October 1 – 2, Baylor University hosted our organization’s Mid-Year Meeting at the Hilton Waco and Waco Convention Center. Their team was there in full force to welcome attendees and to continue formulating plans for our annual conference. February will be here soon, and I look forward to celebrating 60 years of SWACUHO with you! Corporate Partnerships enjoyed walking the exhibit hall, and they hope to “sell out” of booth space. The Program Committee successfully slated all programs and have many alternative proposals. Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal! The Executive Board spent time virtually meeting with committee chairs, discussing their updates, and reviewing proposals. Our Placement Committee is now Career Pathways, and I am excited to see where their journey leads.

The Executive Board took time to review the Diversity and Social Justice Committee, the Institutional Diversity Award, and the Individual Diversity Award. The DSJ Committee has been dissolved. We thank Sydney and Josh for their leadership. The diversity awards, which received no submissions last year, were also dissolved. Our SWACUHO pathway must take the fork in the road and travel in a different direction.

One of my presidential objectives this year was to close out or refine our current strategic plan. In light of changes for our organization mentioned in my spring blog post and this blog post, the board spent time at the Mid-Year Meeting to sunset the current strategic plan, draft a purpose statement, and develop framework for a new strategic plan. Spoiler alert: Many key ingredients from our prior strategic plan show up in the new one that is being developed, including our Pathways focus area.

Other Fall Announcements:

·         Our taxes are already filed! Thank you, Treasurer Ricky Harris!

·         Our fall conferences will be kicking off October 24 - 25 with the Student Staff Leadership Conference in College Station!

·         Our annual call for SWACUHO Awards submissions is NOW OPEN and closes November 15!

·         Be sure to follow our social media @SWACUHO on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date!

I know our work is filled with challenges. Thank you for all you are doing for your students. Remember that your well-being matters.

If you would like to discuss this blog post or any SWACUHO matters, please reach out to President Beth Eppinger at president@swacuho.org.