Talking Stick - March/April 2018 - 8

VISION

Lifelong Learning
There are many factors that led me to the job I have today. I always knew I wanted
a career where I could make a difference. I am invigorated by the students' youth
and energy. I am focused on supporting and serving those who need it. And,
perhaps most important, being on a campus every day is a robust reminder of the
value of knowledge and the need to be a lifelong learner.
You don't work in this career as long as I have without encountering a wide range of eye-opening moments. And I like to think I have
learned from each of those experiences. But I can guarantee that no
matter how much I and other senior housing officers often project
an air of "I've-seen-it-all" confidence, we know that there is still much
for us to learn, and, quite honestly, I don't know if that has ever been
more true than it is now in our rapidly changing world.

. . . NO
MATTER
HOW MUCH I
AND OTHER
SENIOR
HOUSING
OFFICERS
OFTEN
PROJECT AN
AIR OF "I'VESEEN-IT-ALL"
CONFIDENCE,
WE KNOW
THAT THERE
IS STILL MUCH
FOR US TO
LEARN . . .

It is with that spirit that I and approximately 70 other housing
leaders, from a diverse sampling of institutions, gathered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the second ACUHO-I State of the Profession symposium. For three days we heard from experts in a variety
of disciplines and fields. We took in wave after wave of information
regarding higher education trends, public-private partnerships, student health, hate and bias, changing laws, sexual assault, thought
leadership, and more. If there is such a thing as being pleasantly
overwhelmed, then that is what I (and I am sure most everyone in
the room) felt at the event's conclusion.
My mind continues to spin with the information we heard, and
almost every hour sparks yet another "ah-ha" moment. I remember
Dafina-Lazarus Stewart speaking about navigating issues of difference and urging the room by saying, "Residence life and housing
are the cornerstones of college campuses. You have the opportunity
to touch almost every student on campus. What are you doing with
this opportunity?" Looking back on my notes about federal policy
reminds me to continue educating myself and others about the
proposed PROSPER (Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and
Prosperity Through Education Reform) Act. I'm still processing
the information about how the first-year students of 2018 will differ from those of the past. And I'm empowered by the panel that
looked at #MeToo and campus sexual assault to continue working
so that the conversation includes the structure of power to think
critically about how survivors access support services. There is so
much work to be done on our campuses.
Of course, this is all just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There
was so much more, and in the coming weeks ACUHO-I will be
releasing a series of reports to better share the event's outcomes. I
encourage you to keep your eyes open for these and other opportunities for you to go back to school and keep learning. Why should
our students have all the fun?
 Dschmi6@luc.edu
 Deb Schmidt-Rogers

TALKING STICK

 @DSchmidtRogers

TALKING STICK
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

Programs Focus on Students' Health

March + April 2018 | Volume 35, Number 4
published by the Association of College and University
Housing Officers - International

Cover Information:
Students at The
University of Vermont
in Burlington take
their wellness
seriously. Read more
about institutions
championing the
creation of livinglearning communities
rooted in student
well-being in the
story on page 24.
Photo credit: The
University of Vermont

Talking Stick - March/April 2018

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