Talking Stick - November/December 2017 - 10

VISION

Positioned to Succeed
As I write this, we are coming to the end of the calendar year as well as my term as
the ACUHO-I president. To say that 2017 passed by quickly would be an incredible
understatement. It seems like just yesterday that I was welcoming people to the
annual conference or even calling the vote for my first board motion.
The rapid passing of time has been aided by the fact that the campus housing
and residence life profession is at a pivotal point in its history. By necessity, so
is ACUHO-I. As professionals we are being asked to do more than ever on our
campuses - often with fewer resources - and being held to higher levels of accountability. Fortunately, ACUHO-I recognized these trends while they were still
on the horizon and, for years, has been working to position the
association so that we can answer these calls. This past year has
given our events an evolutionary jump forward, groundbreaking
new research initiatives, and amplified opportunities for individual
networking and knowledge sharing. I am proud to have been a
part of that growth and indebted to all the volunteers and staff who
helped make it possible.
I would be remiss to not give a special thanks to Keener Scott,
Kate Baier, Joanne Goldwater, Patrick Connor, and TJ Logan, who
also will be stepping off the board at the end of the year. I've
lost count of all the phone calls, hugs, conversations, debates,
THIS PAST YEAR
questions, concerns, bright ideas, and brainstorms we all have
HAS GIVEN OUR
shared over the past few years, but I do know they will stick
EVENTS AN
with me for years to come. Not only did your insights and
EVOLUTIONARY
camaraderie make ACUHO-I a stronger association, but they
have helped me be a stronger professional.
JUMP FORWARD,
Fortunately, as we transition off the board and prepare for
GROUNDBREAKING
those who will take over for us in January, we do so knowing
NEW RESEARCH
that ACUHO-I is being left in more than capable hands and is
INITIATIVES,
well-positioned for the future. The second year of data collection for the Campus Housing Index is in full swing. Our fundAND AMPLIFIED
ed and sponsored research initiatives will continue to generate
OPPORTUNITIES
important findings. There are more initiatives to better engage
FOR INDIVIDUAL
individual members and to increase their meaningful involveNETWORKING
ment with the association. And, behind it all, a strong strategic
planning process is in place to guide our direction.
AND KNOWLEDGE
My time on the board may be coming to a close, but my
involvement with ACUHO-I certainly won't be. There are simply too many opportunities in front of us for me to stop now.
There are articles to read, events to attend, and collaborations
to be had. I thank each and every one of you for the opportunity to serve and be a part of our association as well as the
profession that has given so much to me.

SHARING.

TALKING STICK

 Beth McCuskey

Symbol of International
Friendship
Talking Stick magazine
takes its name from the
symbol of international
friendship presented
to ACUHO-I in 1973 by
the Ohiat Band of the
British Columbia Indian
Nation. The talking stick,
or speaker's staff, is
hand carved, and the
inscription explains, "It is
a sign of authority carried
when proclamations
are to be made or a
meeting of chiefs is in
session. It is a token
of common heritage
both to Canadians and
Americans."

ON THE
COVER
Access for All
Facility design brings
accessibility to the
forefront

November + December 2017 | Volume 35, Number 2
published by the Association of College and University
Housing Officers - International

Today's designs for
student housing puts
accessibility at the
forefront. See how
different campuses
have incorporated it
into their res halls in
the story on page 28.
Photo Credit:
PHOTO COURTESY OF
JOSH PARTEE

Beth McCuskey
ACUHO-I President
 bmccuske@purdue.edu

TALKING STICK

 @BethMcCuskey
 Beth McCuskey

Talking Stick - November/December 2017

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