiatives in higher education was muddled again last week when the board of trustees for University of North Carolina’s 17 public universities voted to repeal all DEI mandates that were currently in place for the system. The move mirrors actions taken earlier this year in Texas and Florida. In…
After 112 years it will be a first: the ACUI Annual Conference will be celebrated in Pittsburgh, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center that overlooks the Allegheny River, with views of three bridges commemorating national heroes in sports, arts, and letters: Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol, and Rachel Carson. Slated for March 8–12, 2026, the…
Campuses across the United States are navigating student protests that have led to hundreds of arrests, including many of students, while creating anxiety, confusion, and anger for students, staff, faculty, and community members. Even as some campus leaders hope the approaching conclusion of the academic year will temper protests over the conflict in Gaza, resources…
ACUI bestowed Honorary Lifetime Membership, Emeritus Award, and Legacy Leader Award during the 2024 Annual Conference in Denver. A full list of all awards presented as part of the 2024 Annual Conference may be found here. Honorary Lifetime Membership Honorary lifetime membership is conferred by the Board of Trustees to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional…
Sarah Aikman, assistant vice president for student engagement and inclusiveness at Northern Kentucky University, was recognized with ACUI’s highest honor, the Butts-Whiting Award, during the March 27 closing night banquet of the 2024 Annual Conference in Denver. The live ceremony recognized Aikman for her decades of contributions to the college union and student activities movement….
ACUI Keynote: Temple Grandin and the Way We Look at Things There is a place for everyone at the education table, and that table may not look the same for everyone, explained renowned professor of animal science Temple Grandin during a keynote address at the ACUI 2024 Annual Conferencein Denver. “We need people who think…
During the 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, ACUI President Neela Patel and Chief Executive Officer John Taylor, along with other Board of Trustees members, provided an update on the State of the Association. Finances and Fundraising An external accounting firm, Blue & Co., reported the Association received a clean review of finances for Fiscal Year…
Crediting others for pushing her to volunteer, noting the importance of curiosity in her life experiences, and recognizing her family, peers, and the other women she has worked with in the field of student affairs, University of Illinois–Springfield Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ann Comerford began her new role as the 2024–25 president of ACUI…
It is your first ACUI Annual Conference and suddenly you feel out of place. It is not the overwhelming number of greetings you receive, or the fact that every one of your questions was answered perfectly at the member services desk. No, it is not that. It is the conference lanyard you just dropped around…
ACUI’s 2024 awards and scholarship recipients are being announced throughout the Annual Conference, March 24–28 in Denver. Please congratulate recipients for their achievement and thank them for serving as models of leadership and innovation to advance our work as community builders in higher education. 2024 Award Recipients DISTINGUISHED AWARDS CAMPUS AWARDS INDIVIDUAL AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS WRITING…
Speakers devoted to a more inclusive and empowered future will take center stage on Wednesday, March 27, at 1 p.m. during ACUI Talks — the closing session of the 2024 ACUI Annual Conference in Denver. From dismantling systemic injustices to championing mental health awareness and fostering career development, the three speakers participating in this session…
This is the fourth Year in Review issue for the ACUI Bulletin. In 2020, we discontinued printing The Bulletin because of financial challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving The Bulletin completely online was a good solution to save money and still make content available to members. However, it wasn’t organized as a magazine, and…
As the seasons change and the year goes by, I think about how certain things remain the same while so many other things change. Each season and time of the year has a purpose and impact on how we move through the year. There are things you can write down that you know you will…
The State of the College Union, Part One Editor’s Note: This is the first in a year-long, four-part series entitled The State of the College Union that looks to analyze the most current and affecting issues facing ACUI’s members. The first part in the series, written by Brenda Evans and Jeremy Schenk, focuses on one…
Assessment is a core function of student affairs work and is included as one of the core competencies for ACUI, ACPA, and NASPA. However, assessment is more than simply an audit of an organization’s strengths and weaknesses. Assessment offers campus practitioners the opportunity to affirm identities and experiences as well as create pathways to transforming…
When calendars flipped from 2022 to 2023 last year, as COVID-19 finally waned and higher education professionals raced to remove the word “pivot” from their vocabularies, what lay in wait on the horizon could not have been imagined. After gaining steam over two years since George Floyd, nearly 50 anti-DEI laws were proposed in 23…
Editor’s Note: This research corner was created by members of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Program Team, one of ACUI’s eight Association Teams. Visit acui.org/volunteer to learn more about the AERPT group of volunteers and the work of the other Assocation Teams. Here is a look at some of the books, book chapters, research articles,…
Bill Spelman passed away March 13, 2024. Spelman served as ACUI president from September 1978–1980 and received honorary membership in 1989. Spelman served an extended term as president after the death of then-president Lyle Curtis mid-term. “Spelman was an admired leader within the Association,” said John Taylor, ACUI Chief Executive Officer. “He left an imprint…
For nearly 30 years, the percent of full- and part-time students that also participate in the workforce has been shrinking. Couple that with a competitive wage market, students seeking more flexibility in their learning environments, and the shear challenge of allocating time where it is needed, the benefits of maintaining a strong student employment recognition…
The 2024 ACUI Annual Conference will illuminate one of the most critical global issues of our students’ lifetimes: sustainability. The All-Conference Session: Sustainability Panel session will feature themes outlined by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs offers a primer on the Sustainable Development Goals, which comprise…
Apply now as mentors and participants in the 2024 cohort ACUI has announced 13 graduates of the 2023 Closing the Gap career advancement program cohort. Within the program, tailored for Black, Indigenous, and professionals of color (BIPOC) striving for senior leadership roles, participants and mentors convene in virtual sessions, personalized one-on-one engagements, and meaningful offline…
Prepare for an enriching experience at the 2024 ACUI Annual Conference in Denver from March 24–28. With over 80 unique educational sessions, attendees are in for a comprehensive exploration of the latest insights and innovations surrounding campus community, student centers, and student life. These presentations are categorized according to ACUI’s core competencies, providing individuals with…
ACUI has used strategic planning to guide the work of the Association since the early 1990s. Generally, a five-year timetable was used to pursue and accomplish defined goals and objectives. In 2020, ACUI leadership decided to abruptly revise the plan that had been in place to focus the Association’s energy on navigating the tumultuous challenges…
ACUI’s Central Office operations moved in December from its previous location on West Seventh Street in Bloomington, Indiana, to new offices at 3139 N. Westbury Village Drive, also in Bloomington. Chief Executive Officer John Taylor said the move was both fiscally sound and operationally the right decision to make after most ACUI staff began working…
From the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union at Eastern Illinois to the ASUC Student Union, housed in the Martin Luther King Jr. Building at the University of California–Berkeley, the iconic civil rights figure has inspired many higher ed student centers—and for good reason. Author Christine Preusler Christine Preusler, Managing Editor at The Wyman Company…
College campuses across the globe have been making strides toward fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in various aspects of student life. One avenue for promoting these values is the art and cultural spaces within college student unions. These spaces are crucial in creating an inclusive environment reflective of the study body. Author Christine Preusler Christine…
Author Steve Chaplin Steve Chaplin is managing editor of ACUI’s The Bulletin and manager of the ACUI College Union and Student Activities (CUSA) Evaluation Program. A former newspaper writer, editor, and manager, he has volunteered as a student mentor as a member of the National Association of Science Writers, and received awards for his writing…
The past three years have illuminated the critical need for social justice education. That same period has also made plain the inadequacy of our existing models to meet the moment in ways that center liberation and justice for the most marginalized. The extrajudicial murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and the subsequent protests for…
From the President | Neela Patel, Rutgers University As many of us are approaching the half point of the academic year, along with the end of 2023, it provides a time for reflection for us to prepare for 2024. Reflection has taken on a new meaning for me over the past three years, as the…
From the Chief Executive Officer | John Taylor, ED.D. In many ways I am still old school. In fact, I’m confident I’m in the strong minority for still sending a holiday letter to friends and family. And to clarify, it’s a printed document sent via the United States Postal Service. It’s what we did before…
Washington State University sophomore Janna Huber arrived at the Compton Union Building later than planned and found herself near the back of a long line of students. She could barely see the table about 40 yards away where hundreds of sandwiches were being stacked in preparation for the weekly PB&J Club giveaway. Author Steve Nakata…
ACUI members elected a new president and three new at-large Board of Trustee members, and the current board has named University of Arkansas sophomore Karina Wickham as the incoming student board member. Ian Crone, director of the University of Tennessee student union, will serve as ACUI’s new president-elect. Joining him for installation to office during…
Bernard Pitts passed away December 6, 2023. He received the Butts-Whiting Award in 2005 and received an Honorary Membership in 2015 for his dedication to ACUI and the many students and professionals he affected during his career. “Bernie had a large impact in ACUI and on thousands of students during his career,” said ACUI Chief…
In a move to boost inclusivity and offer tailored support, the ACUI has unveiled its latest initiative — the formation of a Community College Advisory Group. Designed to address the unique needs and challenges encountered by community college student affairs leaders, the group is the first step in ACUI’s mission to better serve community college…
As members of the governing body responsible for setting strategic direction and policies and overseeing the organization’s activities, ACUI’s Board of Trustees actively participate in steering the future of ACUI and college unions. During this year’s election, November 1–30, two presidential candidates and five at-large member candidates are running for these pivotal association roles. ACUI sent ballots…
College campuses are dynamic environments. Students soak up knowledge in fluorescent-lit classrooms to the tune of shuffling papers and keyboard clacking. Professors’ voices echo and reverberate in massive lecture halls with high ceilings and intricate architectural details. Between classes, crowds of hurried students create a near-constant hum of conversation, footsteps, and smartphone notifications. Author Christine…
Whether you’re setting up a big-screen television to enhance the atmosphere of your student union or hosting a special viewing party, broadcasting live performances can help foster a sense of shared experience and boost engagement. Indeed, research does suggest that viewing television in the company of others impacts viewer enthusiasm. Author Christine Preusler Christine Preusler, Managing…
Work trips are often so tightly scheduled that little time is left to explore anything past the confines of hotel walls. But immersing yourself in local community is a valuable part of any conference experience, and that’s why ACUI is infusing cultural and historical elements of Denver into all aspects of ACUI ’24 — right…
More than just a meeting of minds, the ACUI Annual Conference offers an opportunity to foster meaningful connections, champion sustainability, and create affirming spaces for all. Early registration is now open for the March 24–28, 2024, event, which will be held in the vibrant city of Denver, elevated by the picturesque backdrop of the Rocky…
A 14-member task force charged by ACUI’s Board of Trustees to develop strategies for enhancing regional engagement has submitted a 21-page report that trustees are currently reviewing. Citing a decrease in regional participation, the Board of Trustees established the task force in July 2022 and members began meeting last November. In making four priority recommendations…
Home is where the heart is, and if the student union is the living room of campus, then everyone – students, their families, faculty and staff, and the surrounding and supporting communities – should be able to recognize that this is a place where everyone belongs. Belonging is clearly the reoccurring theme in this year’s…
The eight projects highlighted in this annual Renovation & Construction edition of The Bulletin, while ranging in breadth and scope, shared commonalities that past project leaders and participants had found to be true: be flexible; set realistic expectations; you cannot overcommunicate to your stakeholders. Yet, in 2023, another reoccurring theme exposed itself from what ACUI members…
In 2015, the Diversity and Inclusion Office in University of Michigan Housing made a commitment to students and the campus community to renovate all of its 16 multicultural lounges, together comprising the largest and oldest multicultural lounge program in the United States. An often overlooked but powerful component of diversity and inclusion work is the…
ChatGPT—the acronym for Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer—is not coming for your job. In fact, it may even make it easier, according to a number of researchers looking at how the artificial intelligence-driven chatbot tool is being used through higher education. With its ability to digest and provide direct information to individuals, just like the chatbots…
All it takes is a glance at the headlines to see that staffing shortages are everywhere. Blame “The Great Resignation” or any of several other drivers, but the fact remains: it’s hard to attract, hire, and retain good people. However, thanks to hard work and a unique blend of training techniques, marketing, technology, and engagement…
Building an inclusive and equitable campus community is a challenge that involves making everyone feel welcome and valued. That includes nontraditional students. Definitions vary, but the group typically comprises students who may be older than average, pursuing a college education while holding a full-time job, veterans of the U.S. armed forces, commuters, responsible for dependents,…
ACUI’s regional communities serve as geographical connection points for association engagement, providing opportunities for member education and connection. On Thursday, July 20, 2023, ACUI Region VII offered an excellent blueprint of regional engagement through its second Grad and Grow Institute, this time hosted at the Montclair State University Student Center. “The goal was simple —…
Few would argue that change is slow in higher education, that is until it was forced to transform instructional delivery practically overnight in March 2020. Who knew that it simply takes a global pandemic to alter a century’s-old education system? But now as we move closer to ‘post-pandemic’ the question isn’t whether higher education will…
With the help of digital platforms like Twitch’s interactive live-streaming service, gaming has gone from a hobby to a sport, attracting spectator communities worldwide. According to TwitchTracker, the average viewership on Twitch jumped from 1.4 million pre-pandemic in February 2020 to 2.5 million in April 2020 and has grown ever since. At its maximum viewership in…
Earlier this year, ACUI conducted a member needs assessment to ascertain what resources, events, and services best meet the needs of members and in what areas the Association can grow. The survey is also used to gather data for other Association priorities, such as volunteerism and educational offerings. Professional, graduate, and undergraduate members received the…
Whether in the context of police brutality, gender equality, or systemic racism, the issues of our time often seem to echo those of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Now, as the U.S. Supreme Court reverses a decades-long precedent allowing colleges and universities to consider an applicant’s race in college admissions, we again find ourselves…
ACUI’s Board of Trustees announced a new scholarship in the name of retired Shepherd University student center director Don Rohel. The Don Rohel Scholarship will provide up to $400 annually for a member to use toward the cost of registration at an ACUI event focused on college union operations, facility management, or administration. Rohel, who…
Acting upon the recommendation of the Region VIII Leadership Team, ACUI’s Board of Trustees has approved the renaming of the Region VIII College Union and Campus Life Role Model Award to recognize the work of Holly Sateia, who retired from Dartmouth College in 2010 after 40 years at the campus, including as dean of students…
The campus communities ACUI members represent are as diverse as their student bodies; it follows that there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to building campus community. But as the 58 attendees of ACUI’s 2023 Student Organizations Institute at Wayne State University learned on June 26-29, networking with peers who share many of the same real-life…
Art and community-building are intrinsically linked, and the campus setting is no exception, according to recent doctoral research from Adriane Reilly, associate director of the Sykes Student Union at West Chester University.
Soaring temperatures set against the relative quiet of campus can mean only one thing: Summer has begun, and student union leaders are taking advantage of the slow season by focusing on projects that will prepare them for the busy fall semester. These projects take many forms. The Office of Facility Management at the University of…
According to the latest data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), nearly one-fifth of undergraduates in the 2015-2016 academic year reported having a disability
Branding is a crucial component of any successful organization. It is not just about creating a logo or a catchy tagline. It is about creating a unique identity that separates your organization from competitors and establishes a connection with customers. In today’s highly competitive environment, a strong brand is essential to thrive and grow. Institutions…
The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the sense of belonging of eight student employees who worked in a student union at a South Texas institution and how the development of leadership skills, if any, aided in their persistence. This study employed a single-bounded case study method because of the ability to…
Inspiration can come from anywhere —personal experiences, your favorite song lyrics, and observations of your surroundings. Or, as is the case with The Bulletin’s annual Steal this Idea issue, inspiration can come directly from fellow student union marketers who welcome you to snatch up their winning ideas at no cost. This year’s ACUI Steal this…
Nearly every student is met with new social dynamics, academic demands, and living arrangements during their college years. For some, the experience is an exciting opportunity to explore interests and broaden their horizons. For others, it comes with the challenge of securing even the most basic needs, from food, housing, and childcare to transportation, clothing,…
The Chief Diversity Officer role is relatively new to higher education leadership — but at the same time, sorely overdue. After a long history of institutional inequity, some universities are responding to the nationwide call for change by prioritizing and delivering on diversity, equity, and inclusion needs through this new position. Like any force for…
Breathe in, breathe out: April is National Stress Awareness Month and a good time to step back and look for signs of worry, tension, and uneasiness, both in yourself and others. In academia, “put your own oxygen mask on first” is an apt analogy; a dose of self-care can go a long way for campus…
ACUI is announcing that Samantha Liu has been elected to a two-year term as director of ACUI’s Region I, which encompasses Arizona, Australia, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico. Liu currently serves as associate director, operations and services, at California State University–Northridge. She previously held the role of educational programs coordinator for Region I….
ACUI’s strategic guideposts, its new Student Affairs and College Unions Certification program, and the kickoff of the Investing in Our Profession fundraising campaign were just some of the topics members received updates on during ACUI’s Annual Conference in Boston through the Business Meeting and other presentations. Finances and Fundraising ACUI received a “clean” audit for fiscal year…
A growing number of higher education institutions now offer degree programs in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)—and for good reason. Numerous studies show that companies with diverse, equitable, and inclusive cultures outperform their counterparts, not just in revenue generation but in more human aspects of business, such as employee morale, team performance, problem-solving, talent retention, and access to a…
Victoria Angis, Castleton University’s longtime associate dean of students who retired in 2021, was recognized with ACUI’s highest honor, the Butts-Whiting Award, for her significant contributions to the college union and student activities movement. Angis, who spent more than 40 years at Castleton, received the award during a live ceremony at the Association’s 2023 Annual…
ACUI recognized a number of distinguished individuals during its Annual Conference in Boston, including the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service, two Legacy Leader recipients, and a number of honors for service, values, and professionalism. A list of all 2023 award and scholarship recipients is available in the press release. The Presidential Award for Distinguished Service was presented to…
A behavioral scientist, a designer/entrepreneur, and an activist poet who shared their work during keynotes with members of ACUI attending the Association’s Annual Conference in Boston this year provided space for attendees to reflect, strategize, and bring creativity to the roles as campus community leaders. Then two leading chief diversity officers from Boston campuses had…
ACUI members elected a new president and three new at-large Board of Trustee members, and the current board has named Texas State University junior Ysenia Garcia as the incoming student board member. Yemi Gbajobi, chief executive of Arts Students’ Union at the University of Arts London, will serve as ACUI’s new president-elect. Joining her for…
