ACUI members capped a full slate of summer programming, taking advantage of five institutes and orientations for student leaders and professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. The June and July programs spanned leadership development, new professional orientation, and a national research initiative on the future of the college union. In partnership with…
Seven ACUI members have taken on the role of examining the impacts of artificial intelligence on the college union, including future opportunities that may be created by the technology and the associated risks. The ACUI AI Task Force is being established to examine the overall impact of artificial intelligence on community building in higher education…
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…
Practical uses of generative artificial intelligence in student centers and student affairs are being adopted to reduce administrative workload, improve the consistency and timeliness of student communications, and strengthen services through 24/7 self-service support systems. That said, it is being implemented while trying to preserve space for human judgment for student well-being, conduct, eligibility decisions,…
The State of the College Union Editor’s Note: “From Curiosity to Culture,” the second piece in the 2026 State of the College Union series, provides a team of student affairs professionals from the University of California—Irvine the opportunity to tell the story of how AI has been integrated into their division’s everyday activities providing student…
ACUI volunteers and staff continued in the past few months to make progress on the 2024–29 Strategic Plan. Highlights that showcase some of the current work are below. You can find the full 2024–29 Strategic Plan at acui.org/about/#strategic. Pillar 1: Pursue education, learning, research, and initiatives that advance the field. Goal 1: Develop educational content to…
Previously, when I had considered AI in the college union, depending on the day of the week, I would have had one of two reactions: Either rubbing my hands with glee, thinking about the possibility of future frictionless building operations, or worrying whether we are slowly hollowing out the soul of our organisations. And while…
In early February 2020, as I was preparing for an upcoming Bulletin column, I reached out to a number of tenured colleagues asking them to share their lessons learned. What wisdom or college union life lessons did they have to share with new or developing colleagues? Would there be themes that emerged, some collective wisdom…
Taking a look at research that consistently highlights what makes AI adoption successful, the key features usually come back to four guidelines: Does it have a clear purpose, have limits been set for a task, will outcomes be evaluated, and are there specific standards in place. In the big picture, it’s not that different from…
Campuses at Davidson College and the University of North Carolina–Charlotte set the stage for the latest edition of ACUI’s Facilities and Building Management Seminar, with presenters representing Johns Hopkins University, Perkins & Will, Chartwells, and UNC–Wilmington, in addition to professionals from the host campuses. The June 2–4 seminar attracted 46 attendees and offered six educational…
As a recent graduate of North Carolina Central University, where he earned a master’s in higher education administration, Brant Barber’s name has been turning up frequently in ACUI circles. After receiving the 2026 Manny Cunard Scholarship, Barber was able to attend his first ACUI Annual Conference this year in Pittsburgh and connect with seasoned professionals…
ACUI’s 10 core competencies are the bedrock of knowledge and expertise that Association members use and share to enhance and improve educational content related to the student union and student activities field. One of the foremost tasks of the Association’s Education Council is to keep those competencies woven into the fabric of that educational content…
Two current regional directors, a past Regional Conference chair, and the creator of the popular Region VII outreach program, Grad & Grow, will be taking the helm of their respective regions later this year. Jennifer Lex Puccinelli of California State University–San Bernardino, Jeremiah Johnson from the University of Georgia, Aaron Flynn of the University of North Dakota, and Montclair State University’s Antonio Talamo are ACUI’s regional directors for…
As the academic break approaches, ACUI is preparing for new round of institutes that will bring members to host campuses in the Midwest, Florida, and for the first time, the United Kingdom. Adding to the uniqueness of the schedule will be overlapping institutes in July where IPDS: New Professionals Seminar and the Aspiring Directors Institute…
At universities around the world, the student union is considered the living room of the campus. It is the most visited building, providing an array of services designed to meet the needs of as many members of the campus community as possible. It’s also a place where students, faculty, staff, and others can be introduced…
ACUI is excited to announce that we will be hosting a joint conference experience with NIRSA – Leaders in Collegiate Recreation in 2028! This collaboration will bring together professionals and students from two of the most influential contributors to today’s college student experience—April 4–7, 2028, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “ACUI and NIRSA are both focused on…
In her address accepting the gavel as 2026–27 president of ACUI during the ACUI Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Yemi Gbajobi, chief executive of Arts Students’ Union, immediately connected her new role for the Association with her own name: “Allow me to introduce myself. My government name is Opeyemi Oluwaseyi Esther Gbajobi. I say that proudly,…
Michael Coleman, associate vice president at Wake Technical Community College, was honored with the 2026 Butts-Whiting Award for his contributions over his career to the college union and student activities field. The award was given during the Closing Banquet of the 2026 ACUI Annual Conference in Pittsburgh. “You all don’t know how much ACUI means…
Keynote speaker DeEtta Jones asked her audience to close their eyes and imagine themselves in 2033 and to reflect upon how their campuses, their students, and their coworkers would be. Try to imagine, she asked, what was different, what had grown stronger, and what your students and coworkers experiencing? “And what kind of professional have…
During her keynote, Dr. Patrice Jackson Buckner shared the tools she has developed for a life strategy she described as “Discover Your Brilliance.” The strategy of combining tools and talent was created after Buckner abruptly left a job in higher education due to experiencing a severe case of burnout. “All I could say was that…
American Council on Education’s Senior Director of Government Relations Emmanual Guillory offered a glimpse into the current state of higher education. The overview was followed by an ACUI panel discussion that included Guillory, along with Neela Patel (Rutgers University), Peter Bonfield (University of Westminster), Jeremy Schenk (Northwestern University), and the moderator for the panel, Kerry…
During ACUI Talks, two differing stories were shared—one personal and the other public—about creativity and the role it plays in revitalization and resilience, be it for an urban neighborhood or a professional educator. From the large, public perspective, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Chief Programming Officer and Engagement Officer Brooke Horejsi shared the community-building and engagement efforts…
During the Business Meeting at the Annual Conference, ACUI leadership offered members an overview of activities during the past year and an update on what to expect in 2026–27. 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…
More than 20 years after its original publication, the ACUI-published “College Union Dynamic: Flexible Solutions for Successful Facilities” was fully revised and offered anew. The updated edition—revised by ACUI members Adriane Reilly, Ed.D., West Chester University, and Amy Maceyko, AE Works—reflects the profound cultural, social, and architectural changes that have shaped the higher education landscape….
ACUI bestowed several Distinguished Honors during the 2026 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh. A full list of all awards presented as part of the 2026 Annual Conference may be found here. Butts-Whiting Award The purpose of the Butts-Whiting Award is to recognize and honor outstanding leaders in ACUI who have made significant contributions to the college union and student activities…
ACUI’s 2026 awards and scholarship recipients are being announced throughout the Annual Conference, March 8–12. 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. 2026 Award Recipients DISTINGUISHED AWARDS CAMPUS AWARDS INDIVIDUAL AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS WRITING AND RESEARCH…
ACUI is seeking members interested in taking part in an AI Task Force that will be asked to examine the impact of artificial intelligence on community building in higher education. The group will also identify opportunities for its responsible and positive community building use in college unions. “AI is rapidly transforming institutions worldwide. Its influence is reshaping education, media and journalism, commerce, and civic life,” said…
Every six years, ACUI re-evaluates its core competencies, a guide around the knowledge and skills professionals need to do their jobs as campus community builders. As the profession changes over time, so must the core competencies. The last full core competency review was completed in 2019, and a new one is beginning now. The ACUI…
Overwhelmed by the ever-present digital world? Anxious about how to address the next cycle of bills? Sad and distressed from another day witnessing climate change? Just as therapists recognize that anxiety stems from a complex mix of internal and external factors, the attributes associated with positive well-being are a integrative mix of mindfulness, gratitude, and…
ACUI volunteers and staff continued in the past few months to make progress on the 2024–29 Strategic Plan. Highlights that showcase some of the current work are below. You can find the full 2024–29 Strategic Plan at acui.org/about/#strategic. Pillar 1: Pursue education, learning, research, and initiatives that advance the field. Goal 1: Develop educational content…
Editor’s Note: For the third straight year, ACUI will introduce a series of topics with the intent to inform members on the most relevant issues affecting student unions and the campus community. In this issue, co-authors Xavier Wilson, University of Michigan, and Larry Payne, from the architectural firm AEWorks, look at emergency preparedness from two…
It is hard to imagine how the future could present more challenges than 2025 did for campus communities across the United States. After cutting through the daily fog of political conflict, both in general and over higher education, those working in student affairs and student life were left sorting through the ashes of a crippled…
Every year has its challenges in higher education, but I don’t know of any time in my professional career that has matched this past year. Since January 2025, in the United States, we’ve seen research funding cut across the sector, the gutting of the Department of Education, and federal oversight affecting many, if not all,…
One of my favorite things about serving as president of the Board of Trustees for ACUI has been the opportunity to visit student unions across the United States. Full disclosure: I visited student unions before I was president, and I will definitely continue to do so, but I happened to get a chance to visit…
Whether research follows practice or practice follows research, 2025 was a year in which higher education research publishing worked in synchronicity with the realities of the day. Artificial intelligence and its use on college campuses along with the politics surrounding DEI initiatives and higher education were at the forefront. Arguments could be made that the…
Regular registration for ACUI’s 2026 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh will continue through Thursday, January 29. With sign-ups now available for the conference’s popular tours and adventures, it is the time to secure your presence in Pittsburgh. Official conference activities get underway Sunday, March 8, with welcome events that include a keynote from change leader DeEtta…
Former ACUI President J. William (Bill) Johnston passed away December 23, 2025. Johnston served as president from 1991–92; before this, he was the vice president for committee affairs from 1980–83 and served on the Task Force 2000. During his presidential term, Johnston led the replacement for a new executive director, following the death of Dick Blackburn,…
ACUI members elected a new president and three new at-large Board of Trustee members. Susan Pile, senior director, university unions and auxiliary services, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, will serve as the president-elect. Joining her for installation during the 2026 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh will be at large Board of Trustees members Isaac Barber, director, student…
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…
Editor’s Note: During 2025, The Bulletin has continued its State of the College Union series of articles that analyze the most current and affecting issues facing the Association’s members. In this issue Ben Klepzig writes about marketing and revenue at the Wisconsin Union, and West Chester University co-authors Ann Callaghan, Sandi Pachuta, Adriane Reilly, and…
It is always interesting to see The Bulletin’s annual “What’s New” edition come together, highlighting new and different initiatives taking place in college unions. This year, I am especially excited about what’s new in ACUI, which is that we recently added 116 new students’ unions from the United Kingdom through a partnership with NUS Charity….
ACUI volunteers and staff continued in the past few months to make progress on the 2024–29 Strategic Plan. Highlights that showcase some of the current work are below. You can find the full 2024–29 Strategic Plan at acui.org/about/#strategic. Pillar 1: Pursue education, learning, research, and initiatives that advance the field. Goal 1: Develop educational content…
“You are what we call a bookstore Buddhist,” observed the smiling young monk named Dundan as he invited me to take a seat in the basement classroom of the First Congregational Church of LaGrange, Illinois. It was the summer of 2007, and I had begun attending Mahayana Buddhist meditation classes to manage stress and learn…
Yes, there is still much to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, and for student affairs practitioners in higher education, that includes well-being in the realm of food insecurity and basic needs. Writing in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, two University of California–Irvine researchers share what they have gleaned from a comparative study…
ACUI and the Wisconsin Union have announced “A Centennial Blueprint for the College Union,” an initiative meant to define, validate, and advocate for the enduring touchstones and evolving roles of the college union. The initiative will culminate with a professional toolkit that ensures the relevancy, sustainability, and the impact of college unions into the next…
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…
Editor’s Note: During 2025, The Bulletin is continuing its State of the College Union series of articles that analyze the most current and affecting issues facingthe Association’s members. In this issue co-authors Winston Bao, Adam Dunbar, and Jill Zambito examine wellness and well-being frameworks and best practices designed to strengthen campus community on the individual…
Whether it’s a renovation coming in at a couple hundred thousand dollars or a new building running in the tens of millions, one theme running through the reflections of those leading this year’s renovation and construction projects was that space matters. Quantity, quality, cost-conscious, collaborative … it didn’t matter. What mattered was that they were…
A special issue of Education Sciences from July 2025 focused on Stress Management and Student Well-Being. Guest editors for the issue were a team from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, that included Valerie Sotardi, a quantitative researcher and educational psychologist with a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Arizona. Co-editors…
Lying on the cold terrazzo floor, fake blood seeping from the fake bullet wounds that riddle my body, I can’t help but reflect on how much my job as a student union administrator has changed over the years. In previous years, my staff and I would spend early August planning student staff training and involvement…
Maybe you remember the swim class names when you were a kid, something like minnow, guppie, goldfish, dolphin, and shark. I mostly remember having to jump in cold water when I really didn’t want to and feeling like I was drowning. Not sure I ever made it to shark, but some of the basics must…
Anyone who has met ACUI President Ian Crone, director of the student union at the University Tennessee, also knows he is an outgoing guy with a positive persona. So when Susan Canady, the assistant director of event and guest services at the University of Maryland who chaired planning for this year’s ACUI Annual Conference, got…
ACUI is announcing a restructuring of its Regional Leadership Teams designed to clearly define volunteer roles throughout the eight regions, to strengthen engagement and volunteer support, and to create a structured volunteer selection and onboarding process. The restructuring is the result of work done by the Regional Engagement Task Force, created by Board of Trustees…
ACUI and the NUS Charity are excited to announce an international partnership in which over 100 NUS Charity students’ unions located in the United Kingdom will join ACUI and receive membership benefits like online education, access to on-demand resources through ACUI’s digital library, and engagement opportunities like communities of practice and networking at in-person events….
Lina Balcom of the University of Vermont, Lauren Gyurisin from Virginia Commonwealth University, Beth Goad from the University of Denver, and Audrey Taggart-Kagdis from Kansas State University have been elected by eligible ACUI voters to serve as new regional directors. Two-year terms of office begin during the 2025 Regional Conferences this fall. Taggart-Kagdis will represent…
The midwestern campus of Indiana University–Bloomington and Indiana Memorial Union again served as the magnet for new college union and student activities professionals to gather for ACUI’s annual IPDS: New Professionals Seminar, a four-day on-site series of educational sessions, tours, and networking events designed to prepare professionals for a successful future. The seminar attracted a…
New corporate partner Trooh Media are offering fun and integrative technology as a benefit to ACUI’s member schools—Trooh’s digital signage tower that provides a solution to easily market and connect with students—for free. If you are looking for ways to increase revenue while driving engagement and participation in your events, and with zero cost, join…
Branding at the Wisconsin Union is so much more than getting Bucky the Badger out there. That was evident this year in ACUI’s Steal This Idea competition as University of Wisconsin–Madison graphic designers at the student union received Best in Show honors for a promotional campaign that focused on the union’s own branded sparkling waters,…
In July 2024, ACUI officially started work on the 2024–29 Strategic Plan that was first released during the 2024 Annual Conference. The initial focus of volunteers and Central Office staff are tasks anticipated to be completed during the first few years of the plan. Highlights that showcase some of the current work are below. You…
13 Strategies for Sustained Success Leadership transitions are inevitable in professional environments, yet they often bring periods of uncertainty, disruption, and adaptation. When a new manager assumes responsibility for a department, employees may question how changes will affect their roles, while leaders must quickly acclimate to unfamiliar systems and dynamics. Drawing from experiences across multiple…
Editor’s Note: During 2025, The Bulletin is continuing its State of the College Union series of articles that analyze the most current and affecting issues facing the Association’s members. Earlier this year a team of authors examined “The Student Union as a Space for Activism and Protest,” and in this edition our co-authors share how…
I’m no neurologist, but I believe that people are hard wired to navigate uncertainty by seeking out patterns. We find reassurance, or seek solutions, by reflecting on similar events or patterns in the past. I think this is one of the reasons why the ritual pattern of the academic year persists in higher education. Our…
The summer of 1985 has lots of memories for me. I was an intern in a law firm in London, and like my flatmates who were also from the States, we were getting by with very little money. At the same time, we gained a cultural and experiential education that summer that was priceless. In…
ACUI is announcing a major planned gift from Benjamin Williams, associate dean of students and deputy Title IX coordinator at Trinity University. Williams is a longtime supporter of the Association and a past recipient of the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service. ACUI Chief Executive Officer John Taylor said Williams was making the contribution as part…
ACUI Past President Jay Boyar passed away June 2, 2025. Boyar served as ACUI president from 1993–94; in fact, he served as both president and acting executive director. Prior, he was vice president of committee and network affairs. Boyar also chaired and hosted regional conferences and Association seminars. Spending his career at Prince George’s Community…
Earlier this year in a special edition of the Journal of Education Human Resources higher education researchers focused on “Workplace Well-Being and the Student Affairs,” in which two teams of academics took a deeper dive into the statistics offered in the important 2022 survey of student affairs professionals conducted by the College and University Professional…
If you considered student affairs or college unions certification but discovered you were not eligible, you might want to check again. Recently, the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification updated the requirements for eligibility: Participants will still need a combination of a degree and work experience, but the specifics have changed to expand access…
During the Association’s 2025 Annual Conference in New York City, there were both formal and informal conversations related to the challenges facing higher education from decisions being made at the federal level. With a seemingly accelerated pace, student union and student engagement staff, and our students, are encountering new challenges resulting from threats to federal…
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…
Revealed during the 2023 ACUI Annual Conference in Boston, the Association’s Investing in Our Profession fundraising campaign, designated to support the Student Affairs & College Union Certification Program, was celebrated during the 2025 Annual Conference in New York City as the largest single fundraising campaign in the Association’s history. In fact, it was celebrated loudly,…
Keynote: Rob Lawless Connection feeds belonging, and for Rob Lawless, the world is full of connections. For him, since 2015, it has been about 10,000 connections by way of spending at least one hour getting to know that many people. Visiting the ACUI Annual Conference, Lawless was ready to provide an update on belonging and…
ACUI Talks: Mahogany L. Browne Mahogany L. Browne came to ACUI Talks to share her poetry, to reflect on themes important to ACUI members, and to do some name-dropping. Audre Lorde. June Jordan. Gwendolyn Brooks. Lucille Clifton. Miriam Alves. Sonia Sanchez. These were just some of the preeminent Black female poets and writers that Browne,…
ACUI Talks: Anya Kamenetz With a background that includes degrees from one of the top public high schools in the United States, followed by Yale University, and having a best-selling author as a father, award-winning author and reporter Anya Kamenetz has offered readers a breadth of work ranging from childhood education, technology, and most recently…
Keynote: Terrell Strayhorn For Terrell Strayhorn, a professor, author, and director of a research center on HBCUs, it is all about belonging. Strayhorn even runs The Belonging Lab, and as he sees it, belonging trumps equity every time. “Belonging is an equity-minded framework,” Strayhorn told ACUI members in attendance at the 2025 Annual Conference in…
Welcome New ACUI President Ian Crone In his appreciative address accepting the gavel as 2025–26 president of ACUI during the ACUI Annual Conference in New York City, University of Tennessee Student Union Director Ian Crone did not delay addressing a topic sensitive to his gathered peers. In the big picture, he noted through examples, student…
Brenda Evans, University of Massachusetts–Lowell, was honored with the 2025 Butts-Whiting Award. In her reveal speech, ACUI Past President Deepti Chadee described Evans as a leader who has played “an instrumental role in mentoring and inspiring other women, including myself.” Nominators agreed, saying Evans “has been a tireless champion for the growth and development of…
ACUI’s 2025 awards and scholarship recipients are being announced throughout the Annual Conference, March 16–20. 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. 2025 Award Recipients DISTINGUISHED AWARDS CAMPUS AWARDS INDIVIDUAL AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS WRITING AND RESEARCH…
Campuses are consistently searching for ways to improve student outcomes and overall campus well-being by how they address a culture of wellness that includes food insecurity and other health equity issues. A culture of wellness can center on everything from eating enough fruits and vegetables to getting enough rest and relaxation or physical activity, and…
The State of the College UnionEditor’s Note: During 2025, The Bulletin will continue its State of the College Union series of articles that analyze the most current and affecting issues facing the Association’s members. During 2024, professionals from across ACUI’s membership contributed State of the College Union articles on the topics of workforce retention, organizational…
This is the fourth year ACUI has examined the topics that impacted campuses the most in the previous year. Common threads have emerged over the years—recovering from the pandemic, student well-being, free speech, DEI, financial stability, and more. Once again, the Year in Review cannot avoid examining the ongoing challenges facing DEI efforts, maintaining sound…
Editor’s Note: This research corner was created by members of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Program Team, one of ACUI’s eight volunteer-run Association Teams. Visit acui.org/volunteer/assessment-evaluation-and-research-program-team-member to learn more about the AERPT group of volunteers and the work of the other Association teams. The following dives into just a few of the books, book chapters,…
Recently I was talking to two great past presidents, Neela Patel and Deepti Chadee, and I asked them about writing this last article as president. What do I say? Is there a traditional message after a year in the position? It was then that Neela gave me a great idea—to reflect upon the speech I…
What a milestone to be writing my 50th column for the ACUI Bulletin! My first, “A New Adventure,” allowed me to introduce myself to the membership and to share a little about what I learned over the course of my career and the people that shaped my view of working in the college union profession….
Any trip to New York City is an adventure, but there is only one #ACUI25 Adventure, and it departs from ACUI’s conference hotel on Tuesday, March 18. The tough part is picking which one—and only one—of the 18 different tours being offered during this year’s Annual Conference. The daylong event includes visits to 12 unique…
ACUI is now accepting applications for the 2025 Closing the Gap program, which since 2020 has sought out mid-level BIPOC professionals seeking support, mentorship, and networking as they ascend in their careers as builders of campus community. Last year, a record 15 participants were selected for the program; the cohort was supported by a group of 10…
Whether it is developing skills to ignite a sense of belonging or receiving an infusion of energy designed to identify opportunities for innovation and right-sizing, ACUI Annual Conference attendees will walk away satisfied from an opening keynote address by Rob Lawless, the man who spent one hour, 1-on-1, with 10,000 different people. Lawless sees the…
ACUI’s 2025 Annual Conference, commencing within and around the New York Marriott Marquis and the adjoining Times Square, is going to require an early arrival time – no later than Friday, March 14 – thanks in part to an extraordinary preconference schedule that kicks-off the following morning. Supported primarily through the work of ACUI volunteers…
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…
ACUI members capped a full slate of summer programming, taking advantage of five institutes and orientations for student leaders and professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. The June and July programs spanned leadership development, new professional orientation, and a national research initiative on the future of the college union. In partnership with…
Seven ACUI members have taken on the role of examining the impacts of artificial intelligence on the college union, including future opportunities that may be created by the technology and the associated risks. The ACUI AI Task Force is being established to examine the overall impact of artificial intelligence on community building in higher education…
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…
Practical uses of generative artificial intelligence in student centers and student affairs are being adopted to reduce administrative workload, improve the consistency and timeliness of student communications, and strengthen services through 24/7 self-service support systems. That said, it is being implemented while trying to preserve space for human judgment for student well-being, conduct, eligibility decisions,…
The State of the College Union Editor’s Note: “From Curiosity to Culture,” the second piece in the 2026 State of the College Union series, provides a team of student affairs professionals from the University of California—Irvine the opportunity to tell the story of how AI has been integrated into their division’s everyday activities providing student…
