By President Beth Eppinger

I am excited and humbled to share that our organization is doing well. This summer we approved a balanced budget for this fiscal year, our taxes were filed, all executive board members and committee chairs are still onboard and thriving, and sponsorships are increasing! There are A LOT of opportunities right now for membership involvement to continue the success of our organization:

• SWACUHO 2026 Program Proposals. YOU have a topic that is waiting to be shared in a program session at our annual conference in February. The August 30 deadline for submissions is quickly approaching. Please consider submitting a program proposal, and then tell your supervisor to do the same.

• Student Staff Leadership Conference. Texas A&M is excited to host your student staff October 24-26! To prepare for the conference, they are asking advisors and attendees to submit program proposals.

• Senior Housing Officer Workshop & SWACUHO-U. Denton, Texas, will be the host city of both mini conferences in early November. If you are a new entry-level housing professional or senior housing officer, please plan to attend!

• Diversity. The Diversity and Social Justice committee recently hosted a town hall, and now they are seeking feedback for the future direction of their committee. Please consider taking the quick survey!

• Frank Cloud Award of Excellence. The topic has been announced, and case studies are due October 1. Learn more about the award and process Here.

• Host SWACUHO 2028! Are you in Texas? Would you be interested in hosting SWACUHO 2028? Reach out to conferences@swacuho.org for more information! 

• Membership Drive. Institutional memberships are valid October – September. Please ask your SHO if they have paid for membership so you may continue to have access to all things SWACUHO. If they need assistance with renewal, they may reach out to their state director or our Technology Coordinator.

ACUHO-I Report: This summer I attended ACUHO-I in Columbus, Ohio. Thank you for the opportunity to represent our region during the Regional Presidents Meeting. President-elect J.C. Stoner and I advocated for transparency and communication, spoke about best practices for regional leadership with other presidents, and previewed a comprehensive event calendar shared by all regions. J.C. and I, along with other executive board members Delton Gordon, Ricky Harris, and Mackenzie Wysong-Bentley, hosted our regional reception and enjoyed catching up with more than 70 SWACUHO members and friends. If your school is not a member of ACUHO-I due to financial constraints, there are institutional membership scholarships available from ACUHO-I. Please reach out to me at president@swacuho.org for more information. 

All Things August: We are only six weeks removed from the summer solstice, yet all things related to FALL in our jobs ramp up right now. At least the weather reminds us it is still technically summer. TWU Executive Director Jill Eckardt recently asked her staff how they decompress or take a break during a big move-in day. Answers included 30 minutes away with their notifications silenced, visiting another building, changing their socks, eating in their apartment, and more. My answer is waking up early enough to arrive to campus to ensure things are ready to go and then relaxing in a golf cart in a quiet parking lot while enjoying the sunrise. I breathe deep and snap some photos before the day begins. Find your moment during move-in to recharge. You, your staff, and your students will be better for it. I hope all your trainings go well and that you witness greatness in your team this month. Do not hesitate to use your resources such as the SWACUHO listserv if you have a question. Send a few fun staff move-in photos to communications@swacuho.org. Take time to submit a SWACUHO 2026 program proposal by August 30. Have a fantastic opening!!

Beth Eppinger

SWACUHO President