The Western Association of College and University Housing Officers is an incorporated, nonprofit, volunteer organization, democratic in nature.

Mission of WACUHO

The Mission Statement is as follows:

To bring college and university staff members who have responsibility covering any of the various aspects of student residence, food service, developmental programming, administration, conference services, facilities, and related operations into meaningful association.

A working model of the Mission Statement proposed to the Strategic Planning Task Force reads as follows:

The Western Association of College and University Housing Officers promotes quality residential living experiences at colleges, universities, and other post secondary institutions by providing educational programs, services, research, and professional development experiences for its members.

Purposes of WACUHO

The purpose of the Association shall be:

1. To encourage membership and participation in the Association without regard to any form of arbitrary discrimination.

2. To contribute to the improvement and coordination of the various aspects of student residence halls, apartments, theme houses, and cooperatives, food service, developmental programming, administration, conference services, facilities, and related operations at member institutions on a regional scale.

3. To sponsor activities, services, and research which will aid its members and provide a means of exchanging and distributing professional information and ideas relating to the various aspects of student residence halls, apartments, theme houses, and cooperatives, food service, developmental programming, administration, conference services, facilities, and related operations.

4. To support and encourage the professional development of Association members.

5. To ensure that the Association's programs, services, and related activities represent the diverse student population which it serves.

6. To work actively as an organization or in collaboration with other organizations or individuals outside of WACUHO to further the aims of the Association and its member institutions.

7. To support, encourage, and contribute to the academic mission of member institutions.

Goals of WACUHO

The goals of the Association shall be:

1. To promote adherence to WACUHO purposes.

2. To emphasize the unity of the housing profession in student residence halls, apartments, theme houses, and cooperatives, food service, developmental programming, administration, conference services, facilities, and related operations through WACUHO publications, workshops, conferences, and other activities.

3. To develop guidelines describing desirable professional skills, education, and training for all levels of residence halls, apartments, theme houses, and cooperatives, food service, developmental programming, administration, conference services, facilities, and related operations

4. To encourage and support members' efforts to inform faculty, administrators, governing boards, and legislators concerning the educational role of student housing and food service.

5. To distribute professional information, including products and services, and ideas to the membership on a timely basis.

6. To emphasize the recruitment, hiring, and retention of entry-level persons using WACUHO professional development guidelines.

7. To plan and sponsor workshops and internship programs to assist broad, continued education of housing and food service staff in all areas.

8. To plan, encourage, and support research in student residence halls, apartments, theme houses, and cooperatives, food service, developmental programming, administration, conference services, facilities, and related operations.

9. To promote efforts to serve the needs and encourage participation in Association activities involving women, underrepresented groups, and representation from small colleges.

10. To develop cooperative relationships with allied organizations.