Talking Stick - March/April 2015 - 10

VISION

Strategic Plan. Strategic Partners.
As we enter March, I continue to learn a great deal from the 10-minute conversations
I am having with housing departments around the globe. If I have not yet spoken to
anyone from your institution, please contact me so we can set something up.
The information I have gathered from these sessions, as well as that collected from
other outlets, has been invaluable as the association sets its strategic plan. In fact, as
you read this, we are already a few weeks past the board's latest face-to-face meeting
in Columbus. There, led by President-elect Alan Blattner and working
in concert with an outside consultant, we identified the pressing issues
facing our profession and our association. We have set priorities. And we
have started to craft strategies for meeting these needs.

WHeN IT COMeS
TO STrATeGIC
PlANNING,
THe SHAreD
reSPONSIBIlITIeS
BeTWeeN AN
exeCUTIVe
BOArD AND
AN exeCUTIVe
DIreCTOr IS
IMPOrTANT.

One factor that added a twist to our meeting was that it was the first
one with our new ACUHO-I executive director, Mary DeNiro (you can
read more about her on page 22). This timing was part fortune and
part planning. The fact is that our previous strategic plan expired at
approximately the same time as Sallie Traxler announced she would
be leaving ACUHO-I. Knowing that, we progressed on this new plan
but were careful not to get too far down a path before a new executive
director could participate.
When it comes to strategic planning, the shared responsibilities
between an executive board and an executive director is important. The
board utilizes environmental scanning and stakeholder feedback to
monitor the membership's pulse. We also look at the broader world of
higher education and campus housing. This information provides us
with a road map and mile markers to track our progress.
The executive director operationalizes this plan, allocating resources
and setting schedules. Oftentimes that person has to be the one that
says "we can't do everything all at once," no matter how important and
attractive those projects may be. I'm sure we all know the person on
our campuses who has to play that role.

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

In the coming months, we will publish more details, including the
official plan. Transparency in this process is highly important so that
members understand where their association is focusing its efforts. It
shows the cooperation between boards, volunteer leaders, and the professional staff.
We hope it will include projects that will spur you to become further engaged with
ACUHO-I. We look forward to undertaking this journey and working to make our
association and profession as strong as possible.

Talkin' About
Generations
Bringing sides together
improves departments

March + April 2015 | Volume 32, Number 4

published by the Association of College and University
Housing Officers - International

Cover.indd 1

Tom Ellett
ACUHO-I President
 Te13@nyu.edu
 @TeEllett

Photo Credit:
Randall Gee

TALkIng STICk

2/24/15 3:23 PM

Knoles Hall on the
campus of the University
of the Pacific is one of
the oldest buildings on
the Stockton, California
campus. It houses
several offices such as
financial aid and the
registrar.

Talking Stick - March/April 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - March/April 2015