ACUBO Update

1.31.05

ACUBO represents a coalition of the five associations serving college and university business officers - CACUBO, EACUBO, NACUBO, SACUBO and WACUBO.  Building on discussions at the 1999 NACUBO Planning Advance about areas where collaboration among the associations could strengthen overall member services, the ACUBO Steering Committee and ACUBO Innovation Council were established in January 2001. Determined to follow a collaborative and knowledge-based approach, the groups have engaged in a number of projects, most recently a market research survey and a curriculum study.

The market research survey was conducted in the spring of 2004 and sent to primary institutional member representatives and to selected non-members. Major objectives were to determine the perceived value and performance of current programs and services, the effectiveness of their delivery, and identification and prioritization of member benefits, needs and wants.

Highlights of the findings indicated that primary drivers of participation and satisfaction for regional associations are keeping one’s institution abreast of current issues, professional development for business staff, entry-level workshops, networking, and individual professional development. Findings for NACUBO had many similarities but, in addition, some issues were seen as unique to NACUBO--higher level workshops, the national annual meeting, legislative compliance and technical assistance, and publications. For all, subject matter was the most important reason for participation in professional development programs.

Results of the study were provided to the boards of the five ACUBO associations. In November, members of the ACUBO Steering Committee and ACUBO Innovation Council met to develop a shared understanding of the marketing research findings, and to identify and prioritize opportunities suggested by the research that the ACUBOs may undertake in the future aimed at increasing the value of membership in the organizations. After much discussion and sharing of input, the group determined a list of priority actions to pursue.

The second collaborative project, a curriculum study, will enable the ACUBO organizations to develop a curriculum framework from which all five can create professional development programs that respond to, support, and are unique to the needs of higher education administrators. A survey will determine what knowledge and skills are needed by ACUBO members to be as effective as possible in their work. Based on that data, ACUBO associations can use evidence-based research to develop ways to meet members’ professional development needs, both current and anticipated.

The ACUBO Curriculum Development Project Steering Committee (ACPSC) will oversee the project, with survey expertise and program support provided by Thomson Prometric and ACUBO/NACUBO staff. Survey participants will be organized in three target groups: chief business officers, business office staff (e.g., controller, bursar, accountant), and administrative and financial managers in academic or other units. Focus groups will help determine the contents of the survey and a group of pilot participants will assess and adjust the survey before its distribution.

Members of the ACPSC include David Clark, Executive Vice President, Bismarck State College; Joseph Grasso, Vice President for Administration, Washington and Lee University; Robert Lovitt, Senior Vice President for Business Affairs, University of Texas at Dallas; Thomas Hawk, Vice President for Finance and Planning and Treasurer, Community College of Philadelphia; and Keith Foster, Director of Administrative Services, Washington State University.

The timetable for developing this survey is late winter and spring of 2005. Surveys will be distributed via email, and members should be alert to invitations to participate. Following receipt of survey responses as to what skills and knowledge are most needed, the ACPSC will compare required competencies against existing curricula to identify professional development offerings currently provided that should be continued, offerings not currently offered but should be provided, and offerings currently provided that may no longer be relevant or needed.  Results of the survey will be provided to the ACUBO Steering Committee, ACUBO Innovation Council, and the boards of directors of the five ACUBO organizations to determine what curricula to develop collaboratively and as individual entities.

These two core projects will be the basis for collaboration and greater synergy among the associations for projects aimed at increasing the overall value of membership in each of the ACUBO organizations.

-end-

 For information and/or questions, please contact

Susan S. Clarke, ACUBO Program Coordinator

Email susan.clarke@nacubo.org, telephone 413 458-5075

Postal mail 35 Prospect Street, Williamstown, MA 01267