An association's functions can be narrowed down to four areas: networking, learning, services and advocacy. The first three are often the most familiar to an association's members as they tend to have the most immediate and direct benefits to members. For example: networking at conferences, learning from reading industry magazines, and services such as online job listings.
The benefits of advocacy, however, may not be as immediate or apparent. In many cases the benefits of advocacy take time to be realized. Big wins can come from advocacy though, and we would be well served to dedicate more resources to this type of work.
Many associations can learn from the approach ACUHO-I has adopted for advocating on behalf of campus housing professionals and our field. For instance: the creation of a Public Policy committee, partnering with other associations in a Student Affairs Consortium, and hiring an organization to lobby on behalf of the campus housing profession in the United States.
A largely untapped area for campus housing and student affairs association's advocacy efforts is at the highest levels of leadership within higher education. Board chairs, Presidents and Provosts need to understand the contribution we make to student learning and development. Publishing discussion papers or fact sheets, presenting at conferences or other gatherings where these individuals will be present, and leveraging those high-level leaders who deeply understand our work, are some of the actions we can take to raise the profile of the contribution we make to higher education.
In an increasingly complex future where the pace of change in higher education is increasing, the Internet is changing how we learn, and new delivery models for services are being explored, we need to assert ourselves or we risk losing our place. We make a valuable contribution to our student's learning. Dedicating more time and resources to influencing higher education leadership will ensure our leaders know this fact.
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