First Up: 50th Birthday Presence
Letter from John Walda, NACUBO president and chief executive officer
By John Walda
Until the early 1900s, those who managed the business side of higher education functioned within the confines of their campuses. No specific body of knowledge existed about how to administer an educational institution. Nor were there organized external training or networking opportunities to help business officers stay up-to-date and learn from peers.
In time, business officers began to form regional associations for mutual professional growth. By midcentury, these regional associations drew closer together as World War II brought sweeping changes to higher education, and in 1950 the regional groups formed a loose national alliance they called a federation.
The federation set the stage for the profession's national perspective; after another decade of development, the National Association of College and University Business Officers came into being on June 23, 1962. The original goals for the association—improve best practices, foster professional standards, provide nationwide scope, and represent our concerns to federal agencies—were so well-defined that they still guide us today.
A Time to Celebrate
In 2012, we commemorate NACUBO's 50th anniversary year with special recognitions of this milestone. Our grand celebration will take place at the NACUBO 2012 Annual Meeting, July 28-31, where the theme will be “Looking Back ... Leading Forward.” We will do both: Acknowledge our accomplishments as an association through the years and offer a dynamic program that prepares us to lead in higher education administration for the future.
The original goals for the association in 1962 were so well-defined that they still guide us today.
It's fitting to locate the conference in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. I hope all of you will join us at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. This new waterfront facility on the Potomac, just south of the nation's capital, is a short drive or water-taxi ride away from many national monuments and historic sites.
Our Gifts to You
But we aren't waiting until July to offer our members something extra in celebration of our history. In your hands is our first single-themed issue of Business Officer, with content that focuses on one of NACUBO's core subject areas—accounting and financial management. We explore different aspects of the topic in each of the feature articles as well as with content in several of the departments. Other magazine issues in 2012 will follow our typical mix of topics.
Coming in July is a very special keepsake issue of Business Officer, designed to celebrate our past, present, and future. Articles will examine some of NACUBO's major policy accomplishments as a national association, recap the changing role of the chief business officer, and recognize some of our leadership through the years. The issue will also present thought leader perspectives on the future of higher education as well as a look at the next generation of CBOs.
You'll also see that we've given the departments a fresh look and feel, beginning with this issue; you can read more about these changes on page 54. You are welcome to share your comments and suggestions about Business Officer at any time by sending a message to editor@nacubo.org.
Facing Challenges Together
At no time in our history has the road been smooth. Business officers have helped lead their institutions through wartimes and civil unrest, changes in student aid and government oversight, and repeated periods of reduced resources. These would have been overwhelming to our colleges and universities if we had not had the strength of association to bring clarity and direction to our work. At the same time, the NACUBO organization also provides a path to networking and mentoring, so that we can each grow professionally as we support each other.
I'm pleased to wish you a Happy New Year and introduce you to some of the highlights of our yearlong salute to the association and the profession. With a half-century of representing business officers in the nation's capital, NACUBO truly has much to celebrate.
JOHN WALDA is NACUBO President and Chief Executive Officer.