James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute

NHTI 2025

Participant Applications are Now Open

The participant application has opened for the 2025 James C. Grimm National Housing Training Institute. This cornerstone experience is geared to professionals who will have 3-7 years of full-time experience at the time of the Institute.

Apply here

NHTI 2025 will be focused on the following specific competencies, which are directly connected to the Core Competencies provided by ACUHO-I’s Core Curriculum & Body of Knowledge:

• Resources. Examine concepts of budget, facilities, and occupancy management.
• Human Resources. Consider personnel management at the department level from on-boarding through progression including coaching and evaluation of exempt and unionized staff.
• Belonging. Examine culture, diversity, and inclusion as critical to the success of housing and residence life, the institution, and higher education as a whole.
• Planning & Assessment. Describe learning and other primary outcomes at the department and divisional level.
• Risk Management. Explore elements and application of enterprise risk management principles.
• Politics. Examine power, influence, and authority in decision making processes and campus network of stakeholders.
• Current Issues. Identify current issues facing housing and residence life, student affairs, and higher education.
• Professional Development. Explore ethics and the intersection between personal growth, social identities, competencies, leadership style, and professional development.

Attire 

Dress during NHTI is casual, and the Pacific Northwest is known for its casual style. This means you can wear shorts, T-shirts, jeans, tennis shoes, sandals, etc. Some faculty and participants may prefer to dress more formally for the closing banquet on the last night of the Institute. 

Free Time 

Your schedule during the Institute will be quite tight, so we recommend that you plan any sightseeing activities before or after the program. However, you will have the chance to explore Seattle on Wednesday evening. 

Seattle Weather 

Seattle is a great city to visit in July! The weather is usually sunny with temperatures in the low 70s. While there is a possibility of rain, the summers are generally beautiful and dry. Bedrooms in Oak Hall are not air conditioned; however, common spaces and hallways are. The Oak Denny room, where sessions are held, is also air conditioned, so we recommend bringing a sweater or cardigan to help you stay comfortable during the sessions.

Community Engagement Principles

The NHTI Community Engagement Principles are courtesy of the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I). 

Community of Learners

NHTI brings together a strong community of housing professionals dedicated to learning and developing professionally. By participating in NHTI you are joining a community of learners committed to reflecting on their professional experiences, focused on their continual professional development, and energized by their commitment to the field. As part of this community, all are expected to contribute to the professional, open, and dynamic environment that creates the NHTI experience. NHTI is an incredible learning opportunity enriched by the diverse professionals who participate. All members of the NHTI learning community should demonstrate respect for each person’s worth, dignity, and capacity to contribute to this learning community. We ask that all participants be open to and actively contribute to the learning community throughout NHTI. 

Attendance

Participants and faculty of NHTI are selected with the understanding that they will strive to devote their full time and attention to the institute. Your attendance at all sessions and activities is essential in order for the institute to make a maximum contribution to your learning and experience. 

Being Present

You will experience long days during NHTI, and we know that the work on your campuses does not stop, but we ask that while you are participating in NHTI that you do your best to fully engage in the content and activities. We encourage that you have conversations with the staff on your home campus to be mindful of and to be understanding of your limited availability during the institute so that you can be focused on this professional development experience. We acknowledge that it can be difficult to fully detach from your campus and to disengage from the demands of your day-to-day responsibilities, but we ask that you be mindful of doing your best to stay present and focused on NHTI during this time. Please try to refrain from email correspondence, text messaging, social media, and other non-Institute activities that may pull you away during NHTI sessions and activities. We encourage you to take breaks when needed, and if you need to step out to manage something on your home campus, please do so. 

Confidentiality

NHTI is designed to promote professional development and personal reflection. To achieve these important objectives, institute participants and faculty will be encouraged to take intellectual risks and to reflect openly about personal and professional challenges. It is expected that you will respect the confidentiality of all members of the learning community, their home institutions or organizations, and any sensitive information that people may share throughout the institute.