Talking Stick - May/June 2009 - 66

28 contInued busIness Front and Center What marketing strategies do you believe are most appropriate with students and parents, especially those with high expectations, at institutions with already high housing rates (i.e., private institutions) when you know the operating budgets at those institutions are being cut in this economy? MCB: Many colleges and universities have been open and transparent about budgets and costs. They must now redouble their efforts to level with students and parents. Those interested in a residential college experience want to know that they are getting value for their dollar. As a higher education leader, do you see student affairs and housing programs as essential components to the student educational experience, or do you believe these are areas that will and should be scaled back to make education more affordable? Where should housing and student affairs programs concentrate their efforts to provide the best possible experience for students while being cost conscious? MCB: Unfortunately, both are the case. These programs are essential; however, they will likely need to scale back to protect the academic core. In budgeting and planning, student affairs administrators should work to see that facilities remain attractive but focus on programs like learning pods that leverage the academic mission of the institution. How can our housing and student affairs programs ensure that students are receiving the best return on their investment? MCB: The best programs are those that support and leverage the academic core, create a living-learning environment, and provide easily accessible information to students and families. tS Molly Corbett Broad is the president of the American Council on Education (ACE). Founded in 1918, ACE is the major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions, representing more than 1,600 college and university presidents and more than 200 related associations nationwide. It seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and to influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives. Connie Carson is vice president of the Division of Student Life at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. She served as ACUHO-I president from 2006 to 2007 and as the ACUHO-I Foundation chair from 2002 to 2004. 60 contInued conVersatIons What Do ACUHO-I Conferences Offer Members from Outside the United States? so neatly, so if there are frustrations it is in the fact that these differences are not generally acknowledged. Fernandez: After two years, I am going back to the annual conference in Baltimore, but this time I am looking forward to sharing a great project that we implemented last year. The name of our presentation is “Information Systems at the Service of the Formative Model of the Residential College at Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM).” Custom made by UDEM’s Information Systems Department, this file integrates personal, academic, and administrative information, such as their entry application, emergency contacts, grades, class absences, health issues, absence notices, visitor request forms, hobbies and preferences, journal, appointments and conduct reports – all strongly useful for opportune decision making, personal follow up, and immediate response to residents and their families. We hope you will visit us soon, and maybe in the future we can have an RA or student council members exchange information, either by mail or personally. Mason-Innes: The pieces that weave through all my experiences with ACUHO-I are the people. I feel like the people I have met are what keeps me smiling when I am back in my office and excited when I get to travel to a conference. My friends from ACUHO-I are some of the nicest people I know! I echo Irene’s point about the pieces that do and do not resonate with my work in Canada. I look forward to ACUHO-I having the ability to impact legislation in my country and to lobby for issues related to on-campus housing. I see ACUHO-I working closely with the regional associations to make this happen. One of my dreams too is to see our members have the ability to work in each other’s countries. I would love to see our profession listed in NAFTA! tS  Talking STick convERSationS is dedicated to capturing dialogue between high-level professionals on the topics that affect campus housing. If you would like to be a part of a future conversation – or have a topic you want to see discussed – let us know at talkingstick@acuho-i.org.
Talking Stick - May/June 2009

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